Magic Man 2 review: Jackson Wang's alchemy of the self

India Today

5 days ago

If 'Magic Man' (2022) was Jackson Wang exposing the cracks of his soul, then 'Magic Man 2' (2025) is someone who rises from it. Someone more tempered, wiser, and achingly human. The Hong Kong-born artist, known for being a genre disruptor, brings us an 11-track confessional that's less concerned with pop perfection and more invested in emotional truth. With his unique blend of artistic vision and fearlessness, Jackson crafts a body of work that is equal parts whisper and war cry.advertisementThe album is framed around four internal phases: manic highs, losing control, realisation, and acceptance. 'Magic Man 2' seems like a natural successor to 'Magic Man', as these phases unfold organically, from the production choices to Jackson's vocal delivery.The opening track 'High Alone' sets the tone with moody synths and cavernous reverb. Euphoric yet empty, it captures the isolation that creeps in at the top with the music video capturing the show in a way that is aesthetically heartbreaking. 'Not For Me' follows with a mid-tempo pulse and lyrical disillusionment, as Jackson reflects, 'Who should I be?', peeling back the layers of self-image crafted under fame.
'Access' throws us back into club-mode swagger with a hypnotic electro-pop beat, but it feels more like armor than indulgence, a reminder that not all confidence is genuine. 'BUCK,' his collaboration with Diljit Dosanjh, marks a shift in energy. It's fierce, pulsing with desi flair and East-meets-West bravado. From there, the energy blurs into a haze on 'GBAD,' where live instrumentation and synth overlays melt into a meditation on moral ambiguity. The groove is dark, the emotion ambiguous, perfect for midnight introspection about setting boundaries and why being 'bad' may not be 'BAD' thing.'Hate to Love' sees Jackson stuck in a toxic loop, battling attachment with guitar and synth textures echoing the emotional push and pull. By track seven, the emotional walls begin to collapse and he slowly progresses towards realisation. 'One Time' is one of the most lyrically devastating cuts: 'The people I loved... it was all lies.' There's no metaphor, just Jackson, bare and betrayed.'Everything' and 'Dear': plunge even deeper. The former aches with loneliness, while the latter sees him calling out to his parents in a near-whispered plea: 'Don't let me drown'. It's a haunting moment of childlike vulnerability. In 'Sophie Ricky', named after his parents, Jackson reflects on legacy, sacrifice, and pressure with rhythmic cadence. 'Could I put aside all my vices?' he asks, caught between gratitude and anxiety.The album closes with 'Made Me a Man', a heartfelt acoustic number that doesn't aim to resolve the pain, but to honour the person who helped him find peace through it. 'You were the light when I was lost in the dark', he sings, voice raw but calm. It's the kind of finale that speaks of acceptance rather than victory.Lyrically, Jackson Wang's evolution is striking. There's no performative sadness or over-saturated metaphor here. Lines like 'I learned how to run before I could walk / They silenced my voice before I could talk' (from 'Made Me a Man') and 'This shit could get lonely' (from 'Everything') hit not because they're clever, but because they're true. There's maturity in his pen.advertisementWith 'Magic Man 2', Jackson Wang doesn't reinvent himself, he reveals himself. This album isn't chasing radio hits or viral hooks. It's an emotional map from chaos to clarity, from rage to reflection. In a music industry obsessed with curated vulnerability, Jackson offers us something far rarer: honesty without agenda. This is the work of a man who has lived, lost, and decided to tell the story in his own voice, on his own terms.'Magic Man 2' is messy. It's brave. And ultimately, it's magic.- Ends