Head of Content
Tuff Questions is our series where we ask artists a selection of incredibly difficult questions.
Stepping into the Tuff Questions hotseat this week is a pair of artists who have recently teamed up for the first time for euphoric track "LIFE". The Magician will be well known to Ministry fans, having played our London club on many occasions and released a string of dancefloor hits including his Platinum-selling remix of Lykke Li's "I Follow Rivers". Before starting The Magician project in 2010, Stephen Fasano was also one-half of dance/pop duo Aeroplane.
In March 2021, The Magician teamed up with Peter Ferguson, AKA Wuh Oh. The Scottish composer and producer is known for his high-profile releases on Canadian imprint, Secret Song such as "Wolverines" and "Hairstyle".
We've really enjoyed "LIFE" at Ministry HQ, and we'll be on the lookout for any further team-ups from this multi-talented duo, but how did they fair in the toughest interview in dance music?
Describe your press shot in five words or less
WUH OH: ...dude thinks he’s Andy Warhol.
THE MAGICIAN: - A production with style, humour and sarcasm.
House or Techno?
WH: I grew up on house classics by Daft Punk and Justice but honestly, as long as it’s a tune, I don’t mind.
TM: House.
If House is a spiritual thing, who is its prophet?
WH: Pedro Winter.
TM: Larry Levan.
What does your music smell like?
WH: Paul from Franz Ferdinand told me once that my hip hop beats sound like "Dilla on Irn Bru", so I reckon it smells sweet, with some fizz getting up in the brain!
TM: Summer.
What was the first song/album you bought with your own money
WH: Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water by Limp Bizkit.
TM: Technotronic - "Pump Up The Jam".
What was your first email address?
WH: I still use it as my burner email and that inbox is already a hellscape. I can’t risk making it worse!
What would you say in your tinder bio?
WH: google. what is a cool tinder bio.
TM: I save lives.
Best way to cure a hangover?
WH: Strawberry Nesquik.
TM: Drink water, do exercises, sweat and wait.
What song would be your wrestling entrance theme?
WH: "Dirrty" by Xtina featuring Redman.
TM: Van Halen - "Jump"
Who’s the biggest party animal in dance music?
WH: Me!
TM: I don’t know, Fisher maybe.
You can only ever DJ B2B with one other person for the rest of your life, who is it?
WH: My grandma, hands down. Mixing in and out of her selects (‘Que Será, Será’, ‘The Lord’s My Shepherd’ etc.) would keep me sharp. She’s the only person I know that could keep up with the rockstar lifestyle.
TM: 2manydjs.
You can only ever play one record again for the rest of your life - what is it?
WH: Gonna pick an LP here: "Tigermilk" by Belle & Sebastian. I’ll mostly play it to myself.
TM: F.R. David - "Words"
Who is your celebrity crush?
WH: Paul McCartney. I have his action figure on my desk.
TM: Natalie Portman and Bella Hadid.
If you could live in any other place and time, when and where would you pick?
WH: Liverpool, 1962. I would learn to play the drums and then undercut Ringo to get into The Beatles.
TM: New York late 70’s.
Is a hotdog a sandwich?
WH: No.
TM: No, a sandwich is cold
Teetotal or tearing it up?
WH: 15 pack of Tennent’s, just in case...
TM: Tearing it up
Favourite production? (pick one) lazers, disco ball, strobe, Co2, LED screen, confetti, foam, nothing or other.
WH: Strobes all day. If there are epileptics in the crowd, I’ll go for Kanye’s floating stage instead. Foam cannons always seemed a little much.
TM: Disco Ball
You can only wear one colour for the rest of your life, black is not an option, what colour do you choose?
WH: Damn, no black allowed? In that case I’ll leapfrog black and go straight for Vantablack. It absorbs over 99% of light. You can’t even see it, you can just see the space around it. It’s like a black hole. I think it’ll really bring out my eyes.
TM: White
What’s the best moment you’ve had on a dancefloor?
WH: I went to see Hudson Mohawke in Glasgow a few days after he released "Chimes". I’ve never been part of a crowd that went quite so bananas as when Hudmo dropped that tune.
TM: When I used to dance
What job would you do if you weren’t a musician?
WH: I would like to direct movies! One day hopefully I still could.
TM: I would own a restaurant.
Would you rather all your burps smell of eggs, or have a green cloud appear when you fart?
WH: How dare you! I don’t burp or fart.
TM: All my burps smell of eggs.
What’s your biggest non-musical interest?
WH: I’ve always been too preoccupied with music to actually have hobbies (or go outside), but I’ve gotten really interested in cinematography lately.
TM: Food.
You’re forming a cheesy pop group in the vein of 5ive, Steps, Spice Girls etc. You must all sing and do choreographed dance routines. Which other 3 DJs do you want in your band?
WH: Sega Bodega, Dorian Electra, Arca. You know what, I’m gonna call them right now.
TM: A-trak, Michael Calfan, Pedro Winter.
6 = 2(x+2) what is x?
WH: The limit does the exist!
TM: 1.
What’s your secret weapon to rescue a dancefloor?
WH: "Together" by Together. If that fails, foam cannon.
TM: My remix of Lykke Li - "I Follow Rivers".
Strangest / funniest thing you’ve seen in a club?
WH: Walked in on an orgy once.
TM: A girl showing some photos of her almost naked with her boyfriend.
What single thing would make your life better?
WH: Lamp with Genie inside.
TM: Sunshine everyday
If you had your own nightclub, what would you call it, and what’s the dress code?
WH: It’s called Event Horizon and everyone is only allowed to wear Vantablack material and no one can see anything cos all the light got absorbed.
TM: Think the Culture Club in Belgium was one of the best club names. It doesn’t exist anymore. Dress code is open but has to be stylish.
Why do lots of DJs wear masks? What’s the deal with that?
WH: My guess is that they probably saw a picture of Daft Punk!
TM: They are probably shy and don’t want to be recognized in the street. Then it’s a concept.
Most regrettable track you’ve dropped in a set?
WH: I thought it would be fine at the time, but in hindsight there was a demo of mine I played once that wasn’t even close to being ready to present to anybody...
TM: A demo test track of mine. I never finished it.
What’s the most expensive thing you own?
WH: My Nord keyboard which, insanely, I got for free.
TM: My daughter.
Where is the strangest place you’ve DJed?
WH: I played this weekend-long party in a castle in Scotland a couple summers ago. Each room had its own theme and I did a 3 hour set in the zone dedicated to people taking shrooms.
TM: In the bathroom of a club in Belgium.
One piece of advice you would give your younger self?
WH: Don’t be so mean to yourself.
TM: Learn piano instead of playing football.
Where’s the afters?
WH: Grandma’s house!
TM: On the beach