FRIENDS LIKE HER (TV series) d. Joshua Frizzel (2024) 'Flesh It Out' as opening credits
TESTIFY (TV series) d. David Stubbs & Paula Whetu Jones (2024) 'Lethal' & 'Divine Physics'
Kelly Steven is a multidisciplinary artist practicing in audio and visual media. Under the moniker Proteins of Magic, she writes, produces, and performs music while also creating captivating visual worlds through claymation and digital art.
Kelly's musical journey began with her playing bass with influential New Zealand bands such as Dimmer and Voom, as well as being part of the duo Punches alongside James Duncan. In 2021, she embarked on her own solo project, Proteins of Magic, marking a new chapter in her artistic career.
There isn’t a single genre that describes the musical output of Proteins of Magic, but in broad terms it embodies the realm of Gothic; from the use of voices from elsewhere, layered upon one another, to the drama of art pop melded with eerie post-punk, accompanied by videos that morph from the natural to the cyber.
"I consider her in that lineage of female musicians with a completely unique voice and approach, in the tradition of Nina Simone, Nico, Patti Smith, Björk, etc. She is the real deal.” - Shayne Carter 2022
Proteins of Magic has had six songs debut on NZ Alternative radio charts. Her track 'Lethal' placed as Number 1 in the NZ Radioscope Alternative Charts, Number 1 in the SRN Top 10, and number 2 on the bFM Top 10. Her self released debut album was a finalist for the 2022 Taite Music Prize / Auckland Live Independent Debut Award. She has played live sessions on RNZ and Radioactive, and was on the cover of New Zealand Herald’s Canvas Magazine.
On stage she has a solitary, commanding presence, she doesn't just transform, she almost seems possessed. Delivering her existential poetry over layers of loops of vocal harmonies, breath, flute and keys, she fuses them together with her pulsing bass guitar.
She performed at various international festivals including, Big Ears Festival (USA), The Great Escape Festival (UK), Primavera (Barcelona), BIGSOUND (Brisbane). In Aotearoa she has graced the stages of The Othersway Festival, Splore, Cross St and Cuba Dupa.
Alongside this, she has had solo shows in Sydney, Melbourne and London, and completed two NZ tours, and supported Dimmer on their National Theatre tour.
As Proteins of Magic continues to push artistic boundaries and explore new creative avenues, she remains a unique voice in the New Zealand music scene, inspiring audiences with her singular vision and unwavering commitment to artistic expression.