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Artist: The Magic Puppet
Location: U.K.
Profession:
Digital Media Artist
Links:
www.themagicpuppet.com
www.myspace.com/themagicpuppet
www.myspace.com/wake1984
Discography:
(Remixes by The Magic Puppet)
Mordachi: "Obey the Frog (Synchronized Amphibian Mix)" (2007)
Celldweller: "Frozen (Quantum State of Shit Mix)" (2007 FiXT)
Celldweller: "Switchback (Captain Cranium's Beefy Ring-Feast Mix)" (2008 FiXT)
Shaolin Temple of BooM: "Outside (Inside-Out Mix)" (2009 Cherry Atom Pie)
Celldweller - "Fadeaway (Strangeways Mix)" (2009 FiXT)
(Other Releases)
Automata - The Body Obsolete EP (2000 independent)
Automata - Humanity Dismissed (2000 Metropolis)
Until I Wake - "Celebrity Enemy", DP006 compilation (2008 Dimstar)
Until I Wake - "Empty", Alternative Kent Vol. One compilation (2008 Dimstar)
Mass Grave Masquerade - Back From the Dead (2009 T.M.P.)
Until I Wake - Until I Wake (2009 T.M.P.)
KasKade - 000001 (2009 T.M.P.)
Software:
Pro Tools M-Powered 7.4, Pro Tools HD, Steinberg Nuendo, Steinberg Wavelab, Celemony Melodyne Studio, Outsim SynthMaker, Cycling '74 Max MSP, Propellerhead Recycle 2, Propellerhead Reason 4, just A FEW plugins + some nuggets of software that I wrote myself.
Hardware:
Custom built PC centered around an AMD X2 4800 on ASUS MVP-A8R Deluxe Mobo 2x M-Audio Delta 1010
RME HDSP AES-32 & 9652
Midiman Midisport 8x8
Yamaha 01v
Alice 8.28
Novation REmote25
Roland MC-505
Oberheim Matrix 1000
Roland XP-50
Roland JX-10
Roland JP-8000
Roland Juno 101
Doepfer Musikelektronik A-100 (fully expanded)
Moog Minimoog D
E-mu Planet Phatt
Novation Remote 25
Vox Tonelab
2x Focusrite Red 7
Focusrite Trackmaster Platinum
Digitech QUAD
TLAudio Ivory
Rocktron Pro G.A.P.
Behringer Tube Ultrafex
Tascam DA-88
Sony DAT
+ A few electric guitars and basses & far too many effects pedals to mention here & some custom stuff that I either built or repurposed from other stuff.
Tag Cloud:
The Magic Puppet, Remix, Until I Wake, Drum & Bass, FiXT, Sound Designer, Sean Kennedy
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I began what I consider to be my musical life in about 1995/1996 as a keyboardist/guitarist writing my own material and trying to start bands with friends who just weren't interested. Shortly after that I was eager to record my stuff so I went out and bought a used 4-track tape recorder and a dodgy Casio keyboard for about 50 quid at some junk sale. Importantly though it had a 6 track sequencer built in so I could arrange my bass lines, drums and horrifically fake sounding pianos and strings using its backwards interface and needlessly complicated arrangement tools. I went on to make loads of cassette tape EPs using this gear and looking back now it was probably the most content I've ever been with my music.
Anyway. In about 1999 I was snapped up by Digital Hardcore/D&B act 'Automata' and we spent 2 years producing records, touring and descending into depths of human degeneracy usually reserved for the residents of hell. It was a pretty intense time of my life and very damaging to my health. However, one particularly good thing did come out of it - the development of my love for the art of music production.
It was 2002 and I had just moved in with my wonderful girlfriend. She had received some kind of tax rebate and she bought me my first computer that was capable of recording audio (this was a fairly new thing back then kids - unless you could afford a Pro Tools HD system ;) ). Naturally I was highly appreciative and repaid her by spending the rest of the year locked in a room upstairs making music and neglecting to spend time with her - but she was ok with it, honest.
I was in heaven and over the next few years my 'studio' grew as I added more and more gear to it. We moved house a couple of times but I was always fortunate enough to have the extra room I needed to expand further.
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| Me and Sarah after she bought me my computer! | I still love the old gear |
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| This is where I do most of my work | Erm…this is my desk? |
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| Some guitars | Some keyboards (and one of my cats) |
During that time I did a lot of music with a chap called 'Markabre Charade' who shared my love of old B-movies, steam-punk and pirates. The project was called 'Mass Grave Masquerade'; a kind of 'gypsy music', 'theatrical burlesque' romp with loads of demented noises and broken acoustic instruments. Officially the 'band' is still going and we're slowly recording an album but I cite it here mainly because it was that band that really helped me move forward with my production skills. We wrote and demoed over 200 songs which gave me ample practice - especially with acoustic instruments such as Dulcimers, Sitars, Double Basses and Accordions.
I'm one of these people who thinks that the grass is always greener on the other side. In this case the 'grass' is 'musical genres' and 'other side' is 'a different musical project'. That is to say I like quite a few genres and whenever I'm heavily involved in one, I want to be involved in another. So in 2007 I started a rock band called 'Until I Wake'. Nothing fancy, no electronics, NO COMPUTERS; just 2 guitars, a bass guitar, a vocalist and a drummer - a good old fashioned rock band. We've been told we sound a bit like Deftones meets Jeff Buckley and I'm perfectly happy with that description.
 | | Onstage with Until I Wake, 2008 |
But in keeping with my 'the grass is always greener…' analogy I started making a lot of heavy, dark electronic music - inspired by D&B and 'hard breaks' during my free time away from the band. Enter 'The Magic Puppet'.
The first thing I did under that name was remix Mordachi's "Obey the Frog" - an electronic/metal track - by warping it into a furious D&B/Nu-Metal fusion. Then I discovered the Celldweller remix competition during Take it & Break it round 2 and haven't look back since. The name 'The Magic Puppet' was never meant to be permanent but it seems to have stuck now and people seem to like this project. I've gone on to be as active as I can with FiXT Music and I'm hoping to get an original 'T.M.P.' release out this summer (thanks Jimmy ;) ).
The rest of my life is currently spent freelancing as a mixer/sound designer and preparing for the imminent arrival of fatherhood - which I gather is reasonably life-changing.
Career Defining Moment:
Certainly hasn't happened yet. I'm keeping my eyes peeled though.
Inspired by:
My cats, my girlfriend's opinion (she's absolutely brutal with honesty), most of the stuff Phil Spector produced back in the 60's (yes I KNOW he's a murdering psychopath, but he was once a genius), and just good, solid, edgy bands I suppose.
Currently Listening To:
Lot's of D&B and Dub Step. I've also recently rediscovered 90's Big Beat which I'd forgotten that I love so much.
Collaboration Wish List:
Tough question. I'd love to collaborate with a D&B fusion act like Evol Intent. As for remixing I've found it helps if I dislike the original, so maybe Coldplay?
Dream Project:
I'd love to do all of the sound design for a Pixar animation.
Final Word:
It sounds horrible cliché, but if you like my stuff at all - watch this space. 2009 will be the year of the Puppet.
Available from FiXT:
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