Identifying MIKE MASSY - young, funky, hippie, multicultrual

Mike Massy is our generation's hidden multitalented gem. 

Mike Massy has a distinct ingredient in his vocal and pianist skills that enhance his intuitive talent. Unlike his contemporaries, Mike Massy is a young Lebanese artist who introduces a new, intimate and more cultivated style to Arabic songs.

In a refreshing approach, Massy revisits the Lebanese Oriental music, exposing an incomparable fusion, “The arrangements are a mixture of Baroque, Classical music, Andalusia music and Jazz... I just let myself go without thinking, and my classical background influenced me,” Mike explains.

The honesty of the emotions, authenticity of the lyrics and the beauty of the music are never compromised and blatantly identified in Mike’s work. This could be resonating from his fascination by the voice of Feirouz, the melodies of Zaki Nassif and the poetry of Brel’s & Aznavour’s texts from such an early age.

Mike is a songwriter, film score composer, performer and actor. His resume includes a degree in Drama, and at least a decade of Jazz Ballet dancing with the Lebanese Arabesque troupe.

After joining the National High Conservatory of Music, he specialized in Arabic Opera, which fueled his musical curiosity that eventually led him to explore the “mouwachahat”. He continued to prosper in oriental and occidental singing, along with his classical piano education which he interprets in every hypnotizing performance. “Piano is part of me as I am part of it,” Mike says.

“Ya Zaman” is Massy’s third and latest album, and was released by the end of last year. It was the result of Massy’s collaboration with 32 Lebanese and Belgian musicians. Recorded in Brussels, the album embraces both Middle Eastern rhythms with Western tunes. “Ya Zaman” remained number one on the Lebanese chart for five consecutive weeks. 

The album is “100 percent acoustic music, nothing is computerized,” as Massy says, “This is what we call "musique de chambre." It reveals links that go through my head and fit in songs. It is a marriage of horizontal and vertical dimensions and a mixture of narrow anger and broad silences,” He says in attempt to define his music.

You can watch the making of “Ya Zaman” in the documentary below;

Mike’s Previous Work includes;

2003: He released "ila ssama atba'ouka," a spiritual hymns album.

2008: He composed the music of documentary "Itsy Bitsy Spider" by Tanya Nasr.

2009: "Sayf w Layl," a year later, he wrote, composed, and arranged an album featuring the Lebanese singer Nada, combining oriental melodies with Latin and jazz arrangements from the 1950s.

2010: He wrote the original soundtrack of Joe Bou Eid's film "Tannoura Maxi," released in 2012.

2011: Released "Ya Zaman," produced by "Falak Productions"

Stay up to date with all Mike Massy  News by joining the facebook page below;

https://www.facebook.com/mikemassy.officialpage

Or check out his official website;

http://www.mikemassy.com

Keep up with Massy’s captivating visual collaborations on the following Youtube channel;

http://www.youtube.com/user/Falakproductions?feature=watch