Astral Magic is less of a band and more of a cosmic transmission—a psychedelic beacon beaming strange frequencies from the farthest reaches of the multiverse. 

The solo project, conjured into existence in 2020 by former Dark Sun bassist/Moog wizard Santtu Laakso, is an ever-expanding sonic nebula where vintage space rock collides with mind-warping psychedelia.

But no astral traveler drifts alone. A swirling vortex of international collaborators has been drawn into Astral Magic’s orbit, adding their stardust the journey. However, as we voyage into 2025, we’ve been told the transmission will slow, the cosmic waves will shift, and something unknown lurks on the horizon.

Before Astral Magic was Dark Sun, a Finnish space rock collective that launched into the void in 1991. Their sonic explorations carried them through the outer realms until they entered deep stasis in 2007. But as any true cosmic traveler knows, time is just an illusion.

The Third Eye recently spoke with Santtu of Astral Magic, and we exchanged questions and answers via the World Wide Web.

Check out the interview below with Astral Magic, where he talks about Dark Sun, how he manages to be such a prolific musician, and much more.

Interview with Astral Magic

Third Eye: Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your music?

Astral Magic: My name is Santtu Laakso. I’m a middle-aged, long-haired guy from Finland. I’ve been involved in local music scene since the ’80s with several bands (Oppression, Exitus, Dark Sun, Ufotutkimuksia, Octopus Syng, Astral Magic), playing records as Dj Astro, organizing psychedelic gigs and festivals and writing to some music mags and websites.

In 2020, I started my solo project, Astral Magic. The idea also was from the beginning to include other international musician friends I had met during the decades, and I have made that happen.

There is no certain style that Astral Magic has to follow, but everything should be spacey, trippy and mind-altering. My music can be experimental, electronic soundscapes, heavy space rock, prog, psychedia, pop, stoner rock, doom, whatever.

Third Eye: You have released a ton of music under the Astral Magic project since forming it in 2020. How do you manage to be so prolific?

Astral Magic: I work fast and ideas just come to me from other dimensions. I don’t waste time, it is precious.

Third Eye: Before Astral Magic, you were a member of Dark Sun, the Finnish psych/space rock band formed in 1991. How does the music of Astral Magic compare and contrast to Dark Sun?

Astral Magic: Well, Dark Sun was a psychedelic space rock band, and that’s also a big part of what I do know. Dark Sun still was a proper band with pretty constant members while Astral Magic is my solo project, even if some friends are frequent collaborators.

Astral Magic’s music is more varied, but I have actually used some old Dark Sun song ideas with Astral Magic too, songs that never got properly developed and released. Also some of my old lyrics.

Third Eye: Let’s talk about movies. Assuming you like to watch movies occasionally, what’s the best new movie you’ve seen recently? And why?

Astral Magic: I used to watch a lot of movies when I was younger and had more free time. I don’t even remember what movie I saw last, I consentrate on my music.

I thought about going to see the latest Dune movie, but missed it. Oh, the latest things I saw at a movie theater were Colour out of Space and  The Other World a year ago. I never watch TV these days. But I do love sci-fi, horror, occult things in general, whether it’s movies or books.

Third Eye: Who or what has been your most significant musical influence?

Astral Magic: Hawkwind, and then Black Sabbath. Those two are monumental. I’m a record collector so I do have a lot of other cool stuff as well…

Third Eye: What is your songwriting process like for Astral Magic? And where do you get your inspiration from?

Astral Magic: I just sit by the computer and start recording. I add layers until I’m happy. Maybe send the tracks to some friends and ask them to add things. Then mix them together. 

Usually, inspiration just comes from the ether. Of course, also personal experiences in life inspire me, as well as some other bands, universal ideas, (pre-)history, space, nature, philosophies, myths, the human psyche, religions etc.

Third Eye: Last question – what’s next for Astral Magic? Your Bandcamp bio indicates that the release schedule will slow down a bit this year.

Astral Magic: Yeah, I will try to slow down and it is going pretty well. After I recently got thrown out of Facebook the second time I really don’t have many ways to promote myself, so what’s the point of making records then?

I will still continue to do some more music since I have a small but dedicated circle of followers and I don’t want to let them down. It’s very difficult to get labels to release my stuff nowadays and I just can’t afford to keep releasing most of it myself. I have lost too much money without proper distribution etc.

One of the next things that should be out soon is an album by Astral Hawk Machine, a project by Bridget Wishart (ex-Hawkwind, Jay Tausig and me). Black Widow Records from Italy is putting it out on vinyl and CD.

They are also supposed to release Astral Magic’s Into the Cosmos album, that was already recorded a couple of years ago by a stellar group of space rock musicians. I’m also working on a new Astral Magic magazine that continues from where the first one ended in 2022. It will come with a cool compilation including some previously unreleased stuff.

Another project I’ve been involved in is called Chakra Vimana. It is with Shane Beck and Mark Cook from the US. Sort of like Porcupine Tree meets King Crimson and spoken word. Our debut album, Feed My Soul, is ready and we are in the middle of the almost impossible process of finding a label to release it. I really love this album!

Right now, I’m working on an Astral Magic album called Dance of Destiny. It will be just me, well, my son Anton played one Moog solo for it. That might be the last release on my Astral Magic Music, unless I can find someone else to release it. If there is more interest, I will continue, if not, I might just end this project.

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