Massey’s Cross

Massey’s Cross blend rock, indie, blues, and folk into a uniquely Canadian sound. In this interview, they reflect on their origins, influences, storytelling, and what listeners can expect from their evolving journey.

Massey’s Cross emerged in 2024 and quickly shaped a distinct sound blending rock, indie, blues, folk, and experimental elements. What sparked the creative chemistry between you, and how did the band’s identity form in those early days?

Mark and Geoff have known each other for years, (since junior high school) and have always worked on various musical projects and collaborations over the years, though not exclusively. The duo was formed in 2024 to collaborate on what became an independent EP release entitled Pretty Tasha, which tells the story of an idealistic girl who meets a malcontent who draws her into a toxic and manipulative relationship only for her to exact her revenge. This concept EP came from having an abundance of time on our hands during COVID lockdowns and resulted in Massey’s Cross, which continues creating, albeit on a less dark path with the recent indie release “Memorial”.

Calgary’s cultural landscape and the nearby Rocky Mountains seem to play a big role in your inspiration. How does the environment around you influence your songwriting, mood, or overall approach to creating music?

Calgary’s geography and surroundings are a truly unique place. Both being rare native Calgarians, Mark and Geoff lean into the surrounding natural beauty as inspiration while also leaning into promoting “Canadiana”. Winters are cold which allows for a lot of writing and recording when you are locked away from the bitter weather.

Your songs combine classic rock grit with modern textures. Which artists or musical eras have had the biggest impact on your sound, and how do you merge those influences while still keeping your signature identity?

From the classic rock perspective, notable influences include the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Hendrix and Pink Floyd. Those archetypes are somewhat universal but we mix in more contemporary acts like The Foo Fighters, Radiohead and Marcus King as examples. Having strong historical appreciation for the blues influences of the archetypes while also looking through a more contemporary lens allows for a re-examination and re-presentation of familiar themes and styles to keep things fresh.

“Gospel of Luther,” from your upcoming album Memorial, hints at a powerful and emotionally charged musical direction. Can you share the story behind this track and how it fits into the themes of the new album?

Memorial is less thematic than Pretty Tasha, as the predecessor. Memorial is not as narrative driven holistically, but Gospel of Luther certainly sits in the story-driven mold. It is really a re-examination of delta folk blues music with a fictional derivative story of a man who is faced with hypocrisy in the face of his wife’s impending death from illness. Similar to my earlier comment, GOL is really a modern take on historical musical styles and themes. It started as a “throw away” guitar progression which caught the ear of Mark and inspired a rapid collaboration on the lyrics.

Your social media presence has helped you build a dedicated following, giving listeners a window into your creative world. How important is that direct connection with fans, and how do you balance online engagement with staying focused on the music?

Human interaction is more valuable than online likes and followers most certainly. To date, we have been focused on “building the brand” online. Stage 2 then becomes more intimate personal interaction. Balancing creativity with the perfunctory brand building activities is always a challenge as an Indie band as there are simply so many hats to wear. Being consistent and committed to both the online requisites and the music is key to maintaining balance.

As you continue carving your place in the Canadian music scene, what can fans expect next from Massey’s Cross in 2025 and beyond—whether it’s new releases, tours, collaborations, or creative surprises?

We envision having another album release late summer to fall of 2026. Concurrently, we will be focusing entirely on live performance and promotion so the prospect our tours is real but as yet, ill-defined.

Massey’s Cross EPK