Magnifik

No one could blame Ashley Feraude for looking like a Cheshire cat recently. Our local DJ and music producer is making waves with his new production ‘Magnifik’. With Magnifik’s 3rd single ‘We Really Love This Song’ making its way onto Ministry of Sound Chillout Sessions XIV, Ashley Feraude is kicking goals.

Ministry of Sound Chillout Sessions is amongst all our record collections. It is a staple for anyone who likes mellow tunes and this summer Magnifik’s track will sit alongside the likes of Gotye, Kimbra, The Temper Trap, Cut Copy and Flight Facilities. It is an amazing feat for a music producer who is yet to release his first album.

But Ashley Feraude takes it all in his stride. When I met up with him this week it was apparent that it’s his passion for music that keeps him going and his feet remain firmly on the ground. He is the quintessential nice guy, who devotes himself to creating beautiful music – to borrow a phrase, he is the gentleman of the Canberra club scene.   

Whilst he might play house music at the massive Academy nightclub, his latest venture into music production shows his much softer side. Touted as Nu-Romantic, it’s a mix of melancholic romanticism with 80’s synth pop influences which would be better placed in a lounge bar than a nightclub.

Ashley’s lyrics unveil a deeper dimension than most mainstream music. A song’s meaning can be multi-layered, which can leave the listeners with an alternative understanding of the songs meaning.  ‘We really love this song’ is an example of this. Whereas the song may appear upbeat, the last line of the track shows an inherent sadness which is often missed. Ashley commented ‘I represent the disappointment, but I don’t mean in a negative sense that I’m all about depressing people, it’s just that I feel that if you understand things for the mixture of experiences that things are then nothing is ever a party, everything comes at a cost, it makes experiences more real and they’re more valuable’. This is unquestionably a mentality that Ashley has brought to his song writing.

Ashley has written all the tracks himself and finds great pride in watching his words being brought to life by the vocalists. Magnifik has teamed up with some local and interstate singers to create a new and exciting sound. Featuring band vocalists and ANU school of music graduates such as: Liam Budge (Sidney Creswick), Jeff Hahn (Friendly Yen), Nakita Dayo, Chantel Millen and Cherie Chan.

More local talents have come out of the woodwork, with Felix Barbalet producing and directing the video clip for We Really Love This Song. The two became aware of one another via a mutual friend on Facebook and ventured a collaboration on the video. Many early hours traipsing around Canberra at the crack of dawn and some help from some friends as cameos and the video was born. Apart from the clip being a cinematic masterpiece, another reason to check it out is that it features the much loved Parlour Wine Bar, prior to it becoming toast.  

Collaboration with local artists has allowed Magnifik to find a unique sound which is sure to impress, amaze and inspire. 

So what’s next for Magnifk?

His first album is set for release at the end of March. The single ‘Relax’ is available now, with ‘Complicated’ and ‘You’re a star’ out early next year. 

Magnifik - So Much Space (Album Version) by Magnifik

Magnifik - Relax (Original Mix) by Magnifik