MAGA
MAGA
Mickael Agarla Born Nice, France · Cape Town · Burning Man · now Lisbon · Scenarios · Rose Avenue · Stil Vor TalentHe was on the other side of the DJ booth, running a nightclub in Cape Town, when the music touched him and he realised there must be more to this than simply an emotion. Then Burning Man changed the path of his career. Now he plays the globe and runs a foundation for sixty children in Mexico City.
MAGA is a music producer and DJ born in Nice, France. Having recently relocated to Lisbon, where he has opened a brand new studio at Som de Lisboa, his career actually began in Cape Town, where he was on the other side of the DJ booth, as owner of a nightclub for a few years. After being so close to music on a daily basis, he began to realise how much the music touched him and that there must be more to this than simply an emotion.
He rapidly took residencies around the world, at iconic venues including Scorpios, Blue Marlin and El Chiringuito, and during this time he dedicated his efforts to finding his own true sounds and developing his production. His first single, Destinesia, came on the Mexican label Akumandra. Soon enough he was working on a stronger production which led to his first EP, Regata, on the French label Voyeur Music.
The keys to the house. Playing until sunrise.
“I was previously running a club, so every time after work I would ask the manager on duty if I could play for an hour after the service. I eventually became a manager and got the keys to the house and would play until sunrise! After getting gigs at friends’ parties, I decided it was now time to get a residency somewhere to be able to get somewhere.”
Monkey Love Camp. He was not supposed to play.
“I would say it was a set I played at Monkey Love Camp in Burning Man. I was not supposed to play, but the camp was run by Behrouz and he asked me to go ahead and do my thing, and it was magical. An experience I will never forget, and which changed the path of my career. I have so much respect for him and owe him a lot for that.”
“An experience I will never forget, and which changed the path of my career.”
Melodic electronic with a touch of world music.
“The way I describe my sound is mainly a base of melodic electronic music with a touch of world music. I am happy to say I feel I have finally defined my sound and I implement it in my own way.”
His genre is nourished mostly by his personal exploration in ethnic and organic sounds, offering a spiritual and loving vibe with the intention to take you on a musical higher journey. His debut album Resona was released in early 2022, a composition of seven tracks that surround a jazz base with influence and live instrumentation from Central and Latin America.
Tamer Malki from Bedouin. A friend for years.
“There are so many talented artists out there, it is very difficult to say, but one of my greatest inspirations has been Tamer Malki from Bedouin, who I have been following for years and is a friend. I will soon be releasing an EP on his new label True Colors, so stay tuned.”
“Very different from my sound but that left an impression are Chancha Via Circuito: what an unreal groove. There is one very particular person that always pushed me to experiment more, an incredible DJ and producer, Zone+. Unbelievable. I am currently working on a live set which is taking me some time, so collaborations are on hold at the moment.”
In 2020, MAGA decided to give back to the community by creating a foundation called Children Of The Future, which continues to support an orphanage of sixty children in Mexico City. He started this fundraiser to help kids in one of the poorest areas of the city and to give them a shouting chance at life. From this, a non-profit foundation music label was born, and the very first VA Compilation came out including tracks from forty-seven artists from around the world.
BPM Festival, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. Katerblau, Berlin. Afrika Burn, Cape Town, South Africa.
“SoundCloud is a great platform. It also allows us to discover new artists from around the world.”
“To all you music lovers, I will see you soon around the globe.”
Antakly Projects, originally Ninu Nina, has been in conversation with the most inspiring voices in art, photography, design and culture since 2003. Interview by Leila Antakly. MAGA got the keys to the house, played until sunrise, and never stopped.
All music © MAGA / Scenarios. Thank you to Mickael for the conversation.
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See you around the globe. ✦
