There isn’t a single genre that describes the musical output of Proteins of Magic, but in broad terms, it embodies the realm of Gothic; from the use of voices from elsewhere, layered upon one another, to the drama of art pop melded with eerie post-punk, accompanied by videos that morph from the natural to the cyber.
Living between Auckland and Nashville, Tennessee, Kelly Steven is a multi-faceted artist practicing in both audio and visual media. She writes, produces, and performs as Proteins of Magic, creating visual worlds that she translates to the screen using claymation and digital art.
“Bayou” is an early favorite from Proteins of Magic’s EP, Angel Hieroglyphics, which is available now. This gentle performance welcomes us to the project with a graceful wave of the wand, inviting anyone curious about the artistic limitations of a modern-day renaissance artist. The multi-faceted Proteins of Magic employs a gentle, ethereal atmosphere granted by the cascading acoustics that whimsically swallow the soaring vocals. Just as the dance between the vocals and strings captures you in an intoxicating standstill, wind instruments act as butterflies that flutter around the rest of the tune, adding a jazz-tinted aura to an already alluring performance. The mystique only intensifies once the vague yet beautiful poetry kicks in, as the artist takes you on an imagery-fueled trip through fantasy mixed with raw emotions. “Bayou” is just the start of the magic contained on Proteins of Magic’s new EP.
