WILLOW: “I studied physics for four years. It made me believe in magic”

WILLOW has opened up about how studying physics for four years made her “believe in magic”.

During a recent interview with The Creative Independent, the ‘Empathogen’ star – aka Willow Smith – talked about being inspired by the “incredible” Björk, and how “any good artist’s art transcends the art form”.

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“That’s why it’s so next level because you don’t need to know Björk songs to walk up to the show and be like, ‘Wow. I’m changed forever’,” she explained.

It was then put to Smith that there was “something magical and very spiritual” about her own work, and she was asked whether she believed in magic.

“I believe in magic,” she responded. “I studied physics for four years. It made me believe in magic. It’s wild how some scientists resist the idea that the world is beyond our understanding.

“The more I study science, the more I’m in awe of its complexity – it’s pure magic. Many great scientists feel the same, just like great artists. It all blends together. That’s why mad scientists often look like artists – just look at pictures of Einstein or others like him.”

The singer-songwriter went on to agree that “gravity is magical”, adding: “We’re on a planet going thousands of miles per hour around a burning ball of fire. What the heck? Are you kidding me?”

Smith continued: “Recently, I’ve been waking up with the sunrise. That’s not usually my thing, but it’s just been happening. I’ll open my eyes, and there’s a window right next to my bed. The sun is peeking out from behind the mountain, and I’m just like, ‘Damn. What a beautiful view’. You can’t make this stuff up.

“I’ve also been noticing something else. You know that moment when you feel triggered? Like, something happens or someone says something, and you get that little flinch of, ‘Oh shit, now I’m triggered’. Well, I’ve been focusing on the opposite of that. It’s called glimmers – those moments where something happens, and you’re like, ‘Oh shit. Magic. I see it’.”

She added: “I’ve been trying to remind myself every time it happens to say, ‘That’s a glimmer. That’s a glimmer. That’s a glimmer’. Because when we’re triggered, we feel it – it hits hard. So why not feel those little glimmers just as deeply? Like, ‘Oh man, magic does exist’.”

Smith went on to describe herself as a “baby magician”, before joking: “I’m not a full wizard yet, but we learn and we practice.”

The artist is up for two awards at the Grammys 2025 next month: Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical (‘Empathogen’) and Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals (‘Big Feelings’).

‘Empathogen’ – the follow-up to 2022’s ‘Coping Mechanism’ – features collaborations with Jon Batiste (on ‘Home’) and St. Vincent (‘Pain For Fun’), as well as the singles ‘Big Feelings’ and ‘Symptom Of Life’. It marks Smith’s sixth studio record.

Last year, the singer – whose parents are Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith – opened up about feeling a sense of “insecurity” when it comes to being a “nepo baby”. She also reflected on her 2010 debut single ‘Whip My Hair’.

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