To those unfamiliar with Marla Mase, she's a writer/performer/producer/singer/songwriter from New York City whose music can best be described as a mix of rock, spoken word, funk, global soul and experimental. She has even been compared to the likes of Patti Smith, Frank Zappa, David Byrne, Iggy Pop and Henry Rollins. Mase has released numerous albums throughout the years like the 2010 rock opera A Brief Night Out. Now, she's out with a new CD titled Speak Deluxe.
Speak Deluxe was released on February 28th of this year, and features 16 songs. Two songs we particularly love are "Piece of Peace" and "AnnaRexia". As the name suggests, "Piece of Peace" focuses on delivering the message that violence needs to end. With all the horrible crimes going on around the world, now is the time to love one another. Mase wrote the number for UN Global Peace Day when she was invited by the Friends of the UN to perform there. Between the repetitive lyrics and the catchy drum beat courtesy of the Tomás Doncker Band, this song will have you hooked.
"AnnaRexia" takes on a different issue going on in our society. This reggae track, which features Garrison Hawk from Bill Laswell's Method of Defiance, teaches us that women should not only accept their bodies, but love them as well. It's a great song promoting female empowerment. "AnnaRexia" is the leading force in the StayImperfect Project or Love Your Butt Campaign, which Mase actually created. Proceeds from the number will go towards theprojectheal.org, a non-profit organization that raises scholarship money for girls whose families do not have enough money to send them to treatment for eating disorders.
It's very clear how passionate Mase is about her music, all while spreading messages of love and peace. She has this way of making you feel every lyric and note she's singing. Whenever you find an artist who can connect to his or her listeners the way Mase does, it's a very special thing. She's toured in places like China and Europe, and just recently took on the hugely popular music festival, NYC Summerstage. There she performed The Speak Show, a multi-media concert experience. There's definitely no stopping Mase anytime soon.
