"The Cut Newspaper Online"










Damien O'Brien: Magician Feature ™/ Text / Ronnie Grebenyuk / Photography / Courtesy of Damien O’Brien When did you realise magic was your thing? I learnt some magic when I was 13, a few card tricks and some sleight of hand too. I found out which shops to buy equipment from and I just went from there. I love the look on peoples’ faces when you perform magic - it’s the best thing you can ever do What would you say makes you stand out from other magicians? I’m not a typical magician. I don’t wear suits and I don’t pull rabbits out of hats either. You will always see me at gigs wearing a New Era cap or a pair of Nike trainers. I’ve read that your career sparked off by your blagging your way into an exclusive club... I heard there was a party in the West End, so I took a chance and headed down to the venue. When I got there the bouncer asked for my invite and I said I was the magician booked for the evening. He loved magic and so I did a few tricks for him and he handed me a VIP pass from his pocket. I was free to roam the party and I was doingmagic for bunch of Big Brother stars and footballers. It was a good night and to top it all, I met people who wanted me at their own events and parties. You perform a lot of your magic to celebs, who have been your best and worst? The best person still to date is Nelly, he was just really respectful and appreciated what I did. He started to tell me how he goes off to Vegas to watch the magic acts... Nelly is great guy and we have become good friends. The worst person was some Big Brother reject. I can’t remember her name, but she was awful, rude and arrogant. What’s your favourite trick? When I cough and a Rubiks cube just appears, mixed up on all sides. I throw the cube in the air and when I catch it, it is solved on every single side. What were your highlights of 2008? My TV show Magic Party, performing in Jamaica and Dubai, going backstage at events like 02 Wireless, the Mobos and the Nickelodeon awards, meeting Nelly, getting endorsments from Nike, New Era, Money Clothing and Storm, and knowing that a lot more people got to see what I can do. So what plans do you have for 2009? I have bunch of gigs already lined up in Barcalona and Paris, plus I’m in talks to do a DVD and film some more TV shows. Where do you hope the magic to take you? If I’m honest what I want out of magic is to just show the world what I can do. If it makes me money and gets me celeb status, wicked, but I just wanna share my gift with the world. www.damienobrien.com or www.myspace.com/damiensmagic		Issue Three Feb 2009 Giggs Interview Global Kingdom : What Is Britishness Back To The Old School Fashion Sarah Maple Exclusive Young Comedians Kyza Interview Charlie Crocket Feature Chip Music Feature Lips To The Mic : Female Artists The Chrsiping Debate Rodney Hinds Careers Interview De Tropix Interview Grey Hound Racing Feature Slanguage Feature Real Life Gambling Crazy Cousinz Interview Hard Knock Wife Review Secret Style Histories Riz MC Cover Artist Feature Dels Cover Artist Feature Sofi Donut's Artist Feature Sara-Sham Savari Benoit Pioulard Emily Cummins Interview This Real Life : Smacking Damien O'Brien Interview Issue Two Aug 2008 Reggie Yates Interview Road To 2012 : Olympics Special Road To Carnival Fashion Freedom At A Price Red Hot Interview Nash Money Sneakers Micachu Interview Natty Interview Life In The Marine Corps Parents Meet The Teenagers Young Londoners Meet The Cast Of Adulthood Cyko Logic Interview Fred Butler : Prop Stylist Interview Immortal Technique Review Made In Queens Victor Timofeev : Artist Interview Ricky Powell Interview Twizzle Interview Flywear Feature Top Girl Film Feature Queen Of Nations Not Without My Sister Sky's The Limit Career's Advice Issue One March 2008 Bashy Interview The Cool Kids Lady Lykes Grimes New School Rowdy Superstar Interview The Sound Of Reason Slash Interview Hoxton Vs Hampstead Fashion Young Designers Lucinda Chua Interview Will Kay Interview The Brothers Size Chris Lambert Duane Henry Drug Trafficking Feature Does My Bum Look Big in This Life After Prison Whats Upsetting Our Children MP Julia Goldsworthy Autechre Live In London Hardcore Is More Than Music Media Box Paddington Development Trust The Cut Ica Blog The Cut On Myspace