Creator to Creators S3 Ep 34 Masque

Hawaii-based singer-songwriter, Masque, creates music that not only represents hisexperiences as a gay man—it flourishes because of them. His experimental rock-pop album,Masqued Emotions (Deluxe) is an anthology of sound from hard rock to lighthearted pop that issure to speak to listeners across the board.“Masqued Emotions is a collection of highs and lows dealing with mental health issues andexperiences as a gay man across my life that I’ve compiled,” shares Masque. It’s inspired bypeople who shared similar stories (and Lady Gaga, too).”The 13-song album features the single “Sunhat.” “The single, ‘Sunhat,’ is a more lightheartedpart of the album,” shares the artist. “It focuses on when I do feel joy in life. It’s important tohighlight when things are going well in the face of darkness.”Overall, the album explores the lightness and darkness of the human experience. “The mainmessage I want to share with listeners is that there will be tough times and struggles but alsogood times to live through,” adds Masque. Other tracks on the album include “Take It Off,”“Shame,” “No More You,” and “Microtrauma (Every Day),” all very distinct songs with their ownstyle.To write the album, Masque focused on his tried-and-true writing process. “I usually start withthe lyrics,” shares the artist. “I’ll write out the topic I want to write about. Then I’ll give it a dayor so and rewrite the lyrics, make sure they rhyme and are more subtle. When I’m satisfied, I’llstart with the melody, beats, and guitar using sheet music. From there, I’ll refine my lyrics andpractice singing the song, changing words here and there until I have a demo I’m pleased with.I’ll send that to my producer and we’ll talk about it. He enjoys adding his own touch to what Isend him, so the final cut can really vary.”From an early age, Masque trained in classical piano performance and writing. He was a Queenaficionado and gradually expanded his musical palette from rock to pop (and many genres inbetween). By the time he was in high school, the young Masque grew in love with the spotlight,performing in his school musicals.Over the years, Masque found himself settled into the corporate world, where he never quitefelt at home. “I found a bubbling desire to break out into the music industry and focus on myart,” tells the artist. When the pandemic began in 2020, he took a leap of faith and focused onmusic as a full-time singer.These days, he continues to perform frequently at live venues. “Live performances versusstudio performances produce different songs,” explains Masque. “It’s the same song andmelody but a different feeling. Live performances are about interaction and including theaudience, having them feel your music in the moment.”As he focuses on spreading the message of Masqued Emotions, Masque continues to work onnew songs for his next album. “Right now, I am small, but my promise to myself and mylisteners is that I will continue to make music and grow for the rest of my life.”Make sure to stay connected to Masque on all platforms for new music, videos, and socialposts.Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1NRG2B1X3hFMdTw9Vg6c6m?si=i44neIM5Rnynkc6eSiHxkwInstagram: @masquemusiqueTiktok: @masquemusiqueYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc3jkOH6aNFn7mRZ4DAOAkwYouTube: “Sunhat” Music Video https://youtu.be/8jxKxgKg23wBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/creator-to-creators-with-meosha-bean--4460322/support.