Magni Asgeirsson
Heading into the studio to begin work on his first solo album, Magni Asgeirsson – known to many as just Magni, one of the finalists from the hit CBS reality show Rock Star: Supernova – recently took some time to talk about his time on the TV show, life before and after Rock Star: Supernova, and much more.
Asif: Hey man, how have you been doing?
Magni: I have been busy as hell actually - and having fun in the process!
Asif: Partying with you, Toby, and Dilana at the Rock Star Supernova gig here in Minnesota was so much fun!
Magni: That tour was amazing! Meeting new people, seeing all those places…I had the time of my life!
Asif: I can't remember what we were drinking that night. Do you?
Magni: I can't remember! (laughs) Usually I drink Captain and Coke - but that wasn't always available - so I made the best out of whatever we had!
Asif:
I'll get to the Rock Star Supernova stuff and what's going on with you now
a little later, but right now I'd like to go back into your younger years
for a bit. You started a band with your friends and cousins… at 11 years
old, were you guys any good?
Magni: We were amazing of course! For kids anyway! We covered stuff that we could play - Beatles, Icelandic stuff, Smokie - all sorts of tunes that were easy enough. We were just having fun and some of us are still doing it to this day.
Asif: Sweet! So, later in high school years, you had performed a couple times at the Icelandic High School Music Competition. Can you tell me a bit about that?
Magni: Well each high school has its own competition and then the winners from all of them represent their school in the big one which is televised and grand in every way. I went two years in a row for my school and did an ok job I think. (laughs)
Asif: (laughs) Obviously! Okay, from there you joined A Moti Sol., one of the biggest bands in Iceland. For everyone out there that doesn't know, the band has 6 albums, 2 of which went gold status. You guys have even toured all over Europe. Tell me about your time in A Moti Sol up to this point….
Magni: Well the band was formed in 1997 and I joined late ´99. We have played probably about 500 gigs since then and gradually made our presence very known. 7 albums…about 25 hits and semi-hits. A lot of fun and we are still going strong. We have never had a decent argument. We have played in 6 countries although we are not leaving Iceland as a band or writing in English for that matter. We have fun doing what we love. It's a privilege!
Asif: That is amazing bro!
Wow! Alright, next came the television show Rock Star: Supernova.
How was your experience on that show? What did you take away from it?
Magni: What I took away from it is hard to pinpoint. I lost my innocence sort of speak in a good and bad way…
Asif: Hmm, interesting. Well, it sounds like you, Dilana, Toby, and Lukas are all still pretty tight, right?
Magni: Me and Dilana are the closest, but yes, I still keep in touch with some of the others as well.
Asif: You know, one of my favorite memories of the entire season of the show was when the guys decided to fly in your family. I thought that was just so awesome of the guys to do…
Magni: I was so exited when I saw my son that I almost lost it. It took him a good while to remember who I was - that goes to show what producers will do when the ratings are not what they want them to be! The reason I say that is that they didn't call my fiancé in advance to ask if she was up to traveling for 18 hours with an infant - they called her after the show!
Asif: Damn! That is way crazy bro! You are right – there is nothing TV producers won't do for raings! What about after the show and on the tour. Toby told me that on that tour you guys were touring in a plush bus. Were you on a plush bus as well, or did you get shoved into a van?
Magni: I was in the bunk next to Toby.
Asif: Oh boy! You and Toby bunking right next to each other? I bet you had crazy time! (laughs) Do you have any great stories from the road that you would care to share?
Magni: What happens on a bus stays there! I just had a blast seeing the U.S. from a bus window and playing with amazing artists - especially D [Dilana].
Asif:
(laughs) Nice! Your saying about a bus is like Vegas. "What happens in
Vegas stays in Vegas!" Speaking of, you recently got to open up for
Aerosmith in Las Vegas . Just listen to that for a minute bro: Open up for
Aerosmith in Las Vegas. That is crazy!
Magni: I was sick as a dog and still enjoyed every second of it! That band is amazing! I watched their whole set with eyes wide open!
Asif: After the show and tour, you went back home to Iceland. I read that 8,000 fans gave you a warm welcome home. 8,000 fans welcoming you home bro! That had to feel amazing!
Magni: Humble is a word I don't often use but that day I was almost in tears the whole time.
Asif: I bet! What is the biggest difference for you from Iceland and the United States?
Magni: At first you don't see it but the US is kinda different from Europe in every way. Even from Canada! In both good and ways…it would take me a month to explain it but people should really try to go abroad and broaden their horizons.
Asif: Dude, I would love to come to Iceland someday! Have some fun! Alright, besides music, what do you like to do for fun?
Magni: I like to hang out with my friends, watch movies, listen to music and - most of all - play with my son!
Asif: Solid! So what is going
on right now with you? And what does the future hold for you? I heard you
are working on a solo album? The States needs to hear more of Magni!
Magni: I'm in Denmark right now starting to record my first solo album. It's scary and I love it! The future holds many things and when I find more out about it, I'll let you know!
Asif: Yes! The States needs to hear more of Magni! I am positive the world is going to be hearing more and more of Magni soon! Thanks for your time bro and hope to see you again soon!
Magni: (laughs) Pleasure! Later dude!
PHOTOS: Courtesy of Magni
