From Chaos to Collaboration: M.A.G.S. Finds New Life in ‘Creator’
M.A.G.S. by Migella Accorsi
Elliott Douglas, better known as M.A.G.S., has always embraced transformation, both as an artist and a person. With his latest release, Creator, the now-Kansas-City-based artist embarks on perhaps his most personal journey yet, reimagining not only his music but himself.
Just a year ago, M.A.G.S. delivered Destroyer, an album marked by textured post-punk influences and genre-defying melodies, born out of emotional upheaval. It was a raw, edgy body of work, unknowingly prepared to echo the chaos looming on a personal horizon. In a surprising turn, Creator arrived last month. More than a remix, it’s a reimagining—a fresh start. Creator feels like a dialogue between the past and the present, rich with reflection, renewal, and the unexpected grace of imperfection. For someone who has long held tight to his creative process, this album reveals a new side of Elliot Douglas, one where collaboration and flaws are not only welcomed but celebrated, coloring his work in beautiful, unexpected ways.
“I loved Destroyer, but I could barely enjoy it,” Douglas admits with a touch of vulnerability, speaking from his new Kansas City apartment. “Strangely, I think I knew I was about to go through some stuff.” As he recalls, life at the time was in disarray—parting ways with management, sleeping on a friend’s air mattress, and rebuilding his life after five years in Los Angeles. The excitement of Destroyer’s release was clouded by personal turmoil. “I was excited, but I couldn’t appreciate it.”
Disconnected from the album’s release, Douglas sought comfort in simplicity. He returned to his acoustic guitar, stripping Destroyer’s complex arrangements down to their bare bones. “It wasn’t complicated—just me, a computer, and a shitty guitar,” he reflects. “I wanted to pull focus back to these songs, even for myself. How can I give them the attention they deserve?” As time went on, Douglas realized there was more to uncover. What started as an intimate process of reconnecting with his music slowly snowballed into something much bigger.
One of the key shifts that defined Creator was Douglas' embrace of collaboration. Historically, M.A.G.S. had been a deeply personal solo project, with every facet of creation resting on his shoulders. But this time, Douglas reached out early in the process to longtime friend and M.A.G.S. guitarist, Ehmed Nauman. This partnership opened up space for experimentation and growth.
The process—nine days of intense creative sessions in Chicago—saw the music evolve far beyond what Douglas had imagined. The only expectation held - that whatever this became, it defied expectations. “I didn’t want it to feel like a remix album where you just chop it up and add a beat. This is more like stripping everything back to its core and building something new on top of it,” he explains. Layers of vocals, strings, and synths began to form, and Creator began to take shape—a reimagining of his previous work, now imbued with fresh emotion and purpose.
“Working with Ehmed pushed me in ways I didn’t expect,” Douglas says, a genuine appreciation in his tone. Used to being in control, he had to step back, allowing the process to unfold organically. “I didn’t really have a plan. I just wanted to see what would happen,” he adds with a laugh. That open approach led to unexpected surprises. “We ended up adding these crazy drill beats and layers. It was so far outside what I thought it could be.”
Letting go of control was a revelation for Douglas. “I had to stop thinking about what I expected it to be and let it become what it wanted to be.” One standout track during this process was "Elephant," which was rebranded as "Sequence Three" on Creator. Inspired by Ringo Starr's minimalist drumming, Douglas and Ehmed transformed the song with a Beatles-inspired vibe. “We borrowed from ‘Hello Goodbye’ and ‘Day Tripper’ for those stabbing guitars and simple, tight beats,” Douglas explains. “I remember hearing the final version of ‘Sequence Three’ and thinking, ‘This is going to blow people away.’”
Moments like these cemented Creator as more than just a reimagined album—it was an entirely new creative endeavor, rich with sonic variety, blending orchestral elements, Lo-Fi hip-hop, and ambient soundscapes. Ehmed’s influence, combined with Douglas’ newfound openness, allowed the music to take on a life of its own.
The shift in Douglas' approach didn’t stop at collaboration. Creator also marks a departure in his relationship with perfectionism. Known for being meticulous, Douglas admits, “In the past, I would drive myself crazy trying to make everything perfect.” But this time, something shifted. Laying down rough vocal tracks, he fully intended to “fix” them later. “Some of the vocals were done in just one or two takes,” he says. “I didn’t think I’d keep them.” But when it came time to re-record, something was missing. “No matter how many times I tried, the new takes just didn’t have the same feel.”
Leaning into that rawness became a powerful revelation. The slight distortions and occasional rough edges gave the tracks an authenticity that polished takes couldn’t replicate. “Some of the vocals were a little off, but that became part of the charm. I realized the magic was in those imperfect moments.”
Reflecting on Destroyer, Douglas describes it as being in the middle of a chaotic scene. “It was like standing at ground zero while everything around me was exploding.” The album captured that intensity with its dark, visceral edge. The final track, “Supermoon,” offered a moment of clarity—like viewing the Earth from space, where all the destruction becomes distant. “It was about zooming out and realizing, ‘Everything is fine,’” he explains.
In contrast, Creator carries a more hopeful tone, even though the core messages remain the same. “People have said the album feels like a hug, and I think that’s exactly what it is.” While Creator still has its edges, it’s softer, more compassionate, and less focused on darkness. “You hear the hard messages, but it’s almost like hearing them through an embrace,” he reflects.
As if Creator wasn’t enough, Douglas took on another exciting project—covering a track for American Football’s 25th Anniversary Edition. “First of all, a huge honor. Just an incredible, incredible opportunity,” he says, his admiration for the band evident. Balancing the distinct styles of American Football and M.A.G.S. could have been tricky, but Douglas approached it with the same mindset he applied to Creator—turning something familiar into something uniquely his own.
“I love taking something that already exists and flipping it on its head,” Douglas explains, comparing the cover process to reimagining his own material for Creator. Interestingly, the instrumental for the cover wasn’t new at all—it was something he had created back in 2016, long before the anniversary invitation arrived. "I dug it up from my hard drive and realized how perfectly it fit with their sound.”
The riff, which Douglas describes as “dreamy” and “noodly,” felt like an homage to the sound American Football pioneered. “That riff was born out of what they did,” he says. The project provided the chance to weave together two creative periods—what he had written in 2016 with the energy and direction he found after making Creator. Layering new parts onto the track, including the chorus and bridge, it became a mix of past and present—a perfect blend of both worlds.
With Creator, M.A.G.S. enters a new era—one defined by personal growth, creative freedom, and a willingness to embrace the unknown. “It feels like a new chapter for me,” Douglas reflects. “It felt cathartic to breathe new life into those songs, like I was closing a chapter but with a much lighter heart.”
This shift in sound is more than just a creative experiment; it opens up new possibilities for M.A.G.S., inviting listeners to explore the wide emotional landscapes his music can evoke. “I hope it gets people excited to go back and listen, compare their favorite songs to the new versions,” Douglas shares. “It’s a different vibe,” he notes, hoping the project will become a go-to for quieter, reflective moments.
As M.A.G.S. continues to evolve, there’s no telling where this creative journey will lead next—but one thing is certain: Elliott Douglas is an artist unafraid to embrace change, both in life and in music.
