NAS 10 Questions with Marcus Magnusson

This time on NAS 10 Questions, we get to know Marcus Magnusson, a Swedish singer-songwriter with influences such as Noel Gallagher and Ritchie Blackmore.

"No Place Like Home, the fifth jewel in Marcus Magnusson’s crown of releases in 2023, unfolds as an ear-catching rocker, showcasing exemplary songwriting, performances, and production." (Tunedloud.com)

The track "No Place Like Home" is featured in the New Artist Spotlight Family of Playlists.

Link To New Artist Spotlight Playlists:

https://www.newartistspotlight.org/playlists

1. Tell us a little about where you are from and what you are currently doing.

I started playing guitar at 14 and I'm 36 now. Family is my number 1 priority, but music is my favorite thing otherwise. I've been fronting a local rock band before going solo 4 years ago. Now I write, record, and produce everything in my home studio. Oh, and I'm from Sweden.

2. What inspired you to start playing and making music?

My dad bought a copy of a Stratocaster that stood and collected dust for a while. I realized it sounded cool and that it was really fun to learn to play songs on it. Then a lot of my friends also started playing guitar at that time so it was also fun to learn from each other. And a bit competitive as well

𝟯. Who are your biggest influences?

A few different.

Ritchie Blackmore - cause you can never know what to expect and he has a badass attitude.

Malcolm Young - steady as a rock

Noel Gallagher - he is a great songwriter

4. What are your goals in the music industry?

To write songs that can mean something to people and be regarded as a good musician and writer. I want to bring a positive spirit into everything I do.

5. Tell us about your creative process when you make new music.

The music comes before the lyrics.. and the foundation for the music most often comes to me before the main melody. The "top-line" melody is almost always improvised, but the chords and structure provide the scene. I usually record the whole song with only a rhythm guitar and then embellish from there.

6. What is your all-time favorite song?

It is just too hard to choose.. can you boil it down to one song.. but if I have to, Don't Look Back in Anger by Oasis? I might answer something else tomorrow 😄

7. What is the best advice you have either given or received in terms of music?

My best advice: trust your ears and your gut. You know if something is good! And admit it's bad when you feel it is.

Best advice received: it's about the rock And Roll. Or maybe more is more as Yngwie says.

8. Proudest accomplishment?

Playing a live show in my hometown in front of friends and family ranks high. I'm also very proud of how much I learned regarding mixing songs since I started about 5-6 years ago. I also learned a lot about music and guitar in general and I'm proud of that

9. Just for fun! What's been your most embarrassing moment so far?

On our first-ever show with our band. I had like one tiny sweet spot where I could hear myself on the stage.. we were playing a cover of Don't Drag Me Down by Social Distortion and I stepped over to my brother's side of the stage (he played bass) for the second solo. I thought I nailed it, but when I ran back to the microphone I saw my finger was a semi-tone off on the fretboard. So I played the whole solo a semi-tone off because I couldn't hear myself.

𝟭0. Tell us about your lowest and highest points in music so far.

Lowest: our music teacher in school asked me to sing some lame Christmas song... Our class was to sing some songs on the end-of-term show. I was not prepared at all, sang in a really low register, and was cut off with an "Oh no, someone else" after 10 seconds. I thought I could not sing for years after that.

Highest: playing some real crushing shows with our band. We didn't get to play many shows during the 5-6 years we had the band, but we got really good in the end.

Stream "No Place Like Home" now

https://open.spotify.com/track/5LaLtRuWBTPTwtrJLlymk4?si=VmOLpNHaToKIHH7-8fv6JQ

and follow their socials

www.instagram.com/marcusmagnussonmusic

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