M.A.G.S. Interview

M.A.G.S., the creative alias of Elliott Douglas, is a multi-disciplinary artist known for his  genre-blending and inventive approach to music. Hailing from Buffalo and now based in Los Angeles, M.A.G.S. effortlessly transitions between alt-pop, punk, and rock. His new album CREATOR is a reimagined take on his previous work, Destroyer, reflecting his constant evolution as an artist. We caught up with him to learn more about his artistry, influences and new album.

• Your music has been described as seamlessly gliding between genres, from funky garage to alt-pop and even heavy metal. How do you approach genre when you start creating a new song? Do you decide on a style beforehand, or does it emerge naturally?

Genre is not something I spend much time thinking about if I’m being honest. I spend more energy on getting a feeling across rather than trying to fit my ideas into a box. All the music I’ve released so far is fairly cohesive in the fact that it sounds like it was composed by me. I realize that the through-line in all of my albums is my own taste and choices and I believe M.A.G.S. can be whatever I choose for it to be at any time…it will always be me at the heart of whatever sounds you’re hearing.

• Your music seems to defy easy categorization, appealing to fans across a wide spectrum. How do you think this genre-blending has contributed to your success and connection with listeners?

I’m the type of person that would rather seek out a rare or one-of-a-kind item rather than have what everyone else has. In a way I feel that my music attracts those kinds of people….when someone feels like they’ve found a band or an artist that makes music JUST for them, that’s an undeniable feeling and I believe that’s what attracts listeners to my albums. Plus, who doesn’t wanna be the person who turns their friends on to a dope album they’ve never heard of?

• How has your move from Buffalo to Los Angeles impacted your creative process and musical direction? Do you find that your sound has evolved in response to your new surroundings?

Moving had a lot to do with the progression in my writing. When I was living in Buffalo I was writing mostly to impress my friends and trying to fit into our music scene. There is so much talent in Buffalo, especially when I was active there. I was just trying to keep up! When I moved to LA and started tapping in I realized there are absolutely NO RULES. As long as you are passionate and believe in what you are presenting, someone will listen. It took me a year or so to un-learn some of my old writing tropes and embrace new ways of creating, I’d say late 2018 to 2019 was when I made the most progress in figuring out how to blend my sound with all that I had absorbed since leaving Buffalo.

• Looking at the trajectory of your career, from your early releases to the newly released "CREATOR", how do you feel you've grown both as a musician and as an individual?

I believe in my ability to get my point across and I’m not afraid to take risks. There has been a seed of doubt in me that I’ve worked hard to embrace as a clear sign that I’m on the right path. If I make something and it causes me to pause and ask myself “Are people really going to like this?” It usually means I am on the edge of uncharted territory. David Bowie once said, "If you feel safe in the area you're working in, you're not working in the right area." That quote has served as a North Star for me since the first time I heard it and it’s helped me to embrace my fears and push forward instead of play it safe

• "CREATOR" is a reimagined version of your previous album "Destroyer". What inspired you to revisit and transform these songs, and what new elements or perspectives did you want to bring to this project?

I knew after Destroyer was released that I wanted to say more, like the album was complete but the project as a whole was missing a piece. CREATOR started off as an acoustic album…I had made a bunch of scratch demos of the songs on Destroyer and I knew I wanted to release them but I felt like they needed more production. So I enlisted the help of one of my band members, Ehmed Neuman, and we collaborated on giving those demos a fresh take. After 9 days and manyyy joints we came up with CREATOR. The process was one of the most inspiring experiences I’ve had while making music and I think it really comes through in the way the songs came out.

• The concept of "Destroyer" was about growth through destruction. How does "CREATOR" build on or contrast with that theme, and what message do you hope listeners take away from this new version?

The message is the same but CREATOR is more like a friend or loved one holding your hand or hugging you while you go through all that pain.

• You created "CREATOR" over just 9 days in a Chicago apartment, collaborating with Jeremy Strange and Ehmed Nauman. Can you walk us through the creative process during those intense sessions? Are there any moments on the album that felt particularly cathartic to create?

The entire process was cathartic if I’m being honest. The first 3 days were just this outpouring of ideas and the flow seemed endless….because it was a 9 day venture and we had 9 songs to complete I think that we all felt the sense of urgency to work hard and work fast so we could average at least a song a day. Because I had already spent so much time with each song during the process of making Destroyer it was fairly easy to generate concepts for each of the new versions on CREATOR. Some days if we were feeling a bit burned out we would take walks and collect sounds from around the neighborhood or just walk away from it entirely and get food or something. I think the communication between all of us is what really kept the energy high, we were all down to try anything that might make the song better or more interesting….it was truly a team effort.

• What can your fans expect next?

My long-time fans know better than to “expect” anything from me. I’m at the very beginning of writing my new album and the sounds are all over the place as of right now. I’ve got some old songs that have finally finished cooking after like 7 years or so, and I’ve got some new ideas that are still incubating. I think this next album is going to be just as much of a surprise to me as it will be to you…