INTERVIEW: Slow Magic

When you were younger, your imaginary buddy was the best person in the world. Someone you could rely on to keep all of your secrets safe, they were always there to cheer you up when you needed it. They offered adventure, made you feel warm and introduced your being to endless opportunity.

Then you grew up. What happened to your mystical, young, loyal fellow though? Oh he hung around, except now he has a name – SLOW MAGIC.

The production project of an unidentified male artist, Slow Magic casts the limelight on his practical work rather than allowing it anywhere near himself, allowing his craft to act as the only focal point of Slow Magic without the distraction of reality.

Known for his intrinsic electronica and ethereal vibe, the announcement of his latest record, How To Run Away, came with a massive surge of excitement; and has since teased us with its wonderful leading singles, ‘Girls’ and ‘Hold Still’.

With the record hot out of the oven as well as touring the said material on a global scale, we were incredibly fortunate to converse with the mastermind behind Slow Magic.

What’s the story behind the name of your moniker Slow Magic?

It came just when I was working on the first song for the project, and I guess it has to kind of describe the way I work; because when I’m making music, it takes a really long time and I’m kind of a perfectionist with it. I take a little too long probably! That’s the “Slow” part. “Magic” is just music itself – it’s something magical that we can’t really explain and why it’s so important, what it does to us.

You’re yet to reveal your identity. What’s the reason behind this? Do you believe it compliments the dream-like sound of the music you produce?

It’s to make the focus just on the music and the art, and not a person or name or a place. And yeah, I think it definitely helps people just to notice what’s important I guess.

Is there a beauty to anonymity?

Yeah, it’s actually pretty nice to be anonymous and not have my face out there. I guess it helps my own personal life as far as like separating certain things from Slow Magic. Most things are really just personal though [laughs] as far as Slow Magic – what it is and who I am.

So you’ve got the best of both worlds then

Yeah, like Hannah Montana [laughs].

To me personally, when I look at your mask, it kind of resembles a spiritual fox. Is it anything in particular or a combination of different images?

Yeah well it’s supposed to be an imaginary animal, but really whatever someone thinks it is, it could be. You know I’ve heard a lot of different things – fox, zebra, horse, wolf, all those things. So yeah, it’s really up for interpretation.

Have you always been into electronic music or was there a time where you wanted to pursue a more band-orientated group with live instruments?

I mean yeah, when I was growing up I was into all sorts of different music and played in a lot of different bands, but I really got into electronic music and weird music when I was pretty young. I always liked listening to music that I couldn’t really figure out how they made it, and I think that’s what made me want to start making electronic music; to figure out how these crazy sounds were made.

What are some of those artists you were listening to growing up?

I think one of the biggest ones was the Icelandic band Moon. Some of their earlier records are really just intricate percussion and I still don’t know exactly what they did to record it. It’s just really good stuff, really musical at the same time as being really crazy.

I mean from Aphex Twin and bands like that is what I got into.

Name one artist you’d like to collaborate with.

Yeah, there’s so many that I’d love to work with. I think in particular, my favourite record from last year is Rhye’s album ‘Woman’ and his vocals are just amazing, so I think if I were to work with a vocalist, it would be the guy from Rhye.

You’re about to release your second record; How To Run Away. What does this album mean to you? Does it follow a particular theme or story?

Yeah it definitely means a lot to me. I guess the theme I wanted to translate was just running away from whatever, from home or good things, bad things, to chase a dream or try something crazy. And I guess it’s autobiographical just because my life with this project has changed a lot getting to travel, run away and chase the dream of playing music across the world.

How much time was spent making the new album?

I started working on it almost two years ago, so it’s been a long time and a lot of work, and also working on the artwork and everything around it so I’m really excited to finally release it.

As a producer, do you follow a certain process when writing music?

Yeah, I think it just happens a lot of times where I’ll come up with an idea at the computer or record a little thing, and then from there it just builds all somehow naturally and slow [laughs]. I try to recreate sounds that I’d think of and how I want them to sound. I guess each song starts and ends differently.

You’re currently touring the US. Can we expect an Australian visit anytime soon?

Yeah, I definitely have been talking to some people about coming soon and I don’t know exactly when yet, or if I can tell you when. It should be as soon as possible, after all the tours I have planned now.

Do you have any other plans for 2014, or is it just all on the road from here on in?

I mean as far as plans, I am going to be playing a lot and hopefully making some new music between some tours. I guess we’ll see what happens.

Slow Magic's How To Run Away LP was released on Tuesday, 9th September via Downtown Records. Grab a digital copy via iTUNES.

Words by Hannah Galvin.

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SEE ALSO:

SLOW MAGIC 'GIRLS'

FLIGHT FACILITIES 'STAND STILL' FT. MICKY GREEN (SLOW MAGIC REMIX)

TEEN DAZE 'ORANGE'