Masonna

Masonna (マゾンナ), started in 1987 in Osaka Japan, is the noise music project of Yamazaki Maso. Sometimes rendered as an acronym M.A.S.O.N.N.A., standing for either Mademoiselle Anne Sanglante Ou

Masonna (マゾンナ), started in 1987 in Osaka Japan, is the noise music project of Yamazaki Maso. Sometimes rendered as an acronym M.A.S.O.N.N.A., standing for either Mademoiselle Anne Sanglante Ou Notre Nymphomanie Aureole (French, meaning in English 'Madam bloody Anne, or our nymphomaniac aureole') or more rarely Mystic Another Selection Of Nurses Naked Anthology. Maso has said before that the name is a pun on US pop music star Madonna, though the name is also a composite of Maso (Japanese for 'Masochist') & Onna (Japanese for 'Girl') alluding again to the fetishistic "bloody Anne" reference in the French acronym. Along with Merzbow, Masonna is one of the best known Japanese noise projects.

The Masonna project has been the opening act for several well known artists on their Japanese concert dates, including Sonic Youth & Beck. Masonna also caught the attention of John Peel and was featured on his program, having even done a limited Masonna 'John Peel Sessions' CD.