If there’s one thing fans can count on from Mura Masa, it’s bringing a fresh perspective to the pop tropes of our day. How many island-infused summer love songs have you heard on the radio in the last hour? Probably the same six that play all day, and yet the 22-year-old UK producer has us shimmying around the room to “Complicated” as if we’ve never heard drums like these before.
The song is built on a series of percussive textures, from drums to bass bumps, staggering synth noises and up-stroke guitar chords. Frequent collaborator Nao provides the melody with the same coquettish coo we heard on the pair’s “Firefly.” A muffled vocal on the hook gives even more sonic depth, playing with layers and distance as few modern music-makers would.
“Complicated” follows the dark groove of “Move Me” with UK rapper Octavian. Both build beautifully on the sound perfected on Masa’s Grammy-nominated self-titled LP. “Complicated” premiered as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record in the World on BBC Radio 1, and it’s out everywhere now Polydor Records. Check it out and peep Masa’s full list of upcoming 2018 tour dates below.
Mura Masa’s 2018 tour dates:
August 3 — Bestival @ Lulworth
August 4 All Together Now @ Waterford, Ireland
August 11 — Way Out West @ Gothenburg
August 17 — 930 Club @ Washington DC
August 18 — Union Transfer @ Philadelphia
August 19 — Summerstage Festival @ New York
August 22 — North Park Observatory @ San Diego
August 23 — The Observatory @ Santa Ana
August 24 — The Observatory @ Santa Ana
August 25 — The Novo @ Los Angeles
August 27 — Fremont Theatre @ San Luis Obispo
August 29 — The Catalyst @ Santa Cruz
August 30 — WOW Hall @ Eugene OR
August 31 — Bumbershoot @ Seattle
September 2 — Northcoast Festival @ Chicago