Bristol trio Masca have revealed a further taste of their forthcoming debut album ‘Love Letters’, which is set for release 03 April via Cold Hard Bangers. Very much related to the current political climate, the boundary-testing perambulation of new track ‘Diggin’’ is out today. Vocalist and guitarist Christina Maynard says it’s “a song about not being able to see the other side, getting so entrenched with your own views that you’re unable to take a step back. Left vs right.”
‘Diggin’, which also features stunning guest vocal turns from fellow Bristolians Ellie Godwin of the band PEACH and Aisling Rhiannon of Sans Froid, is indicative of Masca’s musical approach, which runs a whole gamut between glittering melodies and blistering riffs. Their music is built for curious minds who also want to move their bodies. It’s rock with a pop sparkle, and pop with a rock snarl.
‘Love Letters’ delves into a wide spread of subject matter – feelgood single ‘Oxytocin’ is a song for Maynard’s young son (who tours with the band), which was written while she was pregnant with him. ‘Act My Age’ and ‘Love Letters’ deal with the intricacies of band life, ‘Fitting In’ addresses billionaires f*cking up the world, ‘DWIW’ is about working in hospitality on minimum wage.
Masca was born in 2021, in the thick of lockdown. Tina and Jack (Hamilton – drums, vocals), living together in a tiny Bristol flat, suddenly found themselves with nothing but time – and a mortgage they weren’t sure how to cover. With Jack newly self-employed and ineligible for government help, the pair started livestreaming their jam sessions, dropping a PayPal link just to get by. What started as survival quickly turned into something else: the discovery that writing together wasn’t just fun – it was magic.
Momentum gathered quickly once lockdown lifted and the duo became a trio with the addition of Ben Holyoake on bass. A breakout set at 2000trees festival soon followed and, with a new baby in the mix, Masca built a home studio in their garden so rehearsals could roll on while the baby slept.
Maynard says: “Once we had the demos (for ‘Love Letters’) done we went to the basement studio at The Louisiana to record. We had a week and half there to get all the drums, guitars and bass done. I was in the first trimester and hadn’t told anyone I was pregnant yet. We’d found out while finishing the last couple of songs on the album, I remember feeling a little unwell while we were writing ‘Bones’ and taking the test. The result obviously stopped us in our tracks and it wasn’t the reaction I’d expected. Coming to the realisation that life was going to change whilst writing a song was strange. I can’t explain the feeling but I can take myself back there clear as day. It’s like you’re about to go down a water slide but are too scared to let go.
The morning sickness really kicked in as we started to record the album. We hadn’t told anyone yet so navigating needing to throw up between rocking out was a different experience. I’m sure we’ll plan it better next time haha. We built a vocal booth out of duvets and recorded the vocals at home. I felt at home because I was at home, and it meant that whenever I felt in the zone, and not sick, I could just step into the booth and get some vocals done. I put some fairy lights up inside that had a dying battery – they were so dim that I couldn’t tell they were even on until I’d been in there for 20 minutes.
It was a safe haven for me and I’d definitely do it again and again. I’ve always recorded vocals in front of the band/producer but this time Jack and I just did it by ourselves. There’s a vulnerability that comes when you’re creative, and you’ve got to really learn that that’s okay when you’re creative with other people. Being in a band with Jack was a breath of fresh air because, as well as being married to him, I trust him implicitly. And so if I write something he doesn’t like, or do a take he thinks I could do better, I trust that it’s because it’s genuine and not competitive in any way. And going through this process with Jack has made me more comfortable with being vulnerable with other people.”
For Masca, being a band isn’t just about chasing success – it’s about resilience, family, and chasing that moment when melody meets riff, and everything clicks.
SEE MASCA LIVE:
Tickets available here
14/05/26 – Cardiff – Fuel Rock Bar
28/05/26 – Luton – The Castle
29/05/26 – Brighton – The Hope and Ruin
30/05/26 – Southampton – Heartbreakers
05/06/26 – Sheffield – Sidney and Matilda
06/06/26 – Birmingham – Sunflower Lounge
MASCA ARE:
Christina Maynard – vocals, guitar | Jack Hamilton – Drums, vocals | Ben Holyoake – Bass
CONNECT WITH MASCA:
Linktree | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Spotify | Soundcloud | Website
