Abracadabra! Halifax producer Cirkut on how Lady Gaga’s spell landed him Grammy noms

TORONTO — While Henry Walter isn’t a magician, it’s clear Grammy voters believe he can work some real magic.

The Halifax-raised music producer, known by his alias Cirkut, found himself all over the Grammy nominations on Friday.

His work on Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra” and her album “Mayhem,” as well as Bruno Mars and Rosé’s “Apt.,” earned him a stunning seven nominations across many of the major categories.

Walter says he couldn’t have predicted how many nods he’d rack up, but he had a hunch Gaga’s seventh album might resonate.

“It had such a hold on this year,” he said by phone on Friday afternoon while travelling from San Diego.

“I had so many people reach out and say, ‘Man, I love this album,’ … sending me videos and pictures (from Gaga’s tour). I think so many people just really reac