Jessie Lilley
Buddy Barnett
Brad Linaweaver

November 2009     Web Edition     Issue #3

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Marla Mase

Backed by Tomás Doncker Band

Speak Deluxe

Independent / February 28, 2013

Members/Instruments: Marla Mase - Lead Vocals Tomás Doncker: guitars, vocals Josh David : bass, vocals James Dellatacoma: guitars, computer (sounds, etc), Damon DueWhite: drums, Alan Grubner: violin, Heather Powell: back-up vocals, Manu Koch: keyboards, Daniel Sadownick: percussion

Production: Produced by Tomás Doncker and James Dellatacoma. Engineered by James Dellatacoma of Orange Studios. Mastered by Michael Fossenkemper of Turtletone Studios.

This is one of those acts that has a lot to say but doesn't have strong vocals. Ms. Mase gets around this by speaking many of the lyrics and telling a story with music behind her. She sings as well, but it doesn't grab me. I've never been a fan of performance art, but while it may not be to my taste, Marla Mase is good at what she does. She's got a fine band behind her and together they have created an interesting commentary on life in the 21st century.

I'm particularly fond of "New Cell Phone" and "She Hooked Him Up". There's a sardonic humor to the lady that I find compelling, ŕ la Zappa or Rollins, though she tends to go flat.

Mase has collected a number of accolades, including being awarded an honorary "Messenger of Peace" award by Friends of the UN for her work as a visionary artist/songwriter and being invited to perform in China for UN Global Peace Day on September 21, 2012. She has just booked "Speak", a live, multi-media performance concert, for Summerstage NYC 2013 and made the Top 10 Bands of 2012 list on indiebandsblog.com.

It's worth a listen. Check her out on FaceBook.


—Jessie Lilley