Magnus Ferrell is having a big musical moment in 2026.
In April, he released his breakout single, “Asleep Talking,” a dreamy, breezy love song about falling asleep talking to the one you adore most. it helped that his dad, Will Ferrell, recently gave him a shoutout on Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson’s IMO podcast, with the tracking doubling streams over the last few weeks and helping him amass more than half a million TikTok followers. He’s keeping the momentum going, dropping the acoustic version of the track last week and recently announcing a residency at Blue Note LA, with shows on Aug. 17 and 18 as well as Sep. 12 and 13. He also performed at Outside Lands over the weekend on Aug. 9. In the midst of all of the fun, we had the pleasure of chatting with Magnus about the song and what makes him tick. Read our full interview with him as our Man Crush Monday below.
(Image courtesy of Magnus Ferrell)
Name: Magnus Ferrell
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Birthday: March 7
Fun Facts:
1. Magnus’s breakout song “Asleep Talking” has been a viral hit since its release in April, and it’s been gaining even more traction over the last month.
Magnus Ferrell: Around the wintertime of 2025 I was a little lost in what direction the music should take—I took the time to just to listen to things. I found that I gravitated towards old disco/soul as it was cool enough to satisfy my jazz piano brain but wasn’t too complicated and most of all you could dance to it. Around the same time I met and went on a few dates with a girl I had the biggest crush on in high school, there was just this overwhelming yearning feeling within me that had me visualizing this dream of maybe one day falling asleep talking to her, and so we (me and Gabe Yaron) basically just made it about that. After one production change and a rewrite of the verse it was done! it’s been absolutely bonkers to see how many people are connecting with the song. The most potent feeling has been a relief, that something from my heart is able to speak to so many others. I am so so grateful and excited to share more 🙂
2. He has a fear of heights.
Magnus: But like, it’s not ’cause I’m gonna fall off, it’s cause I’m afraid of myself being like “Oooo, I can fly!” and just jumping off.
3. He’s a bit skeptical about astrology and how well his Pisces zodiac sign describes him, but that doesn’t mean he’s not curious.
Magnus: I mean, I go back and forth on this ’cause I feel like the zodiac stuff isn’t actually real, but I’m ngl, my Costar has been right like nine times out of 10.
4. He has a couple of go-to rituals for good luck.
Magnus: All the manifestation reels that tell you to send them to yourself, I def do that every single time. I also have to wear the same jewelry every single day or else I freak out.
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5. The No. 1 thing on his bucket list is an unusual one.
Magnus: I wanna see the machinery of a bowling alley. Haven’t done that yet.
6. His weirdest habit is biting his nails.
Magnus: Gross, I know, but I can’t help it.
7. He cites Oogway, the turtle from Kung Fu Panda, as an inspiration.
Magnus: “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.”
8. Blue is his favorite color.
Magnus: It’s the same color as my eyes and I f*** with blueberries. It also reminds me a ton of Sweden, because I have so many memories of laying in the grass and starting up at these beautiful blue skies.
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8. Michael Jackson is his favorite musician of all time.
Magnus: He’s just the greatest of all time, man.
9. He can appreciate solitude.
Magnus: I enjoy being alone. Idk, I just feel at peace when I’m on a stroll by myself, or reading a book or not doing anything at all
10. He says the scariest thing he’s ever done was riding the Goliath roller coater at Six Flags Magic Mountain.
Magnus: Scariest s*** I ever did, dude.
11. Above everything else, Magnus wants people to know how important his connections are to him.
Magnus: I care deeply about the people I love. I think it’s so important to tell your friends and family you care about them. We need more love on this earth, bro!
For even more on the stars who inspire us, click HERE to learn all about boxer-turned-actor Christopher Evangelou.
