Hello Berlin #4 - MAGIC ISLAND

Emma is a musician; the special talent with a fairy-like voice and an empowering appearance enters the stage as "Magic Island". Her new album Like Water produced in her adopted hometown of Berlin is coming out today. Inspired by her remarkable vibrancy and honest way of creating emotionalized music, we reached out to her and visited her at home in Neukölln – for the fourth time now we excitedly say „Hello“ from Berlin. 

#1 Who is Magic Island? 
Magic Island is a pop music project. This is something I have been struggling with lately. It became much too important in the industry to have a marketable character in pop music in order to be successful. I don’t do that. For me, the project is very authentic, raw, and personal. It’s not some image that I want to create, it’s really just my personal character. It's lo-fi, honest and truthful, not over-glamorized. This is what I want my music to be and to represent. I don't try to sugarcoat everything. 

#2 Why have you chosen this name as an artist? 
Well, I moved to this house and on the corner is an old German Kneipe called „Zauberinsel“, which translates to „Magic Island“. I kind of fell in love with the place. Inside it is decorated in a super tropical way and the old owners were these two lovely, open minded Berliners in their sixties. My friends and I started to hang out there and noticed that they have speakers, a big PA system and a mixer for karaoke nights.
So we thought maybe we could do shows here. The owners loved the idea and we started to put on shows and host lots of music acts coming from Neukölln. This strengthened my love for Zauberinsel. Many things changed meanwhile, but what has stayed is the name. 

#3 What’s your story - why did you „land“ on the creative island of Berlin? 
I grew up mostly in Canada and then moved to Poland after I finished my studies to develop my project. But Poland is still very conservative so I thought I would like to move out from there. I came to visit Berlin with one suitcase, fell in love with it, and I never went back to Poland. 

#4 How do you see yourself: as a singer or a performer? 
To me the project is actually composed of three elements: production, voice, and performance. Production, because I produce everything myself. My voice acts as my instrument - just like a guitarist uses their guitar. I also have a characteristic performance, which contributes to the music quite well. That’s also why people come to my concerts, I guess. 

#5 Sound is for you...? 
Sound for me is melody and rhythm. When I’m in the streets in the city I hear the birds chirping, or a rhythm like cars honking... even the sound of my bicycle inspires me - it's all at this perfect tempo. These natural organic sounds always kind of stick to me and inspires me, my life and my project. I think that's also why I write a lot of my music on my bike. 

#6 Experiencing the music business as a woman: how does this affect your creativity and process? 
I personally think that being a woman in the music business is quite empowering. It’s about creating something for yourself that can be any way you want it to be. It’s still hard in the industry as a woman. The scene is very dominated by men, but this fact can also give women more motivation to succeed. I hope that more women will keep making music and I think we need to start introducing girls to the potentiality for music as a career at a younger age and give them the opportunity to become musicians and producers. 

#7 What do you think about the music scene in Berlin? 
It’s huge.There is a lot of creativity here. We have this special indie pop scene of music for example, which is just one tiny niche of thousands. We have a good community, especially in Neukölln, where we use a lot of the underground venues and support each other. It’s kind of a little family, who are working towards the same goals. 

#8 Three things you love about performing live on stage? 
For me, it’s kind of like a therapy because once I write the song and release it, I don’t listen to it anymore. They are sort of gone from me. So when I perform live I have to re-live the experience of each song. This is why the performance aspect of Magic Island is quite emotional to me. Also, I would say, that this is why I don’t like to perform that often. It’s a vulnerable moment because I’m very sensitive. Secondly, I think that the whole surrounding and participation within live music is something quite nice for everyone involved. It gives us kind of platform to talk about other things and meet like-minded people or completely new people. Thirdly, the costumes ...(laughing). It is always nice to think of your stage outfit. I had trouble with it at the beginning, but now I found my perfect costume, which is kind of a boxing cloak made of satin. I got a friend of mine to make it for me and white is the only color I wear at my concerts... (smiles). 

#9 Do you believe in (magic) energies? 
I for sure believe in energies and that we are all cosmically connected. Energies can be contagious and very powerful. I believe that what you put out is what comes back to you. So I try to put out good vibes so that I receive them back in the end too. 

#10 Which color is your aura? 
I think it’s sort of a light bluish-grey because I think my energy is soft and inviting, but also a bit dark and sad. 

#11 Tell us about your new album...
My new album „Like Water“ is coming out today in Japan and tomorrow in the rest of the world. I have been working on it slowly over the past two years. When you are going through a learning process, by the end you have developed a certain style and aesthetic and so it appears that whatever you worked on at the beginning seems old and outdated. So I need to kind of trick myself. Now I’m happy with the album and VERY happy to get it out, but I’m looking forward to creating the next thing. 

#12 What is the most beautiful thing about being a musician? 
I think it’s the same thing being any kind of artist. It’s working with other people that share a common output. If you are part of a community where everyone expresses themselves, I think it builds up much more positive life and structure around you. It always gives you a better landscape not only to make your art but also to make your life. 

#13 What is your biggest dream in life? 
I think I’m not interested anymore by this fairytale of having a family, a house and a dog. The state of the world has changed too much and so has my perspective of how the future is going to be and what I want my future to be. So I really think my biggest dream would be just to finding happiness in whatever way I can. I want to participate in changing the world for the better with people who share similar ideas. It's important for me to be open-minded and not closed-minded, to be inclusive and understanding, not exclusive, not ignorant ...so... the end.