Bristol trio Masca has announced that their highly anticipated debut album, Love Letters, will be released on April 3, 2026, coinciding with the launch of their feelgood new single and music video, “Oxytocin.” This lead track is a perfect introduction to the album’s blend of rock with a pop sparkle and pop with a rock snarl, which vocalist and guitarist Christina Maynard explains is a song “for my baby, or to music, or anything that soothes you.” The album, which blends glittering melodies and blistering riffs, delves deep into poignant compositions directed to Tina’s son, band life intricacies, working on minimum wage, and even critiques on global billionaires.
Masca was born in 2021 during lockdown when Tina and Jack (drums, vocals) began livestreaming jam sessions to cover their mortgage, quickly discovering a “magic” in writing together. After an initial run as a duo, they completed their current lineup with Ben on bass after their piano/synth virtuoso Georgie Ward was whisked away to tour with Dua Lipa. Despite having a new baby in the mix—a period during which Tina recorded many of her vocals in a duvet fort at home while dealing with first-trimester sickness—the band built a garden home studio to maintain their creative grind. Tina, whose confidence in playing and performing grew after filling in on guitar for IDLES in 2022, emphasizes that their process is built on trust, vulnerability, and a refusal to stop creating.
For Masca, being a band is ultimately about resilience, family, and chasing the moment when melody meets riff and everything clicks. The album, which was mixed by Elliott Vaughan, showcases their intentional sound that’s built for curious minds who also want to move their bodies. Tracks like “Act My Age” and “DWIW” promise an album that is as socially aware as it is deeply personal and melodic. You can catch Masca live at several UK dates in December 2025 and June 2026.