Originally Published: 2010-05-09

Mark Masri

At first glance, it’s easy to assume that rising young Canadian vocal star Mark Masri is of Italian descent. After all, his new CD is entitled La Voce, he sings numbers like Lucio Dalla’s “Caruso,” “Ce Sempre Musica,” and “Buongiorno Principessa” in very fluent Italian, and he’s dressed fashionably in Hugo Boss.
In his recent Tandem interview, Masri sets the record straight, He was born and raised in Pickering, and educated in Scarborough, where, he recalls, “I was likely the only lighter-skinned person in my class. My father is Lebanese and my mother is from an Anglo, Scottish and Dutch mix, so I’ve been exposed to many different cultural influences in my life. Then I married an Italian woman, and I have become very close to the Italian language because of my wife’s family. They’re always speaking Italian, so I had to learn to understand enough to find out enough of what they were saying about me. It was more of a defense mechanism!” Masri laughs. “I do love the European approach to fashion and the passion contained in their music and their whole approach to life.”
Fitting, then, that we reached Masri in Bruges, Belgium, where he explains, “I’m recording a PBS special tomorrow with Scala. They’re a very well-known female choir in this part of Europe, and I’m guesting with them.”
This is good timing for the promotion of La Voce, a record that now gives Masri a real shot at international success.
The digital release of the CD was on May 4, with the physical release coming on June 29. Masri says that the record was originally planned to come out on a Nashville-based boutique record label Green Hill. EMI Music (who distribute Green Hill) sensed its real commercial potential and has stepped in to release it internationally.
“EMI International, led by Canada, have got involved and are making it one of their own releases in a sense,” he says. “This is a very exciting time for me.”
Masri has released previous albums, beginning with a self-titled debut in 2000, one that scored a Juno nomination for Best Gospel Recording. A more pop approach was taken on 2008’s See My Face, and he also released a seasonal record, Christmas Is…, the same year.

Page 1/...Page 2

Printable Version Email to a Friend Share

Voice Your Opinion Letter to the Editor