In SOUND CHECK, we check in with some of our favorite musicians.
It may be a different type of magic, but Stephen Fasano––better known as The Magician––could give even superstar magician Criss Angel a serious run for his money. He casts a spell on crowds with his disco-laden house beats that you can’t help but groove to, and looks damn good doing it. (We heard he sometimes carries a wand. And we're guessing he'll wear his signature tuxedo even at Coachella in April, where he just got booked to play.) We caught up with The Magician just before his set at Villain during Brooklyn’s Electronic Music Festival to talk tunes, touring, and our mutual love for NYC.
My name is __ and my music is like___.
My name is The Magician and my music is like a mix of house and disco music.
First things first. How did you come up with the name “The Magician”?
My wife came up with it actually. We were joking around and just saying that we needed some magic and she just said, “The Magician." And then it stuck. I didn't love it at first because I was afraid it would sound a little pretentious. But then we decided to just go with it, the whole costume and everything. Now I really enjoy it.
If someone were to play The Magician in a movie who would it be?
Oh that’s hard. Maybe Adrien Brody. I don't even know if he'd be the best for The Magician but I love him. And he can definitely create magic.
You've said that vocals are a big thing when you're creating music. Any vocalists you'd love to collaborate with?
MNEK is someone I’ve really wanted to work with, and I hope to be in the studio with him in the next month or so. I like to work with new artists, young vocalists who are just starting out. We'll see, I've got a couple of new ideas bouncing around.
I'm a big fan of your Magic Tapes. What’s your approach to creating the mixes?
They are definitely hard work, but also a pleasure to do. Every month I pick the songs that I'm listening to––mostly new tracks but a few older ones too––and I put them all together just the day before I'm going to release it to be sure I don't miss anything. It's grown a lot and I get so many submissions now, which is great.
You’ve traveled a lot and I hear NYC is one of your favorite cities in the world. What do you love about it?
I mean, it's New York! Just the energy; I don't even need to sleep here. I love that every area is particular and you feel like you are in the capital of the world. It’s always changing and evolving. Even compared to five years ago there is so much that is new. I love it.
What’s the best food you’ve had on tour?
There is actually a restaurant near where I live, just on the border of Belgium and France called In De Wulf which I love. It’s in the countryside and all of the ingredients are grown nearby. And you can stay the night there and get the whole experience.
Any other favorite tour stops?
Tokyo I loved. I was there for a Kitsuné Club Night at this place called AgeHa that was so crazy; the whole city is wild. It was such a fun night and the crowd was great. Then at the end of the nigh
It may be a different type of magic, but Stephen Fasano––better known as The Magician––could give even superstar magician Criss Angel a serious run for his money. He casts a spell on crowds with his disco-laden house beats that you can’t help but groove to, and looks damn good doing it. (We heard he sometimes carries a wand. And we're guessing he'll wear his signature tuxedo even at Coachella in April, where he just got booked to play.) We caught up with The Magician just before his set at Villain during Brooklyn’s Electronic Music Festival to talk tunes, touring, and our mutual love for NYC.
My name is __ and my music is like___.
My name is The Magician and my music is like a mix of house and disco music.
First things first. How did you come up with the name “The Magician”?
My wife came up with it actually. We were joking around and just saying that we needed some magic and she just said, “The Magician." And then it stuck. I didn't love it at first because I was afraid it would sound a little pretentious. But then we decided to just go with it, the whole costume and everything. Now I really enjoy it.
If someone were to play The Magician in a movie who would it be?
Oh that’s hard. Maybe Adrien Brody. I don't even know if he'd be the best for The Magician but I love him. And he can definitely create magic.
You've said that vocals are a big thing when you're creating music. Any vocalists you'd love to collaborate with?
MNEK is someone I’ve really wanted to work with, and I hope to be in the studio with him in the next month or so. I like to work with new artists, young vocalists who are just starting out. We'll see, I've got a couple of new ideas bouncing around.
I'm a big fan of your Magic Tapes. What’s your approach to creating the mixes?
They are definitely hard work, but also a pleasure to do. Every month I pick the songs that I'm listening to––mostly new tracks but a few older ones too––and I put them all together just the day before I'm going to release it to be sure I don't miss anything. It's grown a lot and I get so many submissions now, which is great.
You’ve traveled a lot and I hear NYC is one of your favorite cities in the world. What do you love about it?
I mean, it's New York! Just the energy; I don't even need to sleep here. I love that every area is particular and you feel like you are in the capital of the world. It’s always changing and evolving. Even compared to five years ago there is so much that is new. I love it.
What’s the best food you’ve had on tour?
There is actually a restaurant near where I live, just on the border of Belgium and France called In De Wulf which I love. It’s in the countryside and all of the ingredients are grown nearby. And you can stay the night there and get the whole experience.
Any other favorite tour stops?
Tokyo I loved. I was there for a Kitsuné Club Night at this place called AgeHa that was so crazy; the whole city is wild. It was such a fun night and the crowd was great. Then at the end of the nigh