Today, we wind down the series with the final spotlighted artist in this installment of Artists of the BBC Radio 1 Residency. In proper Residency fashion, we finish off the series with possibly the most off the wall deejay we’ve seen yet. Mura Masa doesn’t care about what you think a radio show should be. He’s playing what he wants, when he wants, and frankly it’s an offbeat masterpiece.
If the only thing you know about Alex Crossan’s career is the artists he’s collaborated with, you’d be forgiven for not at all expecting this. This Channel Island-born producer has worked with colossal names in genres ranging from pop (Charli XCX) to hip-hop (A$AP Rocky). However, much like the producer that precedes Crossan on his night in the residency (James Blake), his collaborations are a sign of his production prowess, not an easily digestible sound. His productions range from catchy, down tempo hip-hop, to upbeat, indie rock, with some mellow, guitar driven vibes accompanied by auto-tuned vocals on the way.
For his dedicated time slot, Crossan uses the late-night hour to explore his every whim. He starts off with chopped and screwed remixes, and mellow ragga ballads before really turning his show on its head with “Nature Boy” by Nat King Cole. By the time the song finishes, you’re ready for anything, and you can tell Crossan’s having fun. He kicks up the energy with some R&B, hip-hop and samba music, before finally letting you down with some funk and soul.
For a series that’s all about diversification of music, it’s fitting that we end on an episode that has less a theme or motif and is more a stream of consciousness from a truly eccentric artist.
Thanks for following the series and keep up with the BBC Radio 1 Residency. Even though we profiled all the artists, there’s sure to be a few surprises on the way.
Photo Credit: BBC
Connect with Mura Masa:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/MuramasaMusic
https://twitter.com/mura_masa_
https://soundcloud.com/muramasamusic
https://www.instagram.com/the_mura_masa
http://www.muramasa.me
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