Information/Write-up
Ralph Mashats (1957–2024): Electro Visionary of Montréal’s Underground
(Real name: François Roy)
Ralph Mashats was a Montréal-based musician, songwriter, and producer whose work pushed the boundaries of synth-pop, electro, funk, and experimental chanson. Known for his uncompromising DIY approach and genre-blurring sensibility, Mashats—real name François Roy—quietly carved out a cult legacy within Québec’s underground music scene from the early 1980s through the 2000s.
His earliest known release, the satirical single “Y’a comme un trou dans l’garde-manger”, appeared on the Gamma label in the early 1980s. With a deadpan delivery over funky synth-and-beat arrangements, the track offered a wry commentary on scarcity and urban survival in East Montréal. Though originally overlooked, it later gained renewed attention and was featured on the Rap Aléatoire II compilation, recognizing its contribution to the early landscape of Québec rap and spoken-word funk.
Mashats followed with Micro Album Weiji, a 7" EP released on DG Records in 1981. Its lead track “Irradiés” was recorded on a TEAC 4-track cassette machine, combining minimal synth textures, haunting French vocals, and lo-fi experimentation. It captured a raw, atmospheric energy emblematic of the early electro underground. A follow-up 7", “Empty Eyes / Fly My Way,” layered in post-punk melancholy and melodic fragility, making these singles rare but sought-after examples of independent francophone synth music.
In 1983, Mashats adopted the pseudonym Fitz Roy to collaborate with producer Michel Bibeau (noted for his work with Pluton & Humanoids) and vocalist Elaine Desjardins in the studio project Misty Lane. Bringing his Roland TR-808 and TB-303 to Studio 21 in Saint-Eustache, he co-created “Energy” and “Contrôle”, two synth-disco tracks drenched in artful naïveté and rhythmic innovation. Bibeau added lush Jupiter 4 textures and studio effects, while Desjardins’ vocals offered a disarming charm. Long circulated only among collectors, the tracks will receive their first official reissue on May 2, 2025 via Dark Entries Records, bringing Mashats’ playful yet sophisticated electro-pop vision to a new global audience of Italo, Canadian disco, and oddball wave enthusiasts.
Throughout his creative life, Mashats explored other musical identities, including Ralph et Les Baronics, whose tracks like “Les Martiens” and “Berlin, Tanz Mit Mir” wove sci-fi themes into post-punk and coldwave frameworks. He also contributed to experimental groups such as Pas-Easy, collaborating with artists like Richard Bélanger on synth-poetic curiosities like “Appel Interurbain.”
I first connected with François Roy in 2015, after he emailed me about his artist listing on CitizenFreak.com. Over the course of our exchange, he graciously shared YouTube links to his work, mentioned the absence of master tapes, and expressed curiosity about how the music was being received. His tone was warm, playful, and grounded—reflective of the spirit embedded in his recordings. "If you get rich with them, please tell me ;)" he joked in one email, embodying the modesty and humour of an artist who never took himself too seriously, even while creating sincerely unique work.
François Roy passed away on October 13, 2024, at the age of 67, due to a pulmonary illness. He is survived by his partner Josée Parente, children Frédérick and Elizabeth, granddaughter Gianna, his brother Martin, and a growing audience that continues to rediscover and celebrate his art.
Though his work remained largely outside the mainstream, Ralph Mashats embodied the spirit of independent creation. His music—restless, playful, and unmistakably personal—continues to resonate with those who seek out the forgotten edges of Canadian and francophone electronic music history.
-Robert Williston
Ralph Mashats: vocals, keyboards
Richard Provost: bass guitar
Patrick Kelly: guitar
Produced by Pierre Gougon
Recorded at Landon Studio, Montreal, Quebec
Cover design by Jardon
Special thanks to Chris and Dean
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