Crossan's self-titled debut album was nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album and Best Recording Package at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, making him the first artist to be nominated as both a musician and creative director for the same album. His remix of Haim's "Walking Away" won Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.
Early life
Crossan was born and raised in Guernsey. After playing guitar, bass, drums and singing in local punk, hardcore, deathcore and gospel bands, Crossan started self-producing at the age of 15, "searching for samples on YouTube and other corners of the internet". He entered the electronic music scene after learning about Hudson Mohawke and streamed music via YouTube, where he discovered James Blake, Cashmere Cat and SBTRKT. Crossan's influences, including Gorillaz and The Smiths, inspired him to write music and learn to play different instruments. At 16, Crossan started to make electronic songs using Ableton Live, and uploaded them to SoundCloud the following year under the alias Mura Masa, taken from Japanese swordsmith Muramasa Sengo.
At 17, Crossan uploaded his first tracks, remixes and bootlegs to SoundCloud. The track "Lotus Eater" was picked up by BBC Radio 1 with Zane Lowe, Annie Mac, Huw Stephens and Phil Taggart all playing the song on their shows. After leaving Guernsey to study English literature at University of Sussex in Brighton, Crossan began playing his music live, with sold-out shows at the Green Door Store in Brighton and Electrowerkz in London. Crossan started his career by posting a mixtape called Soundtrack to a Death to SoundCloud in 2014. The mixtape was subsequently distributed globally by German label Jakarta Records.
Someday Somewhere: 2015โ2016
Crossan signed to his own label Anchor Point Records in 2015, in partnership with Polydor Records and Interscope Records who distribute in the UK and in North America respectively. As well as Mura Masa records, the label has released music by Dublin artist Bonzai and post-music duo Jadu Heart.
In April 2015, he released his debut EP Someday Somewhere, with lead track "Firefly" being chosen for the In New Music We Trust playlist at BBC Radio 1. Released via Anchor Point, the EP featured UK vocalists Nao, Denai Moore and Jay Prince. The track "Lovesick" from the EP reached number 1 on the Spotify viral charts in the UK and USA. On 27 April 2015 he broadcast a 60-minute mix on the BBC Radio 1 show Diplo and Friends Alex was long-listed for the 'BBC Sound of... 2016' in December 2015, and placed 5th overall in the shortlist in January 2016.
On 15 March 2016, he unveiled the second single "What If I Go?" from his upcoming album. On 30 September 2016, he released his collaborative single titled "Love$ick" featuring American rapper ASAP Rocky via Anchor Point and Downtown/Interscope Records. The song is a newer version of Masa's 2015 single "Lovesick Fuck". Crossan said he arranged a meeting to discuss the collaboration with Rocky when he happened to be in London for several days. An official music video for the song was published on 3 November 2016 by Mura Masa's VEVO channel on YouTube.
Mura Masa: 2017โpresent
Crossan co-wrote the track "First Things First" on Stormzy's Gang Signs & Prayer, which entered the UK Albums Chart at number 1 on 3 March 2017. The track also entered the singles chart at number 25. On 17 March 2017, he released "1 Night", a collaboration with Charli XCX. Speaking about the collaboration, he said "I think I just had that beat lying around for a while and we sent it to a couple of people. Then Charli just did her thing".
Crossan released his self-titled debut studio album, Mura Masa on 14 July 2017. It was released on 14 July 2017 by Polydor, Interscope, Downtown and Anchor Point Records. The album was produced and recorded from 2014 to 2016, and has guest features by A. K. Paul, ASAP Rocky, Bonzai, Charli XCX, Christine and the Queens, Damon Albarn, Desiigner, Jamie Lidell, NAO and Tom Tripp. Upon release, it received positive reviews by critics, and debuted at number 19 on the UK Albums Chart and at 192 on the US Billboard 200. The album received nominations for Best Dance/Electronic Album and Best Recording Package at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.
In June, Crossan worked with Nile Rodgers-organised collective Chic on the band's comeback album, It's About Time. He featured alongside Cosha and Vic Mensa on the comeback single "Till the World Falls", which was released on 22 June 2018. Before that, 12 June 2018, the band also premiered another song from the album "Boogie All Night", which features Crossan, alongside working affiliate Nao. Crossan's remix of Haim's "Walking Away" won Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards on 10 February 2019.
U
Mura Masa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That you're here with me
I need to know
That you're here with me
I need to know
That you're here with me
I need to know
That you're here with me
Here with me
Here with me
Here with me
Here with me
Here with me
Here with me
Here with me
Here with me
Here with me
The lyrics to Mura Masa's "U" are simple yet repetitive, conveying a strong desire to dance with someone instead of doing mundane tasks like going to school or watching a movie. The chorus repeats the plea to "please don't stop music oh forever" and to "let's keep it day by day," emphasizing the importance of living in the moment and enjoying life. The lyrics also include a request for the person to smile, suggesting a desire for happiness and positivity in the moment.
Overall, the song seems to express a desire for freedom and escapism through dance and music. It reflects a common theme in music, which is using the power of music to overcome the mundane and find joy in the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't wanna go to school now.
I prefer dancing with you over going to school.
(I wanna dance with you!!)
Expressing desire to dance with the person.
I don't wanna see the movie now.
I'd rather dance with you than watch a movie.
(I wanna dance with you!!)
Stating the desire to dance with the other person.
I don't wanna sleep. no,no,no
I'm too excited to sleep because I want to dance with you.
(I wanna dance with you!!)
Expressing the strong desire to dance with the other person.
I don't wanna eat something now.
I'm too focused on wanting to dance with you to care about eating.
(I wanna dance with you!!)
Reiterating the desire to dance with the other person.
Please don't stop music
oh forever.
Asking for the music to continue indefinitely.
You can forget yesterday.
Letting go of the past and focusing on the present moment.
Don't worry. yeah!!
Encouraging the other person to not stress and enjoy the moment.
I wanna dance. 1 2 3 4 time!!
Expressing the desire to dance in a specific rhythm.
Let's keep it day by day.
Take things one day at a time.
Can you smile for me?
Asking the other person to smile.
I wanna dance. 1 2 3 4 time!!
Reiterating the desire to dance in a specific rhythm.
Let's keep it.
Let's keep dancing.
Can you smile for me?
Asking the other person to smile.
Please don't stop music
oh forever.
Repeating the request for the music to continue indefinitely.
You can forget yesterday.
Reiterating the idea of letting go of the past.
Don't worry. yeah!!
Reiterating the idea of not stressing and enjoying the moment.
I wanna dance. 1 2 3 4 time!!
Reiterating the desire to dance in a specific rhythm.
Let's keep it day by day.
Reiterating the idea of taking things one day at a time.
I wanna dance. 1 2 3 4 time!!
Reiterating the desire to dance in a specific rhythm.
Let's keep it.
Reiterating the idea of continuing to dance.
Can you smile for me?
Reiterating the request for the other person to smile.
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Alexander George Edward Crossan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Angel Thompson
I like songs with words but this song doesn't even need words it expresses everything
ะะธะบะธัะฐ ะะตะปัะฝะธะบะพะฒ
takara Mitchell l
MellowYT
I love songs withoit words, for me its like why must all songs be karoake time, like just stfu and listen for once
thedude808
God damn! I will never ever stop bumping this. Or the rest of the mixtape for that matter. My favorite smoking music. Thanks Mura Masa, I'm so blessed to have heard your unique style.
don prayer
mura masa 's sound always gives me peace of mind.ใ ใฉใใตๅคงๅฅฝใ๐
ybabzzi
Amazing, I love the song and vid. The editing in this is so on point!
easy
There's so much passion here. Perfect makeout song.
Keiara Roberson
DesapoleEdits I couldnโt agree more
Sayajeans
MAXIMUM RESPECT MURA MASA, MUCH LOVE FROM BRASIL
Callum Houlahan
jajajajajajaja