Inspired by Eurovision while growing up overseas, the musical artis known as Magnus Riise has risen to stardom here in NYC thanks to his inclusive Manhattan monthly showcase, prolific original songs with gorgeous music videos (one of which made him a first time GLAM nominee in December) and now an upcoming Eurovision-centric podcast… Magnus Riise! [Cover photo: Curtis Brown]
Thotyssey: Hello Magnus, happy New Year! How did you ring out 2023, and how is 2024 looking so far?
Magnus Riise: Happy New Year! I returned to NYC from spending Christmas with family in Norway, just in time to ring in the New Year here. With jet lag, I kept it pretty chill with some friends and bubbles. I feel very excited about 2024. 2023 was a very big year for me, and I think it’s setting 2024 up to be even bigger and better!
You’re from Norway?
Born and raised. I moved to London for college, and then to NYC after… where I’ve been ever since.
Were you always musical growing up… and did you ultimately come to NY to pursue a performance career?
Pretty much: sang in a choir as a kid, started playing piano in second grade, and had my first professional job at eight years old singing and acting in a theatrical piece. Went to a high school of performing arts and then studied musical theatre in London. That was my focus for a long time, which is why I originally came here. My mother is American, so dual citizenship made it easier to get here. I booked a one way flight to explore the option of NYC and I’m still here.
When did you start creating, performing and recording your own music?
I first started when I was pretty young, but as I got older I think the inner voices shut it down, I was so critical of everything I tried to write that I couldn’t get it across the finish line. After I moved to NYC I started collaborating with Mark Sanderlin (aka Lyon Hart), who’s a co-writer on three of the songs on my debut EP, and I found back to my love of writing songs. Once the pandemic hit I decided to make the EP I had dreamt of a reality, and with the idea of “go big or go home”, decided to make it a fully visual album.
Your video for “Earthquake” is lush and sexy, and it’s earned you your first GLAM nomination, congrats! Where was that filmed, and what was the behind-the-scenes tea with that?
Thank you! It was filmed out in LA. After asking a friend and some Googling, I decided that submerging both actors and very expensive cameras under water for hours would be a good idea, lol! I had never done anything like it, neither as an actor nor on the production side. But I couldn’t shake this concept of telling the story of a toxic relationship through both the beauty and danger of water–how it both invites you in, but can also easily destroy you.
It was two intense days of shooting, blurry vision after hours of open eyes under water, and a crazy week in LA gathering all the necessary pieces. With budget constraints, I ended up production designing and costume designing alongside producing and starring in the video. But assembling an absolute dream team made it a truly enjoyable experience, despite everything I had to focus on. It was also funny for my family to watch, as I was notorious growing up for taking forever to get into the water… and here I was falling backwards into it.
I’m also taken with your more recent video for “Still Here,” which features a Deaf cast signing the lyrics. What inspired that concept?
I was lucky to be exposed to the Deaf community in NYC years ago when my friend Kim Hale brought me in to work on ASL Cabaret NYC, which I ended up music directing and being on the producing team for. I was introduced to such amazing artists and such a lovely community, I knew I wanted to feature it on this project.
While I can’t personally speak to the experience of being Deaf, I do think there are similarities between deafness and queerness. Living in a world that wasn’t created for you can come with a lot of loneliness, but both the Deaf community and the queer community has overcome this through community and togetherness. Jules Dameron who co-directed it with me is a good friend of mine, Joshua Castille who translated the song into ASL I’ve known for years, and I’ve worked with several people in the video before.
As far as live performance goes, you’ ‘ve been hosting a monthly showcase at VERS Bar called “Extended Play”–which returns Sunday, January 7th, this time with guest performers CHRRRY and Coleman X.
“Extended Play” was created to build community and awareness among queer indie artists. As queer recording artists, I think we need to look to drag queens and build on what they do so incredibly well. They guest each other’s shows, help each other out, and borrow fans from each other. This way, they create a business more on their own terms. As a result, every queer person knows where to go when they say on RuPaul’s Drag Race to “support your local queens.” “Extended Play” is all original music from queer indie recording artists, and a place for audiences to come to discover more artists and new music to add to their favorite playlists. First Sunday of every month, with new guests each time!
As someone who grew up in Norway, Eurovision must’ve played a big part in your musical development.
Oh absolutely! I love Eurovision! It was one of the first places I saw unapologetically queer pop celebrated, and on one of the world’s biggest stages, too. It’s definitely served as an inspiration in my approach.
You’ll be taking part in the launch party for a new Eurovision themed podcast, care of EurovisioNYC at Rise Bar on Jan 11. Tell us more!
I jokingly say that one of my favorite pastimes is to introduce Eurovision to Americans, and my friend Charlie Sohne was one of them. The last two years we’ve gone together, and this last year he wrote an article for Politico and I performed in Liverpool as part of EuroFest, the city’s celebration of hosting Eurovision. That naturally grew into the podcast “Mysteries of the EuroVerse,” an American Eurovision podcast. We have some amazing performers lined up [for the Rise launch party] with Eurovision performances including Robin de Jesus, Nic Rouleau, Izzy Uncut, and I will of course do a performance as well! It’ll be a fun night for sure, whether you’re new to Eurovision or an expert!
What else is coming up for you?
I’m working on new music that will be dropped in the coming months, and early planning for some Pride performances in various cities in the US and abroad. New episodes of the podcast drop every Wednesday, and we will of course culminate the season with going to Malmö, Sweden in May for the big Eurovision week! I’m also in exploratory stages of growing the community from “Extended Play” into a big show, and looking for partnering organizations and venues. So I encourage anyone who’s curious, whether as a performer, producer, or venue, to get in touch!
Excellent! Okay lastly… if you follow Drag Race, who are you rooting for this season?
Love Drag Race! And since “Extended Play” has been sharing Sundays with “Show Bitches,” I gotta support my fellow VERS Sunday entertainment, Plasma!
Thanks, Magnus… see you at the GLAMs!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Magnus Riise’s upcoming appearances, and follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and his website.
Thotyssey 