Magnus Ferrell Finds His Rhythm on Groove Therapy
An artist getting comfortable with his own sound.
For Magnus Ferrell, making music has always been about following a feeling. On Groove Therapy, the singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist brings his jazz roots into a world of funky rhythms, soulful melodies, romantic uncertainty, and bedroom-pop intimacy. The seven-track EP captures an artist getting comfortable with his own sound, trusting his instincts, and discovering that sometimes the best way to work through your feelings is to put them to a groove.
Music has been part of Magnus Ferrell's life for as long as he can remember. Growing up in an artistic family, he was surrounded by creative expression, from watching his father write and work on sets to playing piano alongside his grandfather, whose love of jazz and R&B helped shape Magnus's earliest musical memories. Those experiences gave him more than a foundation in musicianship. They taught him that the most compelling artists are willing to put something real of themselves into their work.
Playing alongside his grandfather, in particular, instilled an appreciation for emotional authenticity that continues to guide his approach. For Magnus, technical ability and musical knowledge matter, but the feeling behind a performance is what gives it staying power. That philosophy has become increasingly important as he develops an identity that brings together his jazz training and his affection for R&B, soul, funk, and pop.
On Groove Therapy, those influences meet in a sound that feels musically considered without becoming inaccessible. Magnus enjoys working with jazz chord structures that allow him to step outside conventional expectations, creating unexpected harmonic turns that make a song more engaging. At the same time, he wants to preserve the immediacy of intimate, digestible indie pop. The result is a collection of songs that can feel effortless on the surface while carrying more musical detail underneath.
The title Groove Therapy came from a realization during the pandemic. Whenever Magnus experienced a strong emotion, he found himself instinctively returning to the piano. Music became a way to process whatever was happening in his life, offering an outlet when putting those feelings into words was less natural. The idea of combining a groove with therapy appealed to him because it captured both sides of the experience: music that encourages you to move while giving you room to feel.
That balance runs through the EP. Its songs explore desire, heartbreak, romantic uncertainty, and the vulnerability that comes with caring about someone who might not feel the same way. Rather than presenting those emotions through traditional stripped-back ballads alone, Magnus pairs heartfelt lyrics with funky, rhythmic production. The contrast gives the music its character. You can find yourself moving to the beat before fully registering the emotional weight of what is being said.
The creative process has become more rewarding as Magnus has learned to trust his own musical preferences. Bringing jazz influences into his songwriting has helped him make music he genuinely enjoys listening to, creating a positive cycle of inspiration. He wants to look back on his catalogue years from now and still hear something that feels true to him, rather than a collection of decisions made to satisfy somebody else's expectations.
That confidence has taken time to develop. Magnus describes finding an artistic identity as a process of putting in the reps, gradually learning how his personality and taste translate into his sound, appearance, and overall presence. It took years of experimentation to understand how those elements could come together naturally. Looking back, he would tell his younger self to see the entire journey as practice rather than treating the period before a breakthrough as time spent waiting for something to happen.
The shift in perspective has helped him appreciate the small victories along the way. Every imperfect attempt offers something to learn, and every creative decision helps clarify what works. For Magnus, finding his sound was not necessarily about reaching a point where everyone would love his music. It was realizing that he could play a song in front of a room full of people who might not connect with it and still feel completely satisfied with what he had made.
That instinct for trusting the original idea also influences how he works in the studio. When an improvised take has the right feeling, he prefers not to overwork it simply for the sake of refinement. He knows how easily a promising idea can disappear into endless adjustments. On "A Little Fun," the team retained the original song structure while refining the drums and introducing synth bass, strengthening the track without losing the quality that made it exciting in the first place.
Sometimes, the best songs are the ones that arrive with a story already waiting to be told. "On Your Dress" was particularly intuitive for Magnus because it drew directly from a real-life experience, recounting events almost word for word as they happened. His inspiration can come from almost anywhere: a moment in everyday life, a film score, a piano practice session, a YouTube video, or an unexpected emotional response. He tries to let those ideas emerge naturally, accepting that not every thought will become something worthwhile but recognizing that the creative process needs room for experimentation.
Other tracks reveal their potential through collaboration. "She's Gonna Break My Heart," featuring Jenevieve, began as a casual demo that Magnus put together in roughly an hour. It was only after bringing Jenevieve into the process that the song revealed another dimension. Her smooth R&B vocals introduced a contrasting perspective, turning the track into a playful exchange between two people approaching romance from different sides. What began as a straightforward idea became a duet with its own personality, and watching Jenevieve work in the studio made the transformation especially rewarding.
The collaboration also reflects the EP's wider interest in emotional contradiction. Falling for someone can be exciting and uncomfortable at the same time. You can recognize the possibility of heartbreak and still want to take the risk. Magnus is drawn to those moments when feelings refuse to fit neatly into one category, and the music gives him a way to explore them without having to resolve every contradiction.
His growing recognition has offered further encouragement to keep pushing himself. Co-signs from Justin Timberlake and Ty Dolla $ign, along with a Best New Artist nomination at the BMAs, have felt surreal, but Magnus sees those milestones primarily as motivation. They offer reassurance that his work is connecting while reminding him of the level of musicianship and artistry he wants to reach.
The response to "Asleep Talking," which earned Song of the Month recognition on SiriusXM's The Heat, was especially meaningful because it showed him that his music was reaching real listeners. That connection matters more to him than the approval of any single critic. A harsh review from someone whose opinion he respected initially proved difficult to process, but the experience helped him recognize that art is subjective. Not every listener will understand every creative decision, and trying to win over everyone is a losing game. He would rather focus his energy on the people who genuinely connect with what he makes.
For Magnus, growth means continuing to improve without losing the freedom that made him want to create music in the first place. Advice from musicians and mentors has encouraged him to find that freedom onstage, develop his piano and vocal abilities, and keep challenging himself creatively. He remains interested in the small sparks that can send a song in an unexpected direction, whether that is a sunset, a soundtrack, a particular note, or a feeling strong enough to give him goosebumps.
That instinct is becoming increasingly important as he moves from the studio to larger audiences. Magnus initially felt that his live performances carried more energy than his recordings, which pushed him to explore how he could capture that spontaneity in the studio. Now, "A Little Fun" is his favorite song to perform because it gets people dancing and encourages them to express themselves freely. It is also the track that feels most like him as a person, bringing together the playful energy and rhythmic sensibility at the heart of Groove Therapy.
His upcoming tour dates with the Jonas Brothers offer another opportunity to discover what happens when the music leaves the studio and enters a room full of people. Magnus is particularly excited about the unscripted moments: unexpected fan interactions, spontaneous conversations, and the little surprises that make live performance impossible to replicate. For all the planning that goes into a tour, it is often the unpredictable parts that make the experience memorable.
Away from the stage, he tries to give himself time to decompress when several major things happen at once. Spending about an hour alone with his thoughts helps him process everything, while simple self-care habits become important whenever his schedule allows. His tour rider offers a slightly more practical glimpse into life on the road: fresh fruit, especially watermelon, coconut water, and a bottle of tequila.
Magnus's approach to personal style follows a similar instinct for combining comfort with individuality. For his all-blue BMAs outfit, he wanted an elevated, modern take on a flowing disco aesthetic without sacrificing comfort. He chose pieces from Viviano, a lesser-known brand he wanted to bring attention to, using the opportunity to spotlight designers beyond the names that dominate the conversation.
Outside music and fashion, Magnus would choose The Traitors if he had the chance to compete on a reality television show. His current listening includes D'Angelo's Voodoo, a fitting choice for someone whose musical world is so closely connected to groove, soul, and expressive musicianship. These interests sit alongside his ambition to keep exploring new creative territory, rather than treating his current sound as a finished product.
For now, Groove Therapy represents a particularly clear snapshot of where he is creatively. The EP brings together the influences that shaped him, the emotional experiences that inspire his songwriting, and the confidence that comes from learning to trust his own instincts. Its seven tracks feel connected without becoming interchangeable, each offering a different angle on romance, vulnerability, and the complicated business of figuring out what you feel.
Magnus is already looking ahead. A full-length album is part of his plans, alongside a headlining tour run that will give him more opportunities to develop his relationship with live audiences. He is still chasing higher creative goals, but the process itself has become part of the reward. Rather than waiting for some distant milestone to prove that he belongs, he is learning to enjoy the work of getting better.
With Groove Therapy, Magnus Ferrell makes a case for music that can be thoughtful without becoming heavy, technically ambitious without losing its accessibility, and emotionally honest without giving up its sense of fun. His jazz background gives the songs their musical depth, while his pop instincts keep them inviting. The result is a project that understands something fundamental about feeling: sometimes you need to sit with it, sometimes you need to talk it through, and sometimes you just need to turn up the music and let yourself move.
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