The Opener: RIP Magic have six songs and they all go crazy

The Opener is The FADER’s mini-interview series with exciting new artists we think you should know.

London-based dance-rock four piece RIP Magic came out the gate with co-signs galore. In just under a year, the band (composed of Marco Pini, Felix Bayley-Higgins, Beth Boswell-Knight and Pedro Takahashi) has played their delirious and danceable vision of rock music on the same stages as Tame Impala, Fcukers, and Fakemink. They’ve even earned a major collaboration with LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, who produced their warbly, emotional, and seriously danceable March single, “5words.”

Beyond the bright light looks from mainstage acts, RIP Magic is buzzworthy all on its own. Their music balances the cinematic grimness of Massive Attack with the occasional whimsy of Gorillaz, filtered through production that compels headbangs and heart palpitations.

Signed to section1, the Los Angeles-based sister label of Partisan Records (who are having a big few years with Geese and the recent singing of Interpol), RIP Magic is in august company, and in conversation with a real rock lineage. Though they only have six songs out so far, it's clear from their off-to-the-races start that RIP Magic will be lighting up stages and dancefloors for the foreseeable future.

The FADER chatted with Marco, Felix, Beth, and Pedro of RIP Magic about wanting to remix Addison Rae, the perfect park day, and being neurolink-curious.

What’s the coolest thing to do in your hometown?

Marco: Winter Wonderland
Pedro: Get out of it
Beth: flashback records shoreditch<3
Felix: Live the movie at Zedel

What was the first album you bought?

F: 808’s and heartbreak
M: Invaders Must Die by the Prodigy
P: Icky Thump by The White Stripes! Was obsessed with Jack and Meg back then and still am to this day.
B: either Pavement - wowee zowee or shakira? Lol

⁠What was the last movie you watched?

F: Annual ‘We Live in Public’ rewatch, thanku Ondi Timoner
M: Ken Russell’s ‘The Boy Friend’, Twiggy’s line dancing on a giant rolls roys, people dressed up as dice and playing cards
P: The Stranger by Thomas M. Wright. Has echoes of other great Australian crime thrillers like Snowtown and Wake in Fright, but is definitely its own beast.
B: Angel’s Egg - Mamoru Oshii - made me think about eggs a lot

⁠When you’re not making music, how do you spend your free time?

F: Collecting stuff and ideas
M: make chess boards out of wood
P: Making films
B: trying to psychoanalyse myself

⁠What’s a motto you think everyone should live by?

M: its everyones first time in this experiment
B: decisions are portals

M: i dont support man city
B: i don’t understand them myself

What’s a song you’d want to remix?
F: something Addison Rae
M: i remixed Kanye’s “On Sight” when i was 16 still best think ive done so that
B: “future perfect” - durutti column

⁠Tell us about your favorite accessory.

F: Beths miu miu sunglasses I stole
M: My friend Willa made me a ring with palm trees and prawns engraved into it, but its now in a cloakroom somewhere in Berlin
B: oura ring

⁠What’s the best thing you’ve bought for $100 or less?

F: One time I paid an architect in pints to help me figure out how to build a full scale building and put it on wheels
M: animal collective - merriweather post pavilion cd at hmv when i was 13 and the fake acid that made me trip for a week when i was 14, i cant stare at anything too long now but at least that album makes a bit more sense than it did before
B: my Blythe doll with grey tracksuit to match mine

⁠Worst advice you’ve gotten

M: that taramasalata isnt real⁠

M: (redacted) told me ”dont let anyone convince you that you cant believe in yourself”’ when everyone was gaslighting me at (redacted)’s afterparty, saying that taramasalata isnt a real thing, they literally were serving taramasalata there, does this dip not exist in america or something, wtf
P: Don’t drink when you’re sad.
B:

What’s the ideal level of fame and why?
F: Hanging out with Zinedine Zidance
M: when you guys bring back Fader Fort and we get a filmed session or GTA soundtrack.

Describe your perfect afternoon.

M: Walking from little venice through hyde park to soho and getting a Wong Kei soup noodle
P: Book, film, walk in the park.
B: probably deep cleaning my flat

What’s something you’re looking forward to?

F: Neuralink plug me in
M: releasing the album
B: love island at 9pm

Describe the best concert you’ve attended.

F: pitch 2013
M: Arca dropping los thukanaka to half a million people at the free street show in Reforma, Mexico City on NYE
P: Rage Against the Machine w/ Gallows at Finsbury Park (2007). Life changing.
B: lily allen at the o2 last week

⁠What’s the last thing you wrote in your notes app?

F: !-)
P £ P
£!00

M: How to Find a Hole In A Bounce House

P: A reminder to answer these questions

B: lip balm
tampons
frozen raspberries