ABOUT THIS ITEM

Artmagic is Sean McGhee, who has recorded and mixed No. 1 singles for Britney Spears, sung with Alanis Morissette and worked with Robyn, Sugababes and Imogen Heap, and guitarist Richard Oakes, a member of Suede between 1994 and 2003 and since the band’s 2010 reunion.

“Richard and I have enjoyed a great freedom because there was no giant organisation to please, only ourselves, so we could do whatever we wanted,” Sean explains. “But we’ve tried to make melodic, accessible music that appeals on a mainstream level, so the album has several big open doors people can walk through. ‘Beauty’ is another key word for Artmagic. Even when the music is hard and troubled, we didn’t want to be too thorny and spiky.”

Artmagic have two live incarnations; an acoustic trio with keyboard player Gordana Jovkovic, and an electric quintet, joined by Ben Ellis and Mathis Richet (a member of Temposhark, whose 2010 album Threads was produced by Sean). The acoustic side showcases the songs, the electric side the energy and diversity. Perfectly balanced between two sides in every department, with an injection of art and magic, and not forgetting beauty, Artmagic have already gone a long way to underlining the virtues of their name. To borrow the album title, they’ve become the ones they love. And you will too.

A: Forever In Negative
B: The Glass Arcades (exclusive Track)