Masha Kova

The Miami-based pop and R&B artist Masha Kova has released her latest single ‘Red Light, Green Light’. She kindly chatted to us: 

 

What is your earliest musical memory?

Some of my earliest memories are connected to music because of my mom. She was a pop
artist, so I grew up seeing music as something real. I watched her record, perform, and live that
life, and she became my first example of what being an artist could look like.

Then I started playing piano when I was 8, and that’s when music became something that
belonged to me too. I wasn’t only watching anymore. I was learning how to express myself
through it.

When did you begin songwriting?

I started songwriting around age 16. By then, I had already been playing piano for years, so I
understood music from that perspective, but songwriting opened up a completely different way
of expressing myself. I started paying much more attention to lyrics, melodies, and how you can
take a feeling or experience and turn it into a song.

I’m still developing as a songwriter, and I actually love collaborating because every session
teaches me something new about my own voice.

You have your new single “Red Light Green Light” out now. What was the inspiration/story behind the song?

“Red Light Green Light” is really about the push and pull of attraction. It’s flirty and playful, but
underneath that, it’s also about being confident enough to decide when someone gets the green
light and when they don’t. You control where the connection goes.

Musically, I wanted something that made people move. I wanted to explore House and dance
influences while still keeping elements of Pop and R&B that feel natural to me.
The moment we started creating it, I could already imagine myself performing it. That’s when I
knew there was something there.

 

Where did you record the track and who produced it?

We recorded “Red Light Green Light” at A2F Studios, and it was produced by ALXi and
Terrence “Tracksion” Rolle.

I think what made their collaboration so interesting was what they each brought into the room.
ALXi has a background as a Russian DJ and producer, so there’s naturally this dance and club
influence in his approach, while Terrence brought another layer of R&B sensibility to the record.
That combination really helped us find the sound of “Red Light Green Light.”

 

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the recording sessions?

What I remember most is how quickly the song became bigger than just something I was
recording.

I could already see myself performing it. I was thinking about movement, choreography, what
the visuals could look like, and how the energy would translate onstage.

Not every song does that to me immediately, so I remember being really excited because it felt
like we weren’t just creating a record. We were starting to create an entire world around it.

Did you use any particular instruments, microphones, or recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for the record?

I leave a lot of the technical equipment choices to my producers and engineers because that’s
where their expertise really comes in. I usually focus on the performance and making sure the
song’s personality comes through vocally.

For this record, the production itself was really important to the tone. ALXi’s background as
a DJ brought that dance-driven energy, and Terrence brought a refined R&B influence. I think
you can hear both worlds meeting in the record, which is exactly what made it exciting for me.

 

Which of your tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?

Happiest is definitely “Red Light Green Light.” There’s such a playful and confident energy to
it, and performing it genuinely makes me happy.

Angriest? I don’t think I’ve released that song yet…. I like a happy vibe honestly.

Most reflective is probably when you hear me stripped back with just my voice and piano. That’s
where a completely different side of me comes out. There’s nowhere to hide when it’s just you
and an instrument.

Was it a difficult song to write?

I wouldn’t say difficult because we found the energy and personality of the record pretty
naturally. I have an incredible team of writers who help bring my vision to life.

I wanted it to be sexy and flirty without feeling like I was forcing anything. It still needed to sound
like me.

That’s something I’m becoming more aware of as I grow as an artist. A song can be great, but I
still have to believe what I’m saying when I sing it.

 

The single is accompanied by an official music video. What was the thought process behind the video and who directed it?

James Saintsurin directed the video. I wanted the visuals to expand the world we had already
created with the song.

We pulled inspiration from the red light, green light concept through color, racing influences,
fashion, choreography, and movement, but I didn’t want us to literally recreate the childhood
game.

I wanted it to feel more elevated, sexy, and performance-driven. I’m very visual when it comes to
my music, so I love being involved in figuring out what a song actually looks like. Seeing the
final video premiere on Vevo was such a special moment.

 

Do you have any further music releases planned for 2026/2027?

Definitely. I’m already recording and developing what’s next.

At the same time, I’m learning not to rush through an era just because everything moves so
quickly now. There’s still more that we want to do with “Red Light Green Light,” and I’m having
so much fun performing it and watching the record reach new audiences.

But there is absolutely more music coming. I think 2027 is going to show people a lot more of
who Masha Kova is as an artist.

 

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

Miami Beach.

Energetic. Colorful. Sexy. Creative. Unpredictable.
That’s Miami.

 

Do you have any live dates planned in the UK/Europe in 2026/2027?

Nothing I can officially announce just yet, but performing in the UK and Europe is absolutely
something I want to do.

We’re already thinking internationally with the music and exploring opportunities to introduce
“Red Light Green Light” to audiences outside of the U.S.

So hopefully the next time you ask me this question, I’ll have some dates for you! LOL

 

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?

I want people to have felt something, and I want them to remember me.
That’s really it.

Someone doesn’t necessarily have to walk into the room already knowing who Masha Kova is.
But if they leave saying, “Who was that?” or wanting to hear another song, follow me or see me
perform again, then I’ve done my job.

And I always want people to have fun. I want performing to feel like we’re sharing an
experience, not like I’m performing at you.

Do you have any favored stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc.?

Definitely piano and acoustic guitar.

Piano will probably always be the most personal instrument for me because I’ve been playing
since I was 8 and it’s such a huge part of my musical foundation.

I also love acoustic guitar because both instruments allow you to strip everything back. As much
as I’m loving choreography and these bigger dance-driven performances right now, I also want
to be able to sit down with an instrument and let the music speak for itself.

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?

I would choose Montezuma’s Daughter by H. Rider Haggard. I love how immersive the story
is. There’s adventure, romance, history, tragedy, and so much emotion happening throughout it.

As an artist, that would give me so much to play with musically. I could imagine the score
changing with the story, from really intimate, emotional moments to these huge, cinematic
pieces. And because I’m a pianist, I’d love to build some of those quieter moments around piano
and then expand into something much bigger.

I think creating music for a story that already makes me visualize an entire world would be such
an exciting challenge.

How do you look after your voice?

I’ve learned that prevention is everything.

I vocalize daily, stay hydrated, and use natural steaming. Honey, herbal teas and ginger are
staples for me too, especially when I’m rehearsing, recording or performing a lot.

But I’m also learning that vocal health isn’t only about what you do five minutes before you sing.
Sleep, hydration, rest, and knowing when not to push your voice are just as important.

Your voice is your instrument, so I’m becoming much more disciplined about taking care of it
before there’s ever a problem.

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?

My influences come from a lot of different places. I love my mom’s voice (Julia Kova), Britney
Spears, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Tate McRae, and Janet Jackson, for example, especially because
they understood that being an artist could be about the entire experience: the music, visuals,
fashion, choreography, and live performance.

I also listen across Pop, R&B, House and dance music because I never want all of my
inspiration to come from one place.

And working with Teddy Riley has made me even more curious about the generations of music
that came before mine. I think if you’re going to be inspired by a sound, it’s important to
understand some of the history behind it too.

My recommendation would honestly be: listen outside of your generation. There is sooo
much incredible music to discover.

What makes Masha Kova happy and what makes you unhappy?

Being in my artistry makes me genuinely happy. Performing, creating music and seeing
something I’ve worked on make somebody else happy is probably one of the best
feelings for me.

There’s something crazy about watching someone sing your lyrics back to you, dance to your
song or tell you that something you created made their day better. Those moments remind me
why I’m doing this.

What makes me unhappy is division. I don’t like seeing people constantly looking for reasons to
separate themselves from one another, especially when so much is already happening in the
world.

Music is actually one of the things I love because it can do the opposite. You can have people
from completely different backgrounds in the same room, and for those few minutes, everybody
is connected by the same song. That’s the kind of energy I want to put into the world.

Feature Image Photo Credit: Supplied By MaDa Music Entertainment

Masha Kova’s latest single ‘Red Light, Green Light’ is out now.

Listen Here

Website: https://www.mashakova.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iammashakova