MASHA. and the Fam Release Single New Normal
The Los Angeles-based collective debuts a new track inspired by lyrics written over a decade ago.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in World
Musical collective MASHA. and the Fam has released their latest single, New Normal. The track features a 15-piece horn section that was recorded in Cape Town.
Why it matters
Songwriter Masha Alexis penned the lyrics in 2015 following the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore to address societal conditions. The project remained unreleased for nine years as the artist waited to develop the necessary musical skills to arrange the complex composition.
The production features a 15-piece horn section, a significant expansion over the collective’s previous maximum arrangement size of 5 instruments. The final track resulted from a nine-year development period.
The players
Masha Alexis
She is the primary songwriter and arranger for the Los Angeles-based music collective.
MASHA. and the Fam
This music collective originated in a basement of a door factory in Los Angeles.
William Haubrich
He co-arranged the 15-piece horn section featured on the new single.
The details
The song emerged from a rehearsal improvisation session where Alexis and William Haubrich arranged the expansive horn parts. The group, which formed in a basement of a door factory, includes members Masha Alexis, Pedro Aquino, Servio Maldonado, and Kyle Dombroski.
Timeline
The lyrics were originally written in 2015.
The single was officially released on October 24, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This release reflects a broader trend of artists revisiting social commentary through extended production timelines and complex instrumental arrangements. The track serves as a long-gestating artistic response to the 2015 death of Freddie Gray.
The single is now available for listeners across all standard digital music streaming platforms. Fans can hear the new 15-piece arrangement immediately as part of the collective’s latest studio output.
The takeaway
The nine-year journey to release this single demonstrates the importance of waiting until a production meets a songwriter's creative standards. Listeners can gain a deeper appreciation for the song by focusing on how the lyrics connect to the socio-political climate of 2015.
Further reading
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Source note: This article includes information reported by Cashboxcanada.
