Before diving into the interview, make check out the album, which is out now via Moving Castle. The prophetic project is full of feel-good tunes to help you through the pandemic and is powerful enough to leave the imprint of a warm embrace once you give it a listen-through.

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Thank you for taking the time to do this interview! First and most importantly, how are you?

Of course, thanks for having me! I’m doing well, getting through the best I can. But I have a lot to be thankful for.

6 years ago, you told AltCitizen, “I think all the music that I really am drawn to definitely can inspire either feeling like you’re somewhere else or longing to be kind of in a different place or state or something like that.” You’re someone who has explicitly stated you wanted to keep a low profile, even wanting to keep your location solely on the internet. Do you think this mindset has helped you or harmed you during the pandemic?

Oh cool haha. I still feel that really represents how I feel about music, and more so now the feeling of looking for an escape. I do like to keep a low profile and I think that has not affected me too much in a negative way this year. I actually made some changes near the beginning of this year such as starting a Patreon group and a podcast (my first time speaking publicly) which has been a great opportunity to open up to others and be more personal. That has helped me a lot in a year where we all can feel far from each other.

…the message of being ok and optimistic even in the face of extreme hardships is more important than ever.

You actually started it’s the end of the world, but that’s ok. in 2019… Pretty prophetic if you ask us. Can you tell us more about the project?

Yeah! Actually, we started it back in 2018 if you can believe that. The concept started as a visual/narrative idea that Dream Angel (my wife and creative partner) and I had about a post-apocalyptic world with an optimistic twist. When 2020 came along we realized that the title and concept were becoming relevant and real and it kind of made us reconsider the whole thing. But at the end of the day, we decided that the message of being ok and optimistic even in the face of extreme hardships is more important than ever.

Art is all up for interpretation, but what do you hope that listeners get out of the album?

I want listeners to listen with a fresh ear first and foremost. I have been making music as Slow Magic for nearly a decade now(!) so obviously, I’ve grown and changed a lot as an artist. I still feel very connected with my first songs sonically but I also hope to always expand and evolve on that foundation. The other thing that I want listeners to get out of the album is a feeling of euphoria and escapism while also relating to the lyrics that often times fall in line with the way we have all been feeling in a year of uncertainty.

What do you think is the connection between art foreshadowing huge events, like COUP’s Party Music [a hip-hop album released on September 11, 2001, and featured cover art of the Twin Towers exploding]? Is it all a coincidence or are artists more in tune with what’s going on in the world around them?

Oh, that’s interesting I’ve never heard of that. While I wish I could say that I have some secret insight into the future, back in 2018 the world wasn’t perfect and there were events and things going on that were uncertain and made some of us feel like the world was not in good shape. But I also do think artists of any kind can tap into something special :)

…for a while the rumor was that I am actually Bill Murray.

So, there’s been a huge rise in masked artists or public figures in the media recently. Especially when it comes to YouTubers and Twitch streamers. But it doesn’t stop fans from going crazy for them. I can see why people with celebrity do it, but what do you think the appeal is for fans?

That’s interesting to hear, I honestly don’t keep up with masked people like I should. Sometimes I think fans can more easily latch onto a masked character or brand because sometimes an identity can distract from the true purpose of the art. But honestly, I don’t think masked artists are usually celebrities beforehand. Most of the masked people I can think of now are just normal people who had a fun idea for a project :) that being said for a while the rumor was that I am actually Bill Murray.

Can you rank these masked musicians for us? MF Doom, Daft Punk, Malaa, Deathpact, Slow Magic.

Ok, I’m going to answer honestly and not use google here. Please don’t @ me anyone.

1. Daft Punk – Legends, very inspirational to me
2. MF Doom – Also a legend. But I’m less aware of his work
3. Malaa – haven’t heard of but I think they make house music
4. Deathpact – have never heard of. So yeah 4th place
5. Slow Magic – I’m at least top 5 here if not top 10

Thanks for doing that! And thank you for bringing us so much good music in 2020. Is there anything we should keep an eye out for in the new year?

Thanks for listening! I’m excited to get this album out in 2020 considering all that we have endured together. Stay Safe ppl ♡

Is there anything else you want us to know?

Today I learned that in 2014 in the Netherlands they built a bridge that’s sole purpose was to help squirrels cross a highway. The bridge, unfortunately, was only used by five squirrels in a 2-year span but cost over $160,000.

Glad to know that squirrels have it better off than us (in America) LOL. Thank you for that interesting fact and thank you again for talking with us… Be safe out there (or in here)!

You too! Thanks and everyone please wear a mask. Masks are cool.

The post Slow Magic Spits Facts, Ranks Masked Musicians, and Predicts Future in New Album [Interview] appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

‘Breathless’ is definitely something we can all relate to. The song is a reminder to take a breath when you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders.

I love the way the song turned out as an anthem for knowing you will be ok even when everything is not ok. Just like the other themes from the album, this one feels much more relevant in 2020.

Slow Magic

While the musician began on the EP a year ago, the tracks are sure to hit a lot harder in today’s world. Runn conveys the message perfectly and her airy vocals are somewhat comforting, too. As the pair worked on the song together, we can tell it came from the heart.

‘Breathless’ is a song about anxiety, and we wanted to really explore the feeling of being caught in the middle of it, and knowing you’ll make it through but not being quite there yet. It’s easy to be overwhelmed by life, especially now, and ‘Breathless’ is really talking about taking a moment to try and recognize it’s okay to stop and take a breath.

Runn

Personally, I find solace knowing that people from all over the world, no matter how different they may seem, are all in the same boat. This song just goes to show us that we’re not alone.

You can listen to Slow Magic and Runn’s ‘Breathless’ now below or on your streaming service provider of choice.

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‘Carry On’ came from a session with Katie Marshall from Paperwhite and Jeremy Silver in 2019. Coincidentally enough, the concept I was working on at the time for ‘it’s the end of the world, but it’s ok.,’ was a post-apocalyptic narrative where the focus was on getting through it and striving toward what was ahead. I had no idea the lyrics we came up with that day would ring so true in 2020. The line ‘If the stars burn out tonight we’re gonna carry on’ really echoes what I see happening all around the world right now amid such crazy times: people are carrying on with their lives and it is beautiful to see.

Slow magic

Paperwhite’s soft and silky voice carries the song’s powerful lyrics beautifully. She sings, “Even if the hope is gone, we are here, we still belong. They tell us that our world is wrong. But if the stars burn out tonight, we’re going to carry on.” Marshall’s vocals mixed with Slow Magic’s uplifting melody and the lyrics they wrote together creates an ambiance of hope.

While it’s easy to either get lost or ignore the world’s tribulations, it’s an amazing thing to see people coming together for a common cause. ‘Carry On’ is a reminder to everyone, that we can still keep going and reach our goals, even when obstacles come in the way.

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The journey of a thousand miles always starts ‘Somewhere’ right? Instantly setting the overall tone of Closer 2 U, ‘Somewhere’ is a majestic magic carpet ride through the sonic atmosphere curated by the genius that is Slow Magic. Handcrafted with the help of the Nashville based Woven in Hiatus, this piece creates a bubble of peace surrounding the immediate area of the listener, leaving them in a state of sheer tranquility and bliss. A perfect mental reset for the current state of the world, you can truly find a home ‘Somewhere’.

Creating a magnetic attraction to whatever speaker system is bumping this fantastic work, the title track ‘Closer 2 U’, a collaboration with the vibey legend Manila Killa, allows you to let your guard down for the time being, stress and tension drifting away from your body like smoke from a fire. Utilizing enough energy to keep the listener firmly entranced, you’ll be locked in its caressing clutches, much to your delight. An introspective, thought-provoking sonic thoroughfare that allows you to grapple with your demons in a controlled environment, ‘Closer 2 U’ affords stability in even the most rocky of times.

My personal favorite track on the EP, ‘Heartbeat/Helicopter’ brings memories of simpler times to the forefront of your mind. If this track was an emotion, it would be pure, uncut happiness. I’m left in a state of serene reminiscence, daydreaming of dancing in the woods with close friends and complete strangers, worries and fears problems for another time. Boasting the most amount of energy in Closer 2 U, audiences will be left moving and grooving to their heart’s content, practically bursting at the seams with unbridled joy. Mischievous grins are the main item on the menu, with no telling what shenanigans are about to be afoot when this track is played.

Closing Closer 2 U in true proper fashion, ‘Wild’ transports you to much simpler times, eliciting the same feelings of comfort that were prevalent when you got tucked in by your parents when you were little. Drifting off into nothingness just as you became closer and closer to the all-encompassing darkness that is sleep, this track is a stark reminder that even in times of darkness, the light will always prevail in the end. Hope can seem like an exhausting set of mental gymnastics at times, but when you’re given works like these, it truly does make life worth living. Sporting an inspirational melody that makes your heart sing like a solo from an opera singer, listeners will be grounded, escaping from their own personal hell and being told without words that it will all be alright again.

Originally having the title of It’s the End of the World, But It’s Ok, Slow Magic takes that idea and flips it on its head. Instead of attempting to find comfort in nothingness and the idea that the world is out of our control, we’re instead met with a stark reminder that we are all we need. We will once again regain a sense of normalcy and stability, and if we are overwrought with fear and anxiety, we are reminded that we’re all in this together. Music is such a communal force for the greater good, and that’s exactly what we need right now. Slow Magic has contributed to mass societal healing with the release of Closer 2 U, and I strongly urge everyone to check it out for themselves below.

The post Slow Magic Gives You A Sonic Hug With ‘Closer 2 U’ appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

After releasing ‘Home’ earlier this year, Slow Magic has followed up with a track that is easy to escape into with its plucky tempo, twinkling sound samples, and a percussion style that radiates warmth and positivity. Here’s how the artist himself describes the process that brought the track together:

“Back when we were going on tour together, Joe (Shallou) sent me a work in progress of what this song started as. I thought it was a super great track and wanted to add my own touch. After the tour ended, we met up in LA and finished the song together. I’m super happy with how it turned out, especially the ending section, which makes me want to go run as fast as I can down a road and forget everything.”

‘Somewhere’ opens with a trickle of shiny tones that feel innocent yet sultry. The steady tension builds in the background bass as the vocals lilt through the atmosphere that’s forming. Then the lyrics, “Sway with me/ everything’s alright” are both playful and soothing. When the beat settles, there is space for different sound samples to come out and play. This is definitely a song made to dance to, but not one that urges you. It is one of those tracks that you can’t help but feel good listening to and is a testament to Slow Magic’s true artistic ability to craft emotions and package them into musical experiences. It’s a beautiful way to create unique, fun, and thought-provoking music.

Fans will likely be eager to hear more from Slow Magics upcoming EP Closer 2 U which features ‘Somewhere’ and ‘Home’. Slow Magic shared his thought process behind the project and how he hopes it will be received during these tumultuous times in our world:“’Closer 2 U’ represents the difficulties of distance and the importance of connection. I want this EP to encourage and inspire people to reach out to the ones they care about in a time where we are all feeling distant.”

Check out ‘Somewhere’ below and keep an eye out for more meaningful music from Slow Magic.

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Slow Magic describes ‘Home’ with a message, “’I swore the sky was falling / but the morning sun still rose.’ These lyrics from my new single ‘Home’ encapsulate the message of my album, ‘it’s the end of the world but it’s ok.’ Now more than ever, it can feel like everything is falling apart. With this project and this song, I want to remind people that even through the worst times, we can make it through.”

Listen to Slow Magic ‘Home’ below and let us know what you think!

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