‘I Don’t Sleep At Night’ – massive new track from our man in Zurich
Interview by Ian Fleming
Hi Manuel, how are you? What’s good? What’s bad?
Hi DMCWORLD! Things are going well at the moment, thank you!
Can you tell us about the beginning of your journey? What were the sounds/parties that got you started?
It was back in 1995 when I went to my first rave in Zurich, Trance was in back then. This was my first encounter with electronic music, and I was utterly flashed by the vibes. Shortly after I bought my first turntables.
What were you into before house and techno? Anything amusing you’d like to share with us?
In my younger years, before I even got in touch with electronic music, I was a stereotypical teenager listening to rock, pop and hiphop such as Dr Alban and so forth. Today I still have a wide taste in music. I like listening to all kinds of stuff.
How do you think your sound has evolved over the years? Has it changed much?
As the music changes over time, also my sound is exposed to a continuous change. My music has always had a certain type of emotionality. I always try to touch people with my music, and I try to keep that. Sometimes there are more technoid influences, sometimes it’s more melodious.
What would you say is your greatest achievement to date?
The fact that I became resident in one of the best clubs in Switzerland (in some others too) as well as at Ritter Butzke in Berlin, and that I played in many interesting countries and cities like Berlin, Ibiza, Moscow, Kiev. Also to mention that I’m part of many renowned labels like Hive Audio, Ritter Butzke Studio etc.
When it comes to production are you a hardware or software kind of person?
The mixture makes it. I own and use both hard- and software. Plus I have a marked preference for retro-synthesizers.
Tell us about your writing process. When it comes to writing do you have a set process or do you just see what happens?
Both. Sometimes when I’m jamming I detect a special sound that I use as a base to create a new track. Or I begin with an idea of a beat, it really depends on whether I’m doing a new track or a remix/edit.
You have a release due out on Hive Audio. How did you get involved with those guys?
I was playing one of my tracks at a festival, Adrian and Samy from Animal Trainer (who run Hive Audio) came up to me and said that they really like my stuff, and then one thing lead to another.
Can you describe the EP in 3 words?
Drifty, melodic, memorable riff
What else have you got coming up/are you excited about?
EP onMusik Gewinnt Freunde
Single and Remix on a Hive Audio Compilation
Another Remix for Natasha Waters
And many others…
If your house was burning down and you could only save one record, what would it be?
The original Moonwalker vinyl by Michael Jackson
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Manuel’s ‘I Don’t Sleep At Night’ is out now on Hive Audio
Buy it here – https://pro.beatport.com/release/i-don-t-sleep-at-night/1514843
