R&B singer Masego, known for silky vocals and signature saxophone sounds that mingle jazz, hip-hop and R&B influences, is bringing his genre-blurring tunes to Music City on his global Fix Your Face Tour.
The Grammy-nominated artist will take the stage at the Ryman Auditorium on Sept. 2 for what he tells The Tennessean will be an intimate experience. The stop comes in support of his third full-length album, "Fix Your Face," released earlier this summer on July 16.
After losing his Los Angeles home in a fire and relocating to Salvador, Brazil, Masego drew from the experience for "Fix Your Face." The album features Jamaican reggae and dancehall musician Buju Banton, as well as R&B staples Keyshia Cole, Leon Thomas and Musiq Soulchild, all while reflecting
on his spiritual upbringing and deepening connection to Jamaica.
Opening up about this new era of music, the singer offered a simple formula for how he approached working out to get the creative juices flowing: "225 bench, 320 squat, 290 leg press, 30-pound lat raises to failure, two-minute ring pull-up holds. Weighted."
Born Micah Davis in Kingston, Jamaica, Masego was raised by pastor parents who were deeply rooted in the church. As such, spirituality continues to be a large part of his artistry. He told The Tennessean that he is often "reaching for the Bible" and also using music to explore a "freedom of expression is difficult to put into words."
Masego's instinct to blend genres, sounds and influences has long been crucial to his musical identity. As he reflected on the artists and moments that shaped his approach, he pointed to Michael Jackson as an early example.
"When Michael Jackson made 'Rock with You' and smashed that bottle on the head of his opposition, it clicked for me how blending was my natural approach to music creation," he said.
Masego has amassed nearly 2 billion global streams. His breakout single was "Tadow," released in October 2017 with French multi-instrumentalist FKJ, which is now certified platinum in the U.S., diamond in Brazil and gold in Mexico. He followed it up with his debut studio album, "Lady Lady" on Sept. 7, 2018. Masego earned his first Grammy nomination for his 2020 EP, "Studying Abroad: Extended Stay," at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards in 2022, where the project was nominated for Best Progressive R&B Album.
The instrumentalist is looking forward to the upcoming show in Music City for more reason than one.
"I remember when I first downloaded (the video game) RollerCoaster Tycoon on the PC. When I unlocked the Nashville level after hours of gameplay, I knew I had to see it in person," he said.
Masego’s show at the Ryman falls into a larger conversation about Nashville's long-standing but growing appetite for hip-hop and R&B, according to Nashville-based artist manager, cultural curator and radio programmer Justin Causey.
"There are people in Nashville that want to see hip-hop and R&B championed," Causey told The Tennessean. "And I’ve noticed when we open up for headlining acts that come to the city, they're surprised by the different demographic of people that are showing up for their shows and how many people know their music."
Causey said that Nashville's country-music reputation can sometimes overshadow its broader musical landscape.
"It’s the country music blanket and the branding of Nashville. Everybody thinks Nashville is just cowboy boots and hats, acoustic guitars and the lights of Broadway. That can deter artists from coming to Nashville because they don’t advertise the Black and urban spaces in Nashville," Causey said. "But it’s soimportant for artists like Masego and Don Toliver to come. It shows that those big artists and acts can come and thrive in Nashville, and their ticket sales and their shows can sell out. And it shows the variety of the music tastes in Nashville."
Masego said the upcoming show will be an experience like no other, one that escapes the digital world.
"We have to put our phones away," Masego said. "You have to get used to telling people stories. Your phone won’t do it justice. Whine up your waist. Skin out."
The show at Ryman Auditorium starts at 8 p.m. while doors open at 7 p.m.
Follow USA TODAY Network and The Tennessean music reporter Caché McClay on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Masego brings Grammy-nominated R&B sound to Nashville
