Hello everyone, it’s your host Faithfulness, and today I have with me Magdi Aboul-Kheir from Ulm, Germany. Magdi is here to share more light on his musical journey while diving into his latest original album, “The Garden of Make Believe,” released on 08 May 2026. This orchestral body of work unfolds as an unabashedly romantic and emotionally resonant experience, where each of its ten pieces invites the listener into a world shaped by sensitivity, introspection, and vivid emotional expression. Whether inspired by the quiet elegance of nature, the interplay of light and shadow, or the profound connection between kindred souls, the album gently dissolves the boundary between inner reflection and outer reality, allowing both worlds to merge into one seamless emotional landscape.
With such a deeply expressive foundation, one is drawn to wonder what “The Garden of Make Believe” truly represents for Magdi Aboul-Kheir at this point in his artistic evolution. Is this album a sanctuary of imagination, a return to pure melodic storytelling, or a reflection of lived emotional truths translated through orchestral language? And how does he hope listeners navigate the delicate balance between romance, introspection, and imagination as they move through these ten compositions that seem designed to evoke feeling as much as thought?
Welcome, Magdi Aboul-Kheir. Before we begin, here is what you need to know about this accomplished composer. Magdi is a Germany-based musician whose creative identity spans a wide spectrum of styles, from baroque-inspired writing to contemporary electronic textures, minimal compositions, ambient soundscapes, and jazz-inflected instrumental work. A pianist by training, he approaches composition with a strong belief in melody as a universal language, shaping music that remains both emotionally direct and artistically refined. His catalog reflects this versatility, with works ranging from orchestral and chamber music to electro-ambient explorations, each guided by emotional intent and melodic clarity. In recent years, he has continued to expand his sonic world through diverse projects that explore nostalgia, intimacy, and atmosphere, culminating in a body of work that reflects both technical mastery and expressive depth.
Having this brief Introduction, I’m sure new and current fans must be excited about our Interview today.
INTERVIEW
Faithfulness: Growing up with a deep appreciation for everything from baroque music to trance and metal, how did such a wide musical spectrum shape your identity as a composer today?
Magdi Aboul-Kheir: The history of music is a wonderful treasure. In every era, every style, and every genre, there are incredible works to be discovered. All the music that has inspired and moved me throughout my life influences me — at least subconsciously — and I draw from it constantly. I do not copy it, but it has shaped my musical vocabulary. I enjoy blending genres, crossing boundaries, and expressing myself through different sonic languages. Somehow, all of these elements come together to form my own voice as a composer — one that I hope is both understandable and recognizable.
Faithfulness: You’re a pianist by training, but your work spans orchestral, ambient, synth-based, and minimalist music. At what point did you realize you didn’t want to be confined to a single genre?
Magdi Aboul-Kheir: It had probably been in my mind for a very long time. There is something deeply rewarding about expressing yourself in different ways — and eventually, I found the courage to truly pursue it. Of course, you also have to develop the necessary craft and technique. As a listener, I love so many different kinds of music, and in return, I don’t want to limit myself to working within just one genre as a composer.
Faithfulness: Melody seems to sit at the heart of everything you create. What is it about melody that continues to feel timeless and emotionally powerful to you as an artist?
Magdi Aboul-Kheir: A good melody carries the core, the essence of a piece. It is often the element that listeners remember most clearly. I try to find melodies that sound so natural and coherent as if they had always existed—if I had simply discovered them and written them down. There is a wonderful quote by the Japanese composer Tōru Takemitsu: “My music is like a garden — and I am the gardener.” I believe that good melodies are the sweetest fruits in that garden.
Faithfulness: Your catalog moves fluidly between intimate piano works and expansive ensemble compositions. How do you personally adapt your emotional approach when writing for different musical settings?
Magdi Aboul-Kheir: I believe the emotional approach is often very similar at its core. The real question is simply how it finds its expression. Sometimes it expresses itself best through reduced, minimalist piano music; at other times, it requires a richly ornamented sonic landscape, with variations and counterpoint.
Faithfulness: Having released projects ranging from the retro-inspired “Into the Retroverse” to the ambient textures of “Soft Heat,” what do you think connects all of your musical worlds together beneath the surface?
Magdi Aboul-Kheir: First of all, melody is almost always at the center of my music. Then there are certain themes — ranging from nature and existential questions to human connection — that continue to occupy my mind again and again. And beyond that, there is always the pure joy of making music.
Faithfulness: “The Garden of Make Believe” feels deeply cinematic and emotionally immersive from its very concept alone. What was the first emotional image or feeling that sparked the creation of this album?
Magdi Aboul-Kheir: To be honest, I don’t really like answering that too directly, because every listener should be free to wander through their own garden of associations. But there actually was a very concrete starting point: a wonderfully wild and deeply individual garden in an otherwise rather barren environment, which moved me profoundly. It was in the Swiss alps and I happened to be there on a quiet worried day. What touched me most, however, was not the flowers, blossoms, or shrubs themselves, but the way a person had expressed themselves through that garden. There was so much passion, love, creativity! If such a beautiful garden can exist in such a bleak surrounding, then many things are possible.
Faithfulness: The album speaks beautifully about nature, light, introspection, and emotional connection. Were there specific life moments or experiences that directly influenced these themes while composing the record?
Magdi Aboul-Kheir: As I mentioned earlier, there were sometimes very specific moments, experiences in nature, or encounters that served as inspiration. Behind most of these pieces, there is indeed such a personal source of inspiration. And yet, music ultimately remains an abstract art form.
Faithfulness: There’s an unapologetically romantic spirit flowing through the album. In a time where music often moves toward fast consumption, what inspired you to fully embrace emotional vulnerability and sensitivity here?
Magdi Aboul-Kheir: For me, music is a form through which I can express myself openly, honestly, and perhaps even vulnerably. That is where its special value lies for me, an that is also why I write music that is emotionally direct, sincere, and unfiltered.
Faithfulness: Orchestral music has the power to communicate emotions beyond words. While creating this album, were there moments where the music expressed something you personally couldn’t articulate any other way?
Magdi Aboul-Kheir: Yes, this music often begins where I no longer have words.
Faithfulness: The title “The Garden of Make Believe” evokes imagination, escape, and emotional sanctuary. What does that “garden” represent to you on a personal level?
Magdi Aboul-Kheir: It is the place where I believe in the power of creativity and imagination — and in humanity itself. A place that perhaps even carries a kind of magic within it, something healing. It is a place that must be protected from cynicism.
Faithfulness: Across these ten compositions, there’s a feeling of the inner and outer worlds merging into one. How intentional was that emotional balance while arranging the structure and flow of the album?
Magdi Aboul-Kheir: I think each piece is about the outer and inner world—and how they are connected. The whole thing is like an emotional and sensory journey: through gardens and rooms, day and night, light and shadow. It’s about seeing and wonder, about tenderness and closeness, about meaning and conscious experience. Phew, that sounds pretty grandiose 🙂
Faithfulness: Your recent releases explored ambient, electro-acoustic, and minimalist directions, yet this album leans into lush orchestral romanticism. Did returning to this kind of sonic grandeur feel like rediscovering a part of yourself creatively?
Magdi Aboul-Kheir: I first had to find the courage to express myself in such a more expansive way. But in the end, I value the very small form just as much as the large one—and both are a personal expression.
Faithfulness: When listeners sit with “The Garden of Make Believe” from beginning to end, what emotional journey do you hope they walk away carrying within themselves?
Magdi Aboul-Kheir: I hope they feel comfortable and safe, that they sense warmth and humanity. Maybe even a small embrace.
Faithfulness: Looking ahead, do you see yourself continuing deeper into orchestral storytelling, or are there still unexplored musical territories you’re excited to challenge yourself with next?
Magdi Aboul-Kheir: I’m looking forward to expanding my palette and learning more. Right now I am working on an album with chamber music, but I’m also on retro-electro tracks.
Faithfulness: Finally, after pouring so much introspection, beauty, and emotional honesty into this album, what has “The Garden of Make Believe” taught you about yourself as both a composer and a human being?
Magdi Aboul-Kheir: As a human being, that I can dare to show these kinds of feelings. As a composer, that I can dare to express these feelings in such a style.
CHECK OUT THE RELEASE OF ‘The Garden of Make Believe’
HAVING LISTENED TO ‘The Garden of Make Believe’, HERE ARE MY HONEST THOUGHTS
”The Garden of Make Believe” is a neo-classical work defined by emotional restraint, cinematic intimacy, and refined orchestral storytelling. It unfolds like a reflective journey shaped by memory, imagination, and gentle melancholy. Piano writing serves as the emotional core, offering vulnerability and clarity, while strings and ambient layers expand the sonic space with subtle elegance. Rather than relying on dramatic peaks, the music develops through patient harmonic shifts and delicate transitions that emphasize atmosphere over spectacle. The production maintains warmth and organic texture, ensuring an intimate listening experience even within its broader symphonic scope. Across its runtime, contrasting emotions such as hope, nostalgia, and uncertainty are woven together into a unified expressive language. The result is a cohesive artistic statement that invites deep reflection and emotional immersion. It ultimately feels timeless, immersive, and deeply human in emotional expression throughout duration itself entirely.
~ Faithfulness (Dulaxi Team)
Finally to our audience, I urge to listen to “The Garden of Make Believe“, add it to your playlist and be Inspired by it and on behalf of Dulaxi I like to appreciate you all by saying thank you everyone, See you on our next interview.
For more information about Magdi Aboul-Kheir, click on the icons below.