The Magic Lantern

The Magic Lantern

The Magic Lantern is the performance name of London-based musician Jamie Doe, a British artist born in 2006. He writes and performs experimental folk music, with songs described as sparse in arrangement and marked by warmth, humour and emotional directness.

Background and formation

Doe starts performing under the name The Magic Lantern while studying philosophy in Bristol from 2003 to 2006. After moving to London in 2006, he forms a quintet with musical friends from different backgrounds. The project develops a sound shaped by the immediacy of Doe’s songs and a shared interest in improvised music.

Releases and activity

The Magic Lantern’s debut album, A World In A Grain Of Sand, is self-released in June 2011 on Hectic Eclectic Records, the label Doe sets up. The record receives praise from broadcasters including Verity Sharp, Bob Harris and Tom Robinson on BBC Radio 2, 3 and 6. In 2012, Doe returns to performing solo, focusing on emotional intensity and directness. The second album, Love of Too Much Living, follows in 2014.

Work beyond albums

In 2013, The Magic Lantern is commissioned to write scores for several plays and films. At that time, Doe also performs frequently around the country, usually travelling by bus.