Magic Giant

MAGIC GIANT
Background information
Origin	Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres	Indie folk indie pop
Years active	2014–present
Labels	Washington Square Razor & Tie Concord Universal
Associated acts	Mike Posner, Spencer Ludwig, The Revivalists
Website	www.magicgiant.com
Members	Austin Bisnow Zambricki Li Zang (Brian Zaghi)

Magic Giant (often stylized as MAGIC GIANT) is an American indie folk band formed in Los Angeles, California in early 2014. The group consists of Austin Bisnow (lead vocals, cello, synthesizer, percussion), Zambricki Li (banjo, fiddle, viola, cello, harmonica, mandolin, octave mandolin, acoustic guitar, dobro, lap steel, backing vocals) and Zang (acoustic guitar, cello, bass, percussion, backing vocals).

Magic Giant released their self titled EP Magic Giant in 2015 and their studio album In the Wind in 2017. The band is best known for its single "Set On Fire" that charted top 30 in Billboard's Alternative chart.^[1]

History

2014–2017: Formation and EP

MAGIC GIANT at The Fillmore

Magic Giant was formed in early 2014 when songwriting partners Austin Bisnow and Zambricki Li were impressed by a video they saw of now-bandmate Brian Zaghi (known by his stage name, Zang) salsa dancing.^[2][3][4][5] The group name originated as a reference from a TED Talk, in which visual artist Peter Tunney described his mentor, Jonas Salk, as a "giant", then clarifying it was not the man's physical nature he was describing, but his ability to think big. Inspired by this, the band motto became "You don't have to be big to be a giant".^[6]

In 2015, Magic Giant released its freshman self-titled EP, notably featuring Dave Matthews Band’s Rashawn Ross and Capital Cities’ Spencer Ludwig and made the debut live performance of the year on KEXP's The Morning Show hosted by John Richards.^[7] The group's song, "Let It Burn," was called "a summer festival anthem" by NPR.^[8]New Music Seminar announced Magic Giant as an 'Artist on the Verge' Class of 2015.^[9][10] Past artists have included Macklemore, Banks, and Fitz and The Tantrums.

In 2016, the band played festivals including Electric Forest, Wanderlust and Lightning in a Bottle and sold out venues including the Troubadour.^{[11][12][13][14]} Billboard described its live show as "joyful" and "inspiring mass dance-alongs." The trio’s song, "Set on Fire"^[15][16] ranked #4 on Spotify's US Viral 50 and #1 on KROQ's Locals Only, presented by radio personality, Kat Corbett.^[17] The group toured with Mike Posner, Beats Antique and Eric Hutchinson.^[18][19][20]

2017–present: In The Wind

The group released their debut album, In the Wind, May 19, 2017.^[21][22]

The band was picked as Elvis Duran's Artist of the Month, appearing on NBC's Today show with Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford where they performed live their hit "Set on Fire".^[23] The group was also chosen as ALT 98.7's Artist in Residence.^[24]

In June, Rolling Stone named the group one of 10 New Artists You Need to Know, calling "Set on Fire" the "perfect music festival fare."^[25] Matt Pinfield named the song his Trending Track.^[26]

"Set on Fire" had reached the top 25 on Mediabase's US Alternative Chart as of July 3, 2017.^[27]

The band toured with The Revivalists^[28][29] and played summer festivals including Firefly, WayHome, and Arroyo Seco.^[30][31]

Musical style and influences

The trio has drawn comparisons to bands such as Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Imagine Dragons, The Lumineers, Walk the Moon, Of Monsters and Men and Mumford & Sons.^[32][33][34]The group has cited influences including Queen, Bruce Springsteen, Julian Casablancas, John Hartford and The Avett Brothers.^[35]

Members

Austin Bisnow

Bisnow is lead vocals and plays cello, synthesizer, percussion. He co-wrote/produced the title track for David Guetta's Listen featuring John Legend and has written singles for artists such as Steve Aoki, Big Time Rush, Paul Oakenfold and Jon Batiste & Stay Human.^[36] In addition, he teamed up with Grammy Award-winning producer Benny Blanco to create the non-profit, Get Well Soon Tour, whose mission is to bring joy to hospitalized children through surprise visits from superstar musicians (Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber, Maroon 5).^[37][38]

Zambricki Li

Li plays banjo, fiddle, viola, cello, harmonica, mandolin, octave mandolin, acoustic guitar, dobro, lap steel and is backing vocals for the band. When Li was 12, he got hit by a car, and when he came out of a coma a few days later, taught himself violin in a matter of days through a rare brain trauma reorganization known as Acquired Savant Syndrome.^[39][40] Before moving to Los Angeles, Li studied under fiddle player Buddy Spicher (Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan) and songwriter Cowboy Jack Clement (Johnny Cash, Ray Charles) in Nashville, TN.^[41] Li wrote and performed an original song for the film Paper Heart starring Michael Cera.^[42][43]

Zang

Brian Zaghi, known by his stage name Zang, plays acoustic guitar, cello, upright bass, electric bass, percussion and sings backing vocals for the band. Zang is also a salsa dancer and Los Angeles native.^[44] When Zang was younger, he played upright bass in the Los Angeles Junior Philharmonic Orchestra.^[39]

Discography

Albums

• 2017: In the Wind

EPs

• 2015: Magic Giant

Singles

• 2016: "Set on Fire"

References

External links

• MAGIC GIANT: Official site