"DO WHAT YOU LOVE, BE WHO YOU ARE. CREATE YOUR OWN
LIFE ---- THAT'S WHAT MY AMERICAN DREAM"


An interview with Jane Powell, Entertainment writer
for Murfreesboro Sun

At The Boro Bar and Grill has recently begun to host a
free Americana Afternoon each Saturday. On January
26th, three acts were appearing on the venue. These
were Urban Pesant, KimMystry and Masa.


"You put tremendous energy into your performance...."

To me, when I do live, I do LIVE. That's what the most
important thing to me. If you want to hear (any) music,
you can listen to CD.... It is my JOB to know why people
drive all the way to come to my show. And it's always fun
on stage.

"What category do you think your music would be in?"

....That's the most FAQ and hardest thing to answer....to me.
See, I didn't come from any musical background, I started
playing about 5 years ago, before that, I didn't think about
doing music in my life at all. And I have no influences.
My family didn't like music, especially my dad...
Lots of people often think it's comedic, because the lyrics
are funny, but I'm not a comedian. I NEVER, EVER think
I wanted to write comedic songs. I'm a folk songwriter.
I write what's going on around me. The surroundings.
I'm just a guy holds up a mirror and show it to you what's
out there in my songs. If you are laughing about MY songs,
that means you're laughing about YOU.

"What is the reason why you came to Murfreesboro?"

This is the secound time we came to this town. And I
do a radio show at Middle Tennesee State University on
a regular basis. I love it!
I think Murfreesboro has a huge underground music scene,
mainly because of the college students. I don't do main-stream
music. That's not who I am. And I think Lot of college stations
like to play other than main-stream music too.

"So, you came to this country when you were 19 and
spoke no english. How did you feel about that?"

....It took me for a while to catch up lot of things, you know.
It took me 3-4 years to just build my life foundation. Just to live.
The communication part was the hardest thing I had to go
through.... But I got it over now. I can live anyhwere in America.
I know what to do anywhere I go....

"....And your website. GOMASA.com...."

I don't think I would be able to come up to this level without
a website..... It surely helps my career. I can say it's a very
valuable tool for an independent artist because like us, indies
can't have a big distribution network..... You're sittin' here in your
home and at the same time people can check you out.

"So you do everything to take care of your business....
Managing, booking, everything...."

You have to. Lot of people I know just don't want to do anything
and are wishing for someone to help you out. It just doesn't
work that way. You need to do all that kind of stuff by youeself
up to certain point. I don't think I need anybody right now,
because I can do what I'm doing by myself.... You need
a manager, a booker, a label or whoever because you've done
what you can do up to your limit. That's what those people
are for. They are just an extension of your abilities.
They are the people take you to next level, not to fuel you.
If you don't have business skills with you, there's no point
you have somebody does. You need tolearn that before you
learn music.

"What is your goal? What do you see yourself in the future?"

I will do music the rest of my life for sure. There's nothing going
to stop me. That's my life. Playing in Japan would be my goal
for now, but I'm sure I'll explore even more when I come to the point.
I came to America to create my OWN life. Masa's life.
That's what American Dream is to me----not 3-car-garage house,
a big screen TV. And having a family and kids either. These you
can do anywhere in the world. Even if you are ended up being poor,
by creating your life in your way. It's called Freedom.
Freedom isn't that you can live anywhere or say can do anything.
I strongly believe that taht's not this country is here for. And if you
can do that, you are successful. Success is not making a living.
It's having a life. there's a big different between havin' a good living
and life. I have friends I enjoy hanging out with are successful in
their fields. whether they are a doctor, a lawyer, a mechanic, a teacher,
or just being a great parent or whatever. And I noticed that those
people are successful because they know what they are doing,
love what they are doing, and they have enthusiasm for what they do.
The music business is just as hard as any other thing. From that,
I can surely say I'm the one of the luckiest guys in the world....
I really do enjoy my life. Everyday.

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