Mighty Mage is the professional name of singer/songwriter Khalid Hussain. Growing up in La Jolla, California, a young Khalid first caught the performance bug at fifteen years old when he starred in a local production of ‘Aladdin.’ He was hooked. Soon he was learning to play guitar and writing his own music.
Throughout his twenties and thirties, Hussain worked with a long list of talented producers, engineers, musicians, and vocalists to record his original material. Over the years he has produced music under various artist names. At 38 he released ‘Art is Magic,’ his debut as Mighty Mage. Now committed to that moniker, he followed with two albums of his collected earlier works; “Ancient Scrolls” & “Ancient Scrolls II.”
“The Best of Mighty Mage” is his brand new album, released worldwide to all major streaming services on March 15, 2022. As the title suggests, the 14 song collection is a compendium of the artist’s best work from across his various recording projects.
Although these tracks were recorded over a span of years and with an ever changing parade of musicians, there is a consistency of substance and quality to the Mighty Mage sound. That is thanks to the man at the heart of these recordings. Khalid’s music tells a deeply personal narrative of a young man navigating his way through life and love, and sharing the lessons he has learned along the way.
Throughout the album, Mighty Mage is accompanied by small organic ensembles of live bass, drums and percussion. As the band transitions through the record’s many subtle stylistic shifts, other ancillary instruments and vocals color the sound. Tracks like “All For Love” and “Sci Fi ” introduce classical instruments like flute and violin for a Moody Blues feel. Saxophone brings a touch of Jazz to “Searching for a Song,” and Hussain’s electric guitar also makes a few rare appearances to add a Rock edge to a handful of tracks.
From the Classic Folk/Rock feel of tracks like “Forgot the Way” and “Dusty Road” to Pop/Rock nuggets like “Hold On” and “Home,” Mighty Mage creates a rich multi-genre tapestry of sound. However, even as the record shifts gears from the Reggae and Surf Rock vibes of “Out of the Blue” to the Carter/Cash-style Country of “Sky Love,” there is a cohesiveness to the sound. Khalid’s acoustic guitar, smooth tenor and earnest lyrics tie it all together.
I am proud to release this collection to the world in this format and hope that it will introduce listeners to my music in the best way possible.
Khalid Hussain (Mighty Mage)
Check out the “Forgot The Way” lyric video below. You can also hear the song on the Deep Indie Songwriters playlist, or listen to the entire “Best of Mighty Mage” on your favorite streaming service. Follow the links below to connect with the artist. Get on his socials and get in the loop on all of the music to come from this talented and prolific songwriter.
