Masketta Fall were an Australian pop-rock group formed in 2012 by Braden Ross on vocals, Ben Downing on vocals and guitar, Daniel Molivas on vocals and guitar, Jamie Ross on drums, and Ryan Spiller on bass guitar. They released a studio album, Golden (November 2016), four extended plays and six singles. They supported tours by other artists, 5 Seconds of Summer, Anberlin, You Me at Six and Tonight Alive, American Authors, the Vamps and Demi Lovato. They headlined their own tours of Australia. On 3 May 2017 Masketta Fall announced an indefinite hiatus after Molivas became too ill to perform.
History
Masketta Fall were formed in 2012 as an alternative rock group in Werribee, a suburb of Melbourne, by Braden Ross on vocals, Ben Downing on vocals and guitar, Daniel Molivas on vocals and guitar, Jamie Ross on drums and Ryan Spiller on bass guitar and keyboards.[1][2][3] Molivas and the Ross brothers had all attended Werribee Secondary College.[4] A commonly accepted myth is that the group's name refers to a dog that Daniel was walking along a beach, Masketta, which fell down a cliff but survived.[5][3] They actually created their name by looking at Marshall amp and a basket and then added a random word after the made up word "Masketta" fall.
The group played shows at high schools,[5] busked out front of live venues,[6] and formed an online fan group, the Masketeers.[7] The band supported a national tour by For Our Hero in mid-2012 and then 5 Seconds of Summer in August.[8][9] They independently released their debut extended play, Something Beautiful, in September with the associated single, "Do You Wanna Dance".[8][10][11] The track was co-written by Downing and Molivas.[12]
Masketta Fall supported a tour by Anberlin in August 2013.[13] They headlined their own tour in October and November to promote their second EP, Parachute (October 2013), with its title track issued as a single.[14][15] It was co-written by Downing, Molivas and Ross with Michael Delorenzis and Michael Paynter.[16] Spiller left soon after and the group continued as a four-piece.[14]
In November 2014 Masketta Fall signed a record deal with Universal Music Australia[1] after being scouted whilst on tour with American indie rock band, American Authors.[17] Their first single on the label, "Summertime Girls", was released on 5 December 2014,[18] which gained high rotation on Australian commercial radio.[1] It was co-written by Downing, Molivas, Ross, Delorenzis and Paynter.[19] It peaked at No. 6 on the ARIA Hitseekers Singles Chart.[20]
In 2015 the band supported the Vamps,[21]Demi Lovato[22] and McBusted[23] across Australia, and headlined Canberra's annual Sky Fire event with over 100,000 in attendance.[24][25] Their next single "Love Me Like That" was released on 15 January 2016.[26] Their debut album, Golden, appeared on 25 November 2016 along with its lead single, "I Believe".[27] On 3 May 2017 the band announced on social media that Daniel Molivas was ill with chronic fatigue syndrome and his condition wasn't improving, leaving him unable to work. As a result, they announced that they would be going on an indefinite hiatus.[28]
^ abSapet, Maggie (11 March 2013). "Masketta Fall". Australian Musician Network (AMN). Archived from the original on 16 January 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
^"'Parachute' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 20 July 2018. Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' &/or 'Performer:'
^"'Summertime Girls' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 20 July 2018. Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' &/or 'Performer:'
