A Conversation with Magnetic Skies: Conquering the Electro-Retro-Futuristic World in Full Force

Two years after their first LP, the Magnetic Skies trio are set to return with their follow-up, ‘Fragments,’ which features exciting contemporary electronica inspired by the futuristic visions of past creative masterminds.

Stream: “Everything’s Alright” – Magnetic Skies

Six years ago, singer Simon Kent and keyboardist Jo Womar of England teamed up as a brand-new duo, Magnetic Skies.

Their lineup has since expanded – Lenin Alegria was eventually added as a drum player – and so has their catalogue. After a string of EPs and standalone tracks came their debut full-length project, Empire Falling, in 2023. A number of new singles have recent months, “A Place on Earth” and “Back to Life” among them, and they are set to be compiled into the group’s sophomore album, Fragments, out on November 7th.

Fragments - Magnetic Skies — Fragments – Magnetic Skies

Magnetic Skies describe their output throughout this period as “electro-retro-futuristic” music. In the words of frontman Simon Kent, this is a kind of electronica music that “lives in the space between nostalgia and imagination. It reflects how artists decades ago envisioned the future, and how that vision compares to the world we actually live in today.”

Among the visionary artists of yesteryear that the band includes among their influences are Ridley Scott, David Bowie, and Krzysztof Kieslowski. It’ll surely be fascinating to hear how Magnetic Skies pays tribute to them all while also carving out their own absorbing piece of the modern-day soundscape. The record’s release will also be accompanied by Magnetic Skies’ first-ever tour across their native United Kingdom next month.

Kent further lays bare his thoughts on the upcoming project and the artistic maturation it represents for the talented trio in the following interview with Atwood Magazine.

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A CONVERSATION WITH MAGNETIC SKIES

Magnetic Skies was founded in 2019. Looking back over the ensuing six years, what are some key moments or events that you'd say helped to bring the group to where it is today and its current artistic identity?

Simon Kent: Magnetic Skies began in 2019 as a short-term project between Jo and me – a one-off show using vintage analogue synths and electronic drums. That initial spark quickly grew into something much more lasting. A major turning point came when we expanded to a four-piece while writing and recording Empire Falling. It was a highly experimental time, both creatively and in shaping how we wanted to function as a band – particularly live.

Over time, we evolved into the current three-piece lineup, which feels like a real core unit. We’re very aligned in our goals, creatively and personally, and that’s brought a new level of focus to the music.

Supporting acts like Heaven 17, Altered Images, ACTORS and Then Jerico at sold-out shows gave us invaluable experience in how to connect with a live audience. It boosted our confidence and helped sharpen our identity as a live band.

Another key piece of the puzzle has been building a trusted visual team for artwork, videos, and photography – ensuring that our visual identity is always in sync with the sound and message of the music. That level of creative control has really helped us define who Magnetic Skies is, not just as a band, but as a full artistic project.

Fragments is the follow-up to your 2023 debut, Empire Falling. In what ways does Fragments draw upon its predecessor while also heading off in its own stylistic direction?

Simon Kent: Fragments builds on the analogue synth textures we developed on Empire Falling, but takes things in a more spacious and minimalist direction. As we evolved into a 3-piece, we naturally stripped back much of the guitar and live bass, partly to avoid repeating ourselves, but also because the new material –starting from the earliest demos – was pointing somewhere more introspective and atmospheric. Unlike Empire Falling, which was more a collection of thematically linked songs, Fragments was conceived with a clear narrative thread, almost like a journey. It’s more deliberate, more reflective, and perhaps more vulnerable, too.

Simon, you had this to say about the album: “Fragments reflects a fractured, fast-moving world where identity, intimacy and meaning feel increasingly elusive; where life, memory, relationships, and reality are broken into pieces, and each track is trying to gather those pieces into something coherent and meaningful.” What are some moments on the record where you feel as though this theme is really brought to life?

Simon Kent: The theme runs through the entire album – every track is a fragment of something larger, and together they form a kind of emotional and psychological map. “A Place On Earth” captures that feeling of dislocation in a world of endless noise and digital static – it’s about searching for a quiet space to just exist. “Closing In” reflects the pressure and claustrophobia of forces we often can’t name but feel all around us. “Can You Feel The World?” asks whether we’ve become too disconnected – from nature, from each other, from meaning itself. “Your Shadow” explores emotional absence and the difficulty of reaching across distance, while “Slow Motion” offers a brief sense of clarity – a rare moment where everything slows down and you actually feel present. These moments, though fleeting, are vital.

Each song is like a shard – imperfect, maybe broken – but together they reflect something real.

The lead single of the album is “Back to Life.” How would you say this single is representative of the rest of the album?

Simon Kent: “Back to Life” really captures the heart of what Fragments is about. It’s a response to a world where we’re more digitally connected than ever, yet feel increasingly isolated and fragmented. The song is a call to reclaim meaning, to reconnect with what truly matters – and that emotional drive runs through the whole album. Sonically, it blends analogue synth textures with a sense of urgency and spaciousness that reflects the wider sound of the record. It sets the tone both thematically and musically – reflective, direct, and searching for something real in a fractured world.

What about the non-singles? How do you think they all contribute to the album's main sound and themes, which you describe as “modern alienation and emotional burnout”?

Simon Kent: The non-singles gave us more space to explore the album’s deeper emotional area – particularly the themes of modern alienation and emotional burnout. Tracks like “No End” and “She Calls Me On,” which bookend the record, were influenced by the films of Krzysztof Kieslowski. His work – full of quiet emotional tension, beautiful imagery and unresolved questions – really resonated with what I was experiencing during this period of writing. These songs are intentionally placed to frame the rest of the album.

“The Light In You” is maybe the darkest moment on the album – uneasy and claustrophobic – but even in that intensity, there’s still a flicker of hope. That’s something we tried to carry through many of the non-singles: the feeling of being overwhelmed or disconnected, but also the possibility of reconnecting or healing. These tracks give the album its emotional weight, grounding the more direct moments in something more introspective and atmospheric.

What do you think are some important qualities of “electro-retro-futuristic” music? How would you say these are achieved on Fragments?

Simon Kent: Electro-retro-futuristic music lives in the space between nostalgia and imagination – it reflects how artists decades ago envisioned the future, and how that vision compares to the world we actually live in today. There’s often a sense of lost hope or longing for something better. On Fragments, we lean into that tension by using analogue synthesisers and atmospheric textures that recall the sound of the late ’70s and ’80s – but everything is produced with a very modern sensibility.

Lyrically, the album explores themes like decay, alienation, and identity – ideas that echo the emotional tone of films like Blade Runner, which are still relevant. For us, the key is combining the precision and nostalgia of electronics with something deeply human. That’s where the emotional core lies. We want Fragments to sound like a future built from pieces of the past – but with real soul, honesty, and vulnerability running through it.

What are your hopes for the album once it is released in early November? How do you hope fans will connect with it?

Simon Kent: I hope the album gives people a space to reflect –whether they’re feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or just searching for meaning. The lyrics and atmosphere were shaped by those kinds of emotions, and I’d love for listeners to hear something of themselves in the songs. For fans who’ve followed us for a while, they might find this record darker and more atmospheric than what we’ve done before, but the melodic core is still there. It’s very much Magnetic Skies – just evolved.

You're also about to embark on your first headline UK tour. Exciting stuff! What are your goals for this tour and your live performances?

Simon Kent: We’re really excited to play our first headline tour – especially in smaller, more intimate venues where we can truly connect with people. Our goal is to create an immersive, almost cinematic atmosphere that draws the audience into the world of the album. We’ve spent a lot of time shaping the sound and visuals to reflect the mood of Fragments, so hopefully each show feels like a complete experience, not just a gig. And we’ll definitely be sticking around after each set to meet as many people as we can – it means a lot to us to have those one-on-one moments with fans.

Anything you'd like to add?

Simon Kent: Just a big thank you to everyone for your support and for being part of the journey so far. We’re really excited to share the new album and share it live – hopefully we’ll see some of you at the shows. It means a lot to know the music is connecting with people.

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