My God, this has been such a delightful journey, a story I want to share from the very beginning. I have known Masha since 2020, when I moved to St. Petersburg. She was my art director at Karak, where I was hired to work as a background vocalist. I want to say right away: she was the first person who believed in me and saw something special. However, we didn’t communicate closely, and somehow our paths diverged. We just knew about each other—that’s how it was.
December 2023. My friend and I were planning to launch a podcast, and I was looking for a team to help us with the process. That’s when Masha appeared with her team.
Initially, we discussed the podcast idea, but during our conversation, I realized there was so much more to it. Masha had so much to offer, and I felt that her reappearance in my life wasn’t a coincidence.
I shared with her that I was at a stage in my musical journey where I wanted to write a song. I felt ready—whole—and capable of creating something meaningful to release into the world. Masha immediately offered to help. At first, I thought this wasn’t the right time, planning to revisit the idea closer to January or February.
But one December evening, while listening to music on my headphones, I had a sudden impulse to write to Masha. Everything after that felt like a whirlwind.
At our first meetings, I was amazed by how straightforward the whole process seemed and by the unique system Masha had created, which made it possible to craft a song so seamlessly. Her structure, her team, her approach—it all left me speechless. I was deeply moved by the depth we unpacked during our meetings, and I knew this would translate into the song.
Masha, as I write this, the Turkish wind is blowing around me, giving me goosebumps. I want to say that these past couple of months have been incredible. You’ve given me so much strength, support, faith, and love, all of which are clearly reflected in my first song. It turned out deep, wise, and infinitely beautiful. You are truly like a seamstress—I brought you the fabric, and you wove it into the most exquisite dress.
I am infinitely grateful to you for this, and I wish I could share with the world all the intricate details of how this work of art was created. Yes, I’m not afraid to call it that—art. But it all remains within our process, within our partnership.
For those curious about the process from the team’s perspective: when it came to the arrangement, the team faced no difficulties. They understood the task quickly and nailed it on the first attempt. I vividly remember standing at the supermarket checkout, bursting into a smile when I heard the arrangement for the first time.
Recording the song was a special and emotional experience. It was incredibly exciting but also coincided with a painful period in my life. I’ve been singing since childhood, but recording my first song brought out so many emotions. Thank you, Ilya, for your professionalism, support, and openness.
The studio, located in the heart of St. Petersburg, is stunning—modern and beautifully equipped. Huge thanks to Sergey and Ilya as well. They were always in touch, clear in their guidance, and so easy to work with.
The final stage was mixing. Oh, what an exciting part of the process! Huge thanks to Max for his professionalism. Everything was clean, precise, and beautiful from the very first version. We were truly lucky—the mixed version was ready in just a couple of days. Even when I asked for a revision, Max delivered it just as quickly.
Now, we’re counting down to March 15, 2024, when the song Soul will be released on digital platforms. The team is also handling the release process, making it all seamless.
And now, as I sit in Alanya, I know that my second song will be born here, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea—I am certain of it. Upon my return to St. Petersburg in April or May, it will take shape again, thanks to Masha and her incredible team.
Masha Mati 