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MAGIC! interview

MAGIC! came to the public’s attention, due to the massive success of their debut single Rude, which was a global smash for the band. The band are full of creativity and lead singer of MAGIC! Nasri has worked with and written songs for many different pop acts, mainly alongside Adam Messinger and together they were known as The Messengers.

Originally hailing from Toronto in Canada, MAGIC! are currently on tour with the fabulous Maroon 5. On stage they are a ball of energy and talent who we are looking forward to seeing live when they come over to the UK on the European leg of their tour. Who wouldn’t want to party with those guys? We can only imagine the fun they would have at the after-show parties!

We caught up with lead singer of MAGIC! Nasri and here is our interview with him.

Hello and welcome! How are you guys doing today?

We’re doing great, thanks. Lots to be thankful for.

You’re all originally from the Toronto area in Canada, what was the best thing about growing up in Toronto?

The best thing about Toronto for us, is the music scene. It’s so diverse and welcoming to any talent.

What kind of artists would you say have the most influence on your music?

For us as a band, The Police and Bob Marley have played a strong part, but there are many more influences on the album, too.

What were your thoughts on the reaction that Rude received?

Our thoughts were ‘let’s not mess this up’! (Laughs).

Your debut album, Don’t Kill The Magic debuted at #6 on the Billboard Top 200 and #2 on the Digital Album Chart. Were you happy with the reaction that the album received?

Of course, to be on any chart is a great thing and we’ve really just started to promote it around the world.

Have you thought about when you will be recording your next album?

We’ve been doing a lot of writing on the road and it’s starting to take great shape. But our spirits are still invested in our first album.

Tell us about your latest single No Way No.

No Way No, is a fun song. The song is inspired by Dub Reggae, mixed with pop and a few other elements. I remember when we were making it and Alex and Ben had started the song and I just started singing ‘No Way No’ and we were like: what does that mean? But once I found the lyrical groove of a man stating his devotion and desire for a woman, it all made sense.

Did you have fun making the video to the song?

We had a great time making the video. We’re just happy people that people are liking it. Jon Jon Augustino is a great young director and we hope he’ll inspire us again.

What was it like performing on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve at Times Square in New York City, where you wore matching yellow suits and stood with Taylor Swift and Ryan Seacrest as the ball dropped?

That was a pretty surreal night. A lot going on. Taylor and Ryan were great to us and we had a fun time rocking out yellow mustard fusion suits for a sea of turned up New Yorkers and folks at home. One of our fondest memories.

Was there a big party afterwards and did you get a chance to party with Taylor Swift?

We did get a chance to hang out with Taylor. She’s very sweet. She said she loved the suits! It was a fun night.

Tell us about being a part of the North American and European tour for Maroon 5’s Maroon 5 World Tour 2015?

Well, we just finished the North American leg of the tour and it’s been a blast. Playing in front of 15,000 people is something that’s hard to describe. Maroon 5 has great fans that we hope are now ours too!

Have you had a chance to hang out with and get to know Adam Levine and the rest of the band?

We definitely got to hang with the Maroon 5 guys. Adam and PJ share a love for basketball that I and Alex share, so we played a bunch of that. Lots of good times. They’re so genuine and talented, we are looking forward to Europe!

How do the North American fans compare to the European ones?

The only real difference is the accents. We’ve been lucky so far that our fans come to have a good time.

What is your favourite song to perform live and why?

That’s always changing. But right now, ‘No Way No’ has got a great energy on stage. We’re very excited about it.

How do you kill time when you’re on the road and travelling from place to place?

We write music and work out and do other things that keep us busy. And on this tour we’ve been playing PlayStation. Are we too old for video games?

Out of all the people that you have collaborated with to date, who has been your favourite?

We love playing with each other. Being a new band, we’re still getting to know each other. Overtime, Mark plays a solo and he shocks us even more on how amazing and creative he is.

Who’s next on your wish list to collaborate with?

We’re not sure yet, to be honest. As long as it’s organic and it means something, we’re down.

What would you like to achieve as a band in 2015?

We just want to tour and see our next single No Way No get in to everyones ears and continue to build on this great start.

Thanks for chatting to us! We look forward to seeing you in London soon.

Thank you, we love London!

Their new single No Way No is released in the UK on April 26th 2015.

Carys Jones
Carys Jones
I am passionate about everything any anything that involves music, theatre and the arts! I love interviewing artists and getting to learn more about them. When I’m not doing artsy things, you may find me watching rugby, singing with my choir and travelling to a new part of the world. Carpe diem.

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