
Sam Karl, aka SK Magi, lives in Spring Hill, Florida and has a plethora of experimental folk rock available to bless our ears with. With a perfect blend of poetics and psychedelia, SK Magi’s music transports listeners to a mystical dream palace. Karl’s vocal stylings are shamanistic and have the power to pull you into his layered lyrics to divine meaning. Acoustic guitar and distortion pedals are his main motif and the dream-rock vibe of his songs always leave a lasting and magical imprint.
SK Magi was gracious enough to answer some questions about his music. We thank him for his illuminating talent and for shedding a little more light on his process.
The Jam Files: How long have you been playing music? When did you start playing guitar?
SK Magi: I've been playing music since I was very young. Not sure what age. I started with guitar. I grew up obsessed with Metallica and played mostly metal into high school. Then I discovered indie rock, folk, and experimental stuff and started getting folkier with my playing.
The Jam Files: Your output is very impressive. You release an album every month pretty consistently. What's your writing process like and how and where do you record? Do you draw all of the album covers?
SK Magi: Thanks. I write lyrics first usually, then build the song. I record in my apartment. I've recorded many albums and often delete them if I don't like them and kinda save the few songs I like and make an album out of them.
I draw most of my album covers. I'm not sure that I'm an artist, but I tend to fill my days with attempts at creativity.

The Jam Files: Do you have a favorite guitar and distortion pedals? What other equipment do you use for recording?
SK Magi: My favorite guitars that I own are Gretsch. My favorite pedal is Big Muff fuzz pedals. I record on my Mac.
The Jam Files: Where does your inspiration come from? Does each album have a particular theme? The lyrics are very poetic. Do you read a lot of poetry? Or books in general? Any favorite writers or poets?
SK Magi: I'm inspired by poetry and whatever I listen to, mostly. My albums tend to be scatterbrained and without a consistent theme. I read a good amount of poetry and tend to like the surrealists and the confessionalists. Ted Hughes, Seamus Heaney, André Breton, etc. My favorite book is probably The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, and I count Carson McCullers as my favorite prose writer.
The Jam Files: Who are your musical influences? Who are you listening to right now?
SK Magi: I'm mostly influenced by jazz and build songs by improvising repeatedly. Some jazz favorites are John Coltrane, Jackie Mclean, Eric Dolphy, and Marion Brown. I've been listening to dream pop kinda stuff mostly. Cocteau Twins and noisy shoegaze.

The Jam Files: What does music and being a musician mean to you?
SK Magi: Music is very important to me. I don't know what I would do if it weren't for my interest in making music. It's cathartic and life-affirming. I just hope I can make something beautiful.
The Jam Files: Is there any meaning behind the “SK Magi” moniker? Magi means “sorcerer” and I definitely get a sense of magic and mysticism in your music. Lyrically you mention a lot of spirituality and mythical concepts. Can you tell a little about that?
SK Magi: I have a vague interest in the occult. I got the name "Magi" from a Sylvia Plath poem title. I tend to just suggest and play with mystical concepts when writing. Even when I don't fully believe the concept, I suggest it, hoping to bend some minds.

The Jam Files: What's next for you as a musician? Are you working on anything new right now?
SK Magi: I spend a lot of time writing and am always working on something new. I’m working on evolving as a songwriter and keepin’ it interesting.
Check out SK Magi on Bandcamp!
Jennifer Patino lives in Traverse City and loves music. Visit her blog at thistlethoughts.com