“Marshall, you’re a musician,” proclaimed a University of Southern California sound design professor. With those words, Marshall Ma, known as Muashall, discovered his true calling. Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to a Chinese-American family, Muashall recounts that pivotal moment. He had just turned in his class project. The sound design instructor gave him a “suspicious glare.” This did not bode well. Marshall was turning every sound design assignment into a musical work. Simultaneously understanding and missing the assignment, this pattern of failing upward would follow him.
Finding His Rhythm
Upon graduation from the School of Cinematic Arts at USC, Ma established his musical identity under the guidance of a distinguished concert pianist and Hollywood composer. Their sessions took on an unconventional ritual. Instead of rehearsing classical repertoire, Ma would play his instructor demo mixes. His mentor observed, “The music is more than merely the sum of your sounds.”
This seasoned mentor also respected Muashall’s artistic tendencies and refusal to correct what society perceives as flaws. Instead, he valued them as facets of his unique identity. And music became the medium for that expression. Feeling encouraged and empowered, Muashall took the bold step of self-releasing his work, hitting a milestone of 12 published songs—all written, performed, and produced by him.
The Abs and the Notes
Before the symphonies and melodies, however, there were camera flashes and traveling the globe. Muashall had inked a contract with Wilhelmina Models during his college years, gaining a following as a model. But this surface-level success cast a peculiar shadow over his musical aspirations. Despite his musical talent, Muashall found himself typecast by his own sculpted physique. Yet, he managed to spin the tale of duality into an asset. The multidimensional person that he was resonated with his fan base. Muashall equally embraces receiving queries on the composition of his song “Raspberries” as much as questions about his fitness routine. “It’s kind of a dream,” he shares.
Facing the Demons
Being multi-talented does not equate to having all the answers, however. In fact, Muashall confesses to having a “dangerous spontaneity” that has brought him pain. Yet, he harnesses these experiences as fuel for his art and personal growth. “The only way over something is through,” he states, emphasizing the importance of “showing up in the studio day after day.” The lessons he’s learning range from the practical, like time management and eating right, to the profound, such as spiritual honesty and the importance of being yourself.
Tomorrow’s Song
When asked about the future, Muashall keeps it simple: “Tomorrow’s a new day in the studio. That’s as far as I’ll think.” It’s this unwavering presence of the moment combined with a philosophy of not taking himself too seriously that has endeared him to fans. By striking a chord between the visual and the sonic, Muashall’s story illustrates that it is unnecessary to fit into predefined categories to achieve success. Instead, find your way. Do what you love. And be authentic.