You might be familiar with magician Billy Menezes from the trick that bamboozled Digga D and his entourage a couple of years ago. Or, more recently, Reading Festival attendees might recall his final trick that literally summoned Leicester mellow grime pioneer Sainté earlier this year. Literally ‘trick’-ing his way into events and VIP areas in his early years, the young street magician has performed for some of pop culture’s biggest names, but perhaps his greatest trick of all is managing to make magic relevant to today’s youth once more.
“I wanted to do magic that worked in my world,” Menezes tells Dazed, “I’ve grown up around music and street culture, from clothes to art and film, and I guess I really found my magic niche because I was moving in these creative circles with interesting people who are making their own magic in a way. It was organic that my magic started to mirror my life.”
Swapping the familiar top hat and waistcoat for a Carharrt WIP jacket and a beanie, it is Menezes’ close proximity to street culture that really sets his rise as a magician apart. Through fisheye lenses and choice UK rap backing tracks, Menezes’ videos feel as much like a ‘90s skate video as a traditional magic set, and it is this spirit that he is set to embody in his upcoming film Playground Magic, debuting this Thursday (November 14) at Rio Cinema in Dalston.
“I’ve been planning it for the last year coming up with tricks and ideas,” the magician says of this upcoming release, “When I started chatting with Louis, who directed the project, we were feeling frustrated with being in London and wanted to get out of our comfort zone. We decided on five cities – Manchester, Jaywick, Great Yarmouth, Liverpool and Blackpool – and went to each city with no plans or connections, we just spent our days on the street asking to show people magic.”
In spite of all his celebrity encounters, which include the likes of Bella Hadid, Slowthai, Nico B and more, it is the spontaneous street performances that Menezes really cherishes. “You never know who you’re talking to or where these random meetings will end up taking you,” he explains of Playground Magic’s focus on organic meetings. “There was nothing flashy, it was real people in real places. It just made me realise why I do it.”
And, while a magician famously never reveals their tricks, Menezes did have one final cryptic clue for his audience: “Come to the screening you might find out.”
Grab free tickets to the launch of Billy Menezes’ new magic film, Playground Magic, here.
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- Source of information and images “dazeddigital”“
