‘Never Change’ by Magick Potion | Interview | New Album
Premiering today, we’ve got ‘Never Change,’ the first single from Magick Potion’s self-titled debut album, set to drop on RidingEasy Records on November 8, 2024.
Hailing from the rural outskirts of Baltimore, this trio—Dresden Boulden (guitar and vocals), Triston Grove (bass), and Jason Kendall (drums)—delivers a sound that hits like a time machine set to 1971. Their music channels the raw power of Blue Cheer, The Amboy Dukes, and Budgie, but with a fresh twist that keeps it far from just retro worship. ‘Never Change’ captures their signature blend of roaring guitars, thunderous drums, and hard-driving bass lines, creating a track that’s heavy, hazy, and unapologetically loud. It’s a wild ride through heavy rock’s past, but with enough swagger and grit to make its own mark today. If you’re looking for a shot of heavy rock with a psychedelic edge, Magick Potion has you covered. Prepare to have your mind blown and your speakers maxed out.
“We like to keep it pretty raw, nothing to hide behind, especially live.”
Magick Potion—how did you guys come together in this cosmic whirlwind? Was it fate, chaos, or maybe just a classified ad in some sketchy paper? What’s the origin story here?
Triston Grove: Dresden had just moved from California, looking to form a new band over here. Having grown up playing music together, it was an obvious pairing to form a band together.
Dresden Boulden: Then a friend of mine invited me to a show, and there was this kid ripping on the drums, and I was like, “Who the hell is this? Wow.” So I introduced myself to Jason, and when it came time to find a drummer, he was my first thought.
Jason Kendall: When I was approached by them, we decided to jam together for the first time, and we clicked. From there on, we started creating what would become Magick Potion.
You’ve clearly got this insane, dreamy 70s sound going on, like you all just stepped out of a time machine. Who were the bands that got you hooked? Were you the kids in the basement tripping to vinyl or blasting cassette tapes on a boombox somewhere?
Jason: As a kid, AC/DC was the band that got me interested in wanting to play music, and I discovered all the top 70s classic rock bands shortly after and became hooked. Then, in early high school, I dug deeper into underground heavy rock and found bands like Fresh Blueberry Pancake, Leaf Hound, and Orang-Utan, which opened up a whole overflowing amount of music from that era that I had never heard until then.
Triston: Initially, Black Sabbath is where it got started for me, and that led to me starting a vinyl collection and scouring for underground heavy rock bands.
Dresden: I had always loved classic rock, but at the beginning of high school, I discovered the world of the occult and psychedelic music simultaneously, and I was always intrigued by how they both take the initiated to fully understand. Groups like Black Widow, Coven, Gandalf, Ultimate Spinach, and Blue Cheer were the beginning of the expansion of my musical tastes.
Speaking of that 70s vibe—you guys nail it so hard that it’s like you’re not even trying, but I know there’s some wizardry behind the scenes. Spill the secret—how do you get that warm, hazy magic in your sound? Is it in the amps, the pedals, the way you’re chugging beer while you play?
Dresden: That’s a pretty easy one. We keep it simple—no pedals, just clean tube amps maxed out. We like to keep it pretty raw, nothing to hide behind, especially live. The wizardry’s in the wizard.
Gear nerd alert—what amps are you using to summon those tones from the void? Give us the deets on what’s powering the Magick Potion sound.
Dresden: We’ve always run these knockoff Fender amps that do that “about to blow up” thing pretty well into full stacks. We like them.
We’ve gotta know—what’s on the Magick Potion playlist these days? What’s inspiring you when you’re not busy conjuring riffs?
Jason: Lately, I’ve been really stuck on some albums like ‘CQ’ by The Outsiders, ‘Bugger Off!’ by Stack Waddy, and Miles Davis’ On the Corner.
Triston: My playlist has been a lot of Dust, Iron Claw, Jerusalem—bands like that—and some metal as well, such as Mercyful Fate and Electric Wizard. I’ve also really been digging Turkish sounds like Arif Sağ and Gülden Karaböcek.
Dresden: Hmm, a lot of international bands and musicians like Earth and Fire, Serge Gainsbourg, Aphrodite’s Child, Selda, and Shocking Blue, but we all listen to so much, really. Also, a lot of English folk like The Pentangle.
Touring plans! Where’s Magick Potion headed next, and how are you guys feeling about taking these jams on the road? Ready to melt some minds live?
Triston: We have a tour coming up in November throughout the East Coast and Midwest, supporting the album release. We’re really excited to take these songs to the cities we haven’t played in yet. Getting out and spreading our music is the most important thing to us right now.
Dresden: But… we may have some secret plans coming up for those who live elsewhere…
Your first single ‘Never Change’—what’s the story there? What was going on in your heads when you wrote that one? Is it a love letter to staying true, or is there something deeper bubbling under the surface?
Dresden: Shoot, that one might be a little deeper than the others. It’s from the perspective of the dark inventions of humanity that we’ve created and are now blind to, really. Religion, government, technology, perpetually twisting who we are. Not the most upbeat topic for an acid rock tune, haha.
Tell us about the upcoming album and its creation?
Dresden: It’s a collection of songs we’ve been working on for a bit and also a few that we had fleshed out right before we hit the studio. We’re really into analog recording, so we went down to this neat spot called Memphis Magnetic and recorded the album there in about five days or so.
“We try to create various sounds and textures in the music”
You’ve got that ‘laid-back but about to blow the roof off’ vibe. Is that something you aim for or just the way the potion flows naturally? Where’s that balance between chill and chaos for you?
Jason: It flows pretty naturally that way. We’ve always collectively had the intention of balancing light and shade and having emphasis on dynamics. We try to create various sounds and textures in the music while staying sonically consistent.
A lot of bands these days get wrapped up in being “serious artists.” You guys seem to just be having fun while somehow still sounding like the real deal at work. How important is it for you to keep that playful energy?
Triston: It’s definitely important, but we’re a serious band trying to put in serious work. At the end of the day, we’re artists—why make music if it’s not fun and creative? It’s important to stay genuine and down-to-earth and realize why you’re making music in the first place.
“Psychedelic madness riffs with a wicked light show in front of a bunch of mod freaks tripping out.”
Okay, random question—if you could go back in time and be the opening act for any legendary band, who would you pick? And why?
Jason: Man, that’s difficult. Something like Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd would be pretty wild. Psychedelic madness riffs with a wicked light show in front of a bunch of mod freaks tripping out.
Dresden: Yeah, that would be pretty fun.
What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to you guys at a concert or while recording? Every band’s got that one bizarre story that’s too good not to share.
Dresden: Well, to be honest, coming up is really our first real tour, so besides getting pulled over a ton of times in the South on the way to the studio and arguing with sound guys, it’s been pretty mellow. So I guess we’re still looking for the freaks to come out to make it interesting, haha.
When you’re working on a new track, how do you know when it’s done?
Magick Potion: When it hits the tape! Cheers!
Klemen Breznikar
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