magic.made.by.r is a DJ and sound producer hailing from Ukraine. She has made a name for herself in the music industry with her unique style of electronic dance music, which is heavily influenced by house and techno.
Photo Credit: magic.made.by.r – Facebook
Her music is characterized by a pulsating beat, infectious grooves, and hypnotic melodies that have earned her a dedicated following of fans across the globe. Her tracks are designed to get people moving on the dancefloor, and she is known for her ability to create an energetic and uplifting atmosphere wherever she performs.
magic.made.by.r has released her music on several well-known labels, including Music To Die For, Maccabi House, and Ultimo Paradiso, which are renowned for their commitment to showcasing the best in electronic dance music.
EG caught up with magic.made.by.r to learn more about the drop of her ‘For Eternity’ EP, her connection to music, recording process, and more.
EG: Welcome, Rena! It’s a pleasure to chat with you. First off, can you let us know where you are right now?
magic.made.by.r: Hey there. A big pleasure for me as well. I’m in Ukraine, in the beautiful city of Kyiv.
EG: We’re sorry about the situation in your country. How are you coping with what’s going on?
magic.made.by.r: It’s not easy to create and live your normal life when there is a war in your country, but the music keeps moving me forward and focused, or some may say “distracted”. And Ukrainian people are the biggest inspiration for me; their strength and faith in a positive future despite all the crazy horrible experiences occurring around us are unwavering.
EG: Tell us, how did you get involved with music?
magic.made.by.r: Actually, I don’t remember my life ever being without music. I used to sing in choir in school at a young age, started learning how to play guitar when I was 10 and I have always been connected with music somehow. It was when the pandemic started I realized that music really is my life and I want to connect my life fully and totally with it. I was only 18 then so it felt the right time to be grown up enough to do this.
EG: We’re intrigued by your use of analog gear, especially your beloved Moog. How has experimenting with analog instruments influenced your sound and the overall vibe of your music?
magic.made.by.r: Analog gear changed the whole vibe and process for me. When I first heard the Moog and started to use it in my music, I was like: “Okay, now we’re talking”. I didn’t expect that influence to be so tangible and inspirational, using physical hardware and synthesizers. And of course, having analog gear gives me more creative freedom and I find it leads to a better performance of the music which is great.
EG: Your EP release, made during the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, seems to reflect some of the experiences you’ve been through. Could you tell us how these experiences shaped the music on this record and how it acted as a channel of release and expression?
magic.made.by.r: That’s a really good question. I can’t tell you exactly what I felt while making the EP. My head was full of so many different issues, emotions, an awful lot of fear, incomprehension, and a lack of understanding of what was going on, why was this happening in the modern world, and what to expect. But then I realized that all I can do is take one thing that I know, fully dive in and share it with the world; that thing was music. I just wanted to help people connect somehow, and in a way, process and express my feelings at the same time – we all know the awesome power of real music and emotions. So this EP is full of everything and everyone can feel it in different ways. A couple of highlights that are more obvious would be ‘Eternity’ and the theme of living forever; being eternally positive despite what’s playing out. And also ‘Louder’, building, intensive situations out of one’s control.
“But then I realized that all I can do is take one thing that I know, fully dive in and share it with the world; that thing was music”
EG: The EP’s artwork, created in collaboration with The Kite Studio, is visually striking and reflective of the moods presented in your music. Can you tell us about the process of working with the studio and how the artwork complements the overall concept of the release?
magic.made.by.r: Oh it was a great experience! We decided it has to be something slightly odd and cosmic, which sounds a little strange, but HaimeLuna from The Kite Studio is perfect at this style and turned our thoughts and plans into reality and they did it perfectly! It’s always a pleasure to work with professionals like this. We also used an interactive AI process which even I don’t fully understand to add that quirky character and edge to a very uniquely crafted art piece.
EG: As a young artist in the electronic music scene, how important do you think social media presence is for connecting with your audience and promoting your music? How do you navigate the challenges and benefits of being active on platforms like Instagram and TikTok?
magic.made.by.r: I think that any kind of presence is very important for artists in particular. People are always interested in processes, well the process of others actually. To be honest, it’s a very difficult thing for me to be active on platforms cause I prefer real-life experiences to virtual ones. But I think it helps to keep in touch with my fans and audience. Also, I’ve had challenges with the loss of online connectivity during the war and it has made me less reliant on social media to feel I’m “living” and people need to be paying attention.
EG: In your creative process, do you prefer to come up with and record vocals after creating the melody and main theme of a track? How does this approach help you fully reveal the essence of a song?
magic.made.by.r: Yes, vocals are always after the main theme. It helps me to fully feel what I want to say and what the message will be. And from a production point of view, it seems more logical to me. I think you can hear that as my song structures and vocals are unorthodox and sometimes vocals don’t even come in until late into my records arrangement.
EG: You draw inspiration from simple things like nature sounds, such as birds singing and leaves rustling. How do you incorporate these organic elements into your music, and how do they contribute to the uniqueness of your sound?
magic.made.by.r: You know, we are all kids of nature and I believe in its power. When you hear sounds like that, you automatically feel something native, something grounding and real for yourself, so I like to use sounds of nature a lot. I have my field recorder with me almost every day and I’m trying to capture unique outdoors, found sounds and bring them into my tracks. Things with personal meaning.
“When you hear sounds like that, you automatically feel something native, something grounding and real for yourself, so I like to use sounds of nature a lot”
EG: Having already released music on renowned labels, what goals do you have for your career in the coming years? Are there any specific collaborations or projects you’d love to explore?
magic.made.by.r: I’m happy to be where I am and happy to develop myself and my music. I just want the whole world to hear my music; feel it and share it with love. And of course, I’m planning to have some big gigs to play new music for my people as soon as I can. I met Johnny – the owner of Music To Die For Records some time ago and we had a great connection over music. He has really supported my development and vision as an artist and it’s exciting to release on a label with so many great artists I love and a nurturing attitude. He became a huge inspiration to me and a big friend. I can see us working closely on many future projects together.
EG: Lastly, we’d like to thank you for sharing your insights and experiences with us, Rena. We wish you continued success and all the best in your musical journey. Is there anything you’d like to say to your fans or anyone reading this interview?
magic.made.by.r: Thank you for having me, it’s an honor for me. All I want to say is love each other, love what surrounds you, take care of this, be yourself, and live your life to its fullest and the rest takes care of itself. And of course, make the music a part of it cause music is magic, so it can work miracles. Stay safe and well. Love you all.
magic.made.by.r’s new ‘For Eternity’ EP is out now via Music To Die For. Purchase your copy here.
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