High Notes

By Ron Powers

DJ Magic “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” Review

I recently discovered a new artist called DJ Magic, and his incredible EP “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”. This musical journey begins with DJ Magic’s rendition of the original masterpiece by Paul Dukas. It comes in just over ten minutes and serves as an exciting primer for what is to come. Although the original composition was written many many years ago, DJ Magic’s version of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice has a new vitality running through it. It’s a rare and difficult to describe quality, but one feels it when a piece of music has this magic.

One thing I love about this EP is that it tells a story. There is a light and elegant correlation between song titles, musical choice, and the story being told. You’ll get the general idea of where DJ Magic is taking you with one quick look at the song titles:

1. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

2. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice…Sneaks a Vacation

3. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice…on the Town

4. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice…Back to Work

I appreciate the extra care and thought DJ Magic has put into this EP. It’s quite common for an artist to simply release 4 good songs, but here we have an artist who has gone the extra mile to weave together a story with his music, and all without the aid of lyrics. Simply incredible!

Track two “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice…Sneaks a Vacation” begins with a clip of the original piece and then whisks the listener off to the sonic equivalent of a sunny island resort. Listening to this song is like basking in the sun, drinking Piña coladas, and dancing with a beautiful girl. And yet somehow DJ Magic manages to never stray too far from the original symphony’s energy. That same magic flows through every second of “Sneaks a Vacation”, although something new and exciting is also present.

The third track off The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is called “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice…on the Town”. This is my favorite song on the EP. It has a pronounced electronic sound with a feeling of anticipation and fun in the beat. The music begins with a cool low-key vibe. You can almost see the apprentice driving through the streets of some enchanted town on his way to the dance club. After a few bars of chill music, DJ Magic shifts the feel to exhilarating four-on-the-floor dance music. These two dynamics shift in and out for the remainder of the song, all while playing off the common thread of the original piece of music.

DJ Magic wraps things up with the appropriately titled song “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice…Back to Work”. This song begins with one of the more memorable section of the original song made so famous by the Disney cartoon. After this charming intro, we hear the song evolve into some of the most spectacular symphonic layering I’ve ever heard. There’s a spooky Tim Burton feeling in the music that I love. This song comes full circle, ending with the same music it began with, giving this incredible EP the satisfying finish it deserves.

I’m astonished how DJ Magic has managed to meld two vastly different styles of music with such class and ease. He has bridged a gap between the music of the 1800s and 2000s. Two centuries of music somehow present and working together. It’s a powerful experience to say the least.

Go to Spotify, iTunes or any store to hear DJ Magic’s music. I am sure there will be more to come.