Groove in the Ghost Hour - MASSEY’s “3:00AM FUNK” Captures the Pulse of a City that Won’t Sleep

There’s a specific kind of clarity that arrives when the night stretches into morning. The 3AM stillness when the bars are closing, the streets are thinning and the energy shifts from party to introspection.

It’s not the kind of clarity that explains everything, but the kind that invites you to feel more deeply, to sit in your thoughts.

MASSEY’s “3:00 AM FUNK” lives in that moment — the after-hours heartbeat of the city, where funk meets longing and groove meets vulnerability.

Watch the Official Music Video here:

From the first few bars, the track establishes its groovy atmosphere. Charlie Wooton, who co-produced the track and plays bass, lays down a confident line. There’s a natural coolness to it, a low-end warmth that invites you into the scene rather than commanding it.

Doug Belote’s drumming complements this with tasteful precision. Steady and pulsing. Together, they create a foundation that feels lived-in, like a dimly lit lounge that’s open just a little later than it should be.

Layered atop that rhythm section are the expressive, textural guitars of Peter Oravetz and Daniel Groover. Their parts play off one another. Sometimes clean and crisp, sometimes swirling into reversed lines that add a subtle surrealism to the track.

It’s a sound decision that perfectly reflects the song’s emotional duality: grounded, yet dreamlike. This is funk for the sidewalk after the club, when your heart is still racing and you’re not quite ready to call it a night.

Then come the horns. The 504 Horns (Jason Parfait on saxophones and Ian Smith on trumpet and trombone) take it to another level. Their lines burst in with clarity and fire, offering the emotional peaks that punctuate the song’s otherwise smooth, smoky texture. They are a perfect pairing of arrangement and restrain.

But it is MASSEY who delivers with true understated soul. There’s an ease , but underneath it all is more weight - searching, a loneliness maybe. The lyrics speak to a tension that so many will know. Being surrounded by lots of people, music, movement, and still feeling a little apart from it all.

The parties, the lights, the energy. These things can’t always fill the space that you carry inside. And yet its in those strange hours, that genuine moments happen. Fleeting connections. Real emotions. A passing glance that lingers. A laugh that means more than it should.

“3:00 AM FUNK“ is about savoring those moments, even if they fade by the morning.

The song’s video, filmed in Denver, adds another layer. Visuals that echo the track’s moody undertone while paying homage to the nightlife pulse it captures. But the real magic here is in the sound itself. This is a song that you feel, one that invites you to walk slower, listen closer, and maybe reflect on your own 3AM memories.

With a unique approach to songwriting, MASSEY doesn’t rely on conventional instrumentation, but instead uses the power of the human voice to vocalize entire arrangements — from guitar riffs to basslines, percussion, and melodies. This innovative style is reminiscent of the legendary James Brown, blending rhythm and melody into a singular compelling voice.

The project was born from a serendipitous meeting with renowned producer JoeBaby Michaels, who saw the potential in MASSEY’s unconventional creative process.

Together with lead guitarist and longtime collaborator Peter Oravetz, MASSEY crdates dynamic music that marries the raw energy of funk, soul, and rock with the gritty and vibrant spirit of New Orleans.

Since its inception, MASSEY has captivated listeners with a sound that feels both timeless and fresh. The first few singles have already made a significant impact, including the hypnotic “Tattoo My Heart”, which draws from the mystique and allure of New Orleans.

This is music that is alive and driven by infectious melodies and rhythms that stay with you.