Artist Highlight: Maasho

For Maasho, the path to music wasn’t always straight forward, it was a slow burn of curiosity, culture, and defiance. Born in Boston and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, 23 year-old Abel Maasho grew up in a household where gospel was the only genre allowed, but that didn’t stop him from sneaking in his own playlists. Jailbreaking his iPod and hustling $2 custom mixes for classmates, he wasn’t just consuming music, he was curating it. That early instinct to shape sound and mood eventually evolved into something bigger. What started as a way to connect with people turned into a purpose - telling his story through music, on his own terms.

His latest single, Dodging, is a reflection of that exact feeling, constantly shifting, always adapting. It’s an anthem for anyone who’s had to recreate “home” over and over again, not just physically, but emotionally too. Written during a period where he had moved bedrooms every summer for six years, Dodging isn’t about running away from life, it’s about carving out a small piece of control inside the chaos. The song feels lived-in, with sonic details that echo that mental space of distraction and self-preservation. “I always bring the same things with me,” he says. “It’s like, if I set the vibe just right, maybe everything else will figure itself out.”

When it comes to inspirations to his music, Maasho’s influences run deep. From the textured sounds of Blood Orange’s Negro Swan to the high-energy storytelling of Aminé’s Good For You, he pulls from artists who aren’t afraid to be experimental yet personal. That love for layered, narrative-driven music is a thread you can hear in Maasho’s own discography.

Outside the studio, Maasho stays locked in. Whether he’s hunting down hidden gem food spots, like that gas station with hibachi in the back, or getting buckets on the court, he’s always chasing the next experience to soak in. And if you’re ever on FIFA, don’t be surprised if he’s running Pro Clubs with a demo playing in the background. His life is built around movement and immersion, which ends up feeding back into the music in unexpected ways.

When asked if he could go back and talk to his younger self, Maasho knew exactly what he’d say. “Your superpower isn’t the music, it’s the way you connect.” It’s not just the songs, it’s the way people feel when they hear them. With each new release, he’s building more than a catalog, he’s building a world, one that’s equally chaotic and comforting, just like the rooms he’s had to call home.