Have you ever felt attacked on social media? Or have you been falsely accused, plagued by lies, or bullied in any way? “Disinformation” by Mashville is here to let you know you aren’t alone. So turn up the volume and prepare to sing along to this anthemic new release at the top of your lungs! We had the pleasure of interviewing Mashville, and here’s what they had to say:
Q: I like the depth of the lyrics for “Disinformation.” Combined with the video, I found it even more interesting. What inspired this song and video?
MASHVILLE: (Sian Michelle) “Disinformation” was inspired by a recent personal experience I was going through. I was getting trolled on social media for over a year and they were spreading lies and disinformation about me to my mutual contacts so this is basically my ‘fuck you’ to them! I think it’s important to recognize how easy it is to spread false information on social media and feel superior to others. The music video was inspired by how toxic and brutal social media can be! It can lead to severe destruction of mental health, depression, and even suicide, and unfortunately, it’s an ongoing problem. Considering what’s happening in the world today, Disinformation is the perfect song and visual to express that. I feel that it’s important to stand up and fight for the truth even if at times you feel like there’s no hope.
Q: Can you walk me through the production process for “Disinformation”?
MASHVILLE: (Marc Benjamin, Founder of Mashville) In the wake of the Russian invasion on the people of Ukraine I started work on a song about disinformation that would be universal enough to apply to both personal and global situations – all the ways that social media and mass media are manipulated to spread hurtful lies to a person or group’s advantage.
We also knew it was so apropos for Sian as a statement both musically and thematically so we worked closely on recording vocals and finalizing the arrangement to really showcase her incredible voice, which spans sultry Gaga-like attitude in the verses to take-no-prisoners rock goddess on the hook. I’d originally started the track with the guitar riff, played for demo purposes on my natural mahogany Godin Radium in my Hollywood studio. I built out the demo track in Logic Pro and brought it to my go-to writer/producer collaborator Valentin, who made some arrangement tweaks to maximize flow and energy and added the outro section to put a bow on it compositionally. He then crafted the final track, adding three layers of searing live guitars and slamming live drum programming.
Q: What’s the story behind the formation of Mashville?
MASHVILLE: (Marc Benjamin) I founded the Mashville collective as the flagship music initiative under Polaris Media Labs, which taps the better angels of media and entertainment to develop programming that has a positive impact on people’s lives. In a time where people are routinely triggered on social media to stoke anger, we believe that we can make a difference by creating stories through amazing television, film, and music formats that galvanize and surprise you, helping you move past assumptions and see people for who they really are. In addition to Mashville, we are also developing several unscripted TV formats and a movie musical connected by the same spirit of unity, common humanity, and purpose. I’m very grateful to have had the support from so many music industry professionals and community arts leaders throwing their talents into helping cast and develop this brilliant group, and especially to the five gifted artists who comprise its first generation.
Q: If you could open a show for any artist who would it be? Why?
MASHVILLE: (Sian Michelle) If I could open a show for any artist I would love it to be “The Weeknd”, or “Avril Lavigne”, as I admire them for their artistry and I absolutely adore their music. They are both one of my favorite artists in the industry and are also big inspirations to me when it comes to songwriting and performing. That being said, I have many more artists I look up to such as Janis Joplin, Christina Aguilera, Pink, Paramore, Led Zeppelin, Steven Tyler, Freddy Mercury, ie.
Q: If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?
MASHVILLE: (Sian Michelle) As amazing as it is to be in the music industry, there are definitely a lot of negative aspects that I wish could change. Some being from personal experiences, there are many people in this industry that scam and underdeliver to artists whether it’s promising to pitch you to major labels or get you some radio airplay. There are lots of PR agencies claiming that for a monthly fee, they will get you somewhere above the crowd by telling you you’re the “next Taylor Swift,” but really they just want money for their own financial needs. Unfortunately, this is a major ongoing problem that many artists face in the entertainment industry, and I think it’s an important subject that needs to be talked about.
Q: Do you have any parting words for your supporters?
MASHVILLE: (Sian Michelle) If I could say anything to my supporters it would be to never give up and always believe in yourself because it’s so easy to lose hope, beat yourself up, and compare yourself to others. Especially for those who have similar experiences to mine, don’t let the evil words and lies of social media destroy your confidence and mental health because at the end of the day, you are stronger than they are and you are capable of finding your higher self. Have the strength to keep chasing your dreams, and gain that confidence back. Let nothing and no one bring you down! Do what you love and only surround yourself with good people who love and support you.
Interviewed by Zoey King
FOLLOW MASHVILLE:
