Introducing….MANIK

Introducing….MANIK

3 November, 2010 | 2.23AM

• Written by: Dan Cole
• Filed under: Music News: culprit, introducing, manik, ovum

Hailing from New York City, MANIK is the latest house prodigy that’s making waves amidst the redoubling American underground. The 25-year-old producer, aka Chris Manik (really!), released his first record just 10 months ago, and already he’s graced the plates of Ovum, Four:Twenty, Fresh Meat, and more; he’s currently working towards his debut album, out next year. Today, he drops his latest EP, McLovin You, for LA’s up-and-coming Culprit imprint.

We caught up with this native New Yorker and first-generation Hungarian-American; read on for the full interview.

MANIK, “McLovin You” [Culprit]

Hometown:

Queens, NYC

First Record:

“Park to the Slope” [Ovum] - January 2010

How did you get started making music?

I got started making music because that’s all I’ve wanted to do. As a kid growing up in Queens, after school days were over, if I was not playing basketball in schoolyards with my friends, we used to go to Sam Ash on Queens Blvd to rock out the samplers, drum machines, and synths. You had to force me out of that store as a teenager. Around that time I started making hip-hop beats and downtempo stuff—this was when I was 13 or 14 year old. That was how I started. I just loved making beats.

Are you DJing or playing live?

Right now, I am just DJing. However, I am going to be building my first live setup for the upcoming album that is due out spring 2011. So I am actually really excited and looking forward to putting that together. I have always wanted to do a live set, and this LP gives me the perfect excuse to do it.

Where do you make your music?

I record at my home studio. I am lucky enough to live in a NYC apartment that is totally cool with me rocking out on my gear (which is very hard to find in this city.) Most people have to rent out a spot in addition to their apartment. I sleep right next to my studio, which is how I like it: right beside me in case I need to jump up and throw down a wicked bassline or whatever. My mind is always racing on music, so it actually is a positive thing that its so close to me.

Do you have a preferred piece of gear or software?

Logic and my Apple laptop and anything Roland, really—the 808 and 303 for sure. I also love playing the keyboard and having a musical background, which is something that has really helped me as an artist. Long live piano classes and music theory during college!

Are you a morning person or night owl?

I’m the 24 hour man. I work on my music all day, then fight crime at night.

What inspires you when you go into the studio?

My family, parents, sister, all my loved ones. My parents came to the U.S. from former communist Hungary in 1982 with only two suitcases in their hands, that’s it. And that’s a big deal to make that kind of “life changing move,” especially during that era. So that is something that really inspires me till this day. My sister and I were born here in the U.S. but we both speak fluent Hungarian as we grew up on that before English. My friends also inspire me. All my peers and fellow colleagues that I look up to on a regular basis do as well. Guys like Josh Wink, Mathew Dear, Jamie Jones, Steve Bug, Wolf + Lamb and nondance guys like Mobb Deep, Primo and also Pharrell Williams/N.E.R.D. The guys that have really made an impact on the music game in general, and achieved what they set out to do in the first place.

Which record do you wish you had made?

I got asked this same question in a recent interview, like two months ago. I answered it by saying that I would take it one step further, and said that I wished I had invented Facebook. And now with the movie being out, it’s not so interesting to say that, but whatever, I am just being honest.

But if I had to pick, I would say a three-way tie between “Oblivion” by Kerri Chandler, Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants To Rule The World,” or the DJ Premier production “Nas Is Like.”

Which of your peers are you particularly feeling right now?

Well like I said before, there are a handful of guys that really inspire me: Josh Wink, Steve Bug, Jamie Jones, Matthew Dear, Kerri Chandler, Francois K, even non-electronic dance music guys like Mobb Deep (Queens all day!), Dilated Peoples, Alchemist, the Hitmakers (who did most of Notorious B.I.G. beats), Mos Def, and even ‘80s synth pop groups like Tears For Fears and Pet Shop Boys, and lots more of course. I am also really feeling what Burnski, Kris Wadsworth, and NRP have been up to lately.

If a bus load of angry Canadians were about to burn down your house and you had chance to rescue one record what it would be?

Man, those damn Canadians always up to no good. I’d probably just save my Chez Damier & Stacey Pullen Classic EP.

What have been your best and worst gigs so far?

The best gig for me this year hands down was when I played Culprit Sessions in LA in August. It was a daytime rooftop party with a great vibe all day. Everyone was into what I was playing and the crowd was fantastic! I met a lot of amazing people out there, and the Droog/Culprit fam really do it proper! The worst gig by far was one in another U.S. city (won’t name names), but the promoter was a total shady ass, you catch my drift? I’m supposed to skip that negative stuff.

What’s coming up for you next?

Lots on my plate for sure. Release-wise, I have my debut Culprit release entitled McLovin You, out now on 12’’ and Beatport. This EP has gotten huge feedback and support from boatloads of artists like Anja Schneider, Simon Baker, Matt Tolfrey, Lee Foss, and more. “Sex Panther” is one of my favorite cuts on the EP and one of my best tracks all year.

Then in week one of December, my second Ovum EP is out, which I am really excited for. It’s called Keep That Fresh and has this dope cut called “She’s Slow Motion” on the B side. Then my Poker Flat debut in January plus an EP for Dark Energy after that. Then there is a nice two-month break right before my debut album, which I am super excited for! That is dropping spring 2011 on Ovum, so be on the lookout because it’s going to get heated. Gig-wise, I just got back from Minneapolis, which was awesome! Played at First Avenue. I am playing at Space Miami on December 4. First time there, so I am very pumped. Other than that, a few NYC shows are in the works and then we are planning lots of big things for the next few months into 2011 and beyond.

Shout outs to Air London, Q.B. and of course Bedford Ave. and Kent Ave. in BK, Ovum fam, Matty B, Culprit LA fam, Droog, KDD, Statra Dan, and all my NYC people! Much love!

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