Meet Willl Magid of Balkan Bump in Downtown

Today we’d like to introduce you to Willl Magid.

Willl, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in Palo Alto, CA. It was a quiet, chill, nerdy place to live as a kid. My main passions were video games and playing trumpet/bass.

By the time college came around I knew I wanted to study Ethnomusicology – it’s a mix of Anthropology and Music. Basically, Ethnomusicology asks the question ” why does music exist? ” UCLA was the only undergraduate department in Ethnomusicology, so luckily I was accepted.

While I was there I got obsessed with Jazz, Afrobeat, Balkan Brass Music, and Electronic music. I began producing music in College mostly because my imagination took me to lands far away and composing/recording was my way of making sense of my identity.

Years, and many musical projects later, I now find myself on the edge of my seat collaborating with some of my idols including Talib Kweli and Gramatik.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I mean, I could complain here about my struggles as an artist trying to make a living in a capitalist world, but honestly – as privileged white male things have been easier for me than for so many other people.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Balkan Bump – what should we know?
My career is two-fold at the moment.

One half is Balkan Bump, which is an exploration of my ancestral roots blended with funk, hip-hop, jazz and the electronic music. A huge part of this project is a reflection on what led my distant ancestors across the Middle East and Europe to eventually find a home in California amongst other immigrants. My last name “Magid” means traveling teacher in Hebrew. I strive for my music to always include joy, some suffering, but more than anything hope.

The other half is Golden Bell Music which is a music collective folks hire for private events and weddings. The company provides well-paid gigs for talented Musicians/DJs who need help affording the high cost of living in California. I’m proud to say the company is growing and we just hired a new person on our team.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Working with people who inspire me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.balkanbump.com , www.goldenbellmusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balkanbump
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/balkanbump
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/balkanbump
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/golden-bell-productions-san-francisco

Image Credit:
Jon April, Alice Lin, @nofotos, John Nilsen

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