Manchado is a DIY producer/dancer/singer/songwriter who started writing songs aged just 7, and once he turned 12 he started producing his own records. The rising star moved to New York from Bogota Colombia on his own when he was just 18 in order to pursue his dream of music.
Here we speak exclusively to Manchado about music inspirations, new single, future plans and much more;
Growing up who or what inspired you you to get into music?
Well, I always knew I would do it, maybe from consuming so much of the American dream online and on TV it felt like that just the thing to do. Also, I had the notion that to become a musician you either went to New York or Los Angeles. LA never attracted me, I thought (and still think) it was a place where people are fake and everything is too commercial. Whether I felt New York City had an opening for things that were different, new and not necessarily clean cut. So when it was time to decide what to do after high school I just went, nothing else seemed like an option.
Growing up who were your musical icons?
Madonna was a big influence, from her shows and her music videos to her persona. She set the blueprint for many of today’s pop singers. Pushed so many envelopes and was able to remain commercial without compromising her artistic integrity. The fact that she managed to consistently deliver such amazing ground breaking work for a long chunk of time and still sells out stadiums 30 years after her debut is amazing, that’s something not even big pop stars from 10 years ago have been able to maintain. Her art [is] admirable, her hard work and discipline are things that I still look up to today.
You write, produce, and perform all your own music, how do you feel having full control helps your output?
It’s freeing because I am able to make whatever whenever. I am able to get stuff done on my time not waiting on people to get my stuff done. I still like collaborating and most of my songs are made with another musician at least, having more than just one perspective in any project is important.
If you could collaborate with any artist who would you choose?
There are lots of people I would love to collaborate [with], the dream would be Kanye [West], Pharell [Williams], Quincy Jones, Max Martin, Diplo. I’m really interested in people that brought new ideas into contemporary music and also have shaped the way things are.
What is the inspiration behind your new single ‘Wild Child’?
At the moment nothing specifically inspired ‘Wild Child’, when I wrote it I was writing around 3 to 4 songs a week. I was living in an apartment in Chelsea with like 10 people and we all slept in bunk beds and [I] would go every night to the laundry room to do my vocal exercises and write songs. The song it self-came super fast, I wrote in 10 minutes, sometimes when I get in the state of mind of writing I let my subconscious flow I just blurt out whatever feels right and then I complete the pieces. I always look back after writing and I’m like wow, that’s exactly how I feel. This song has levels of meaning, the more I grow them more I understand what the song is about. At that time the song was about being driven, that side of me that wants to break the rules, do something different, stand out. I think now I see it as a song about being the person you are called to be not what the world or the negative thoughts in your head tell you, you are. The word “wild” is very interesting, it’s almost a synonym to nature. If you look at nature everything in it is in perfect harmony. I could say the song is also about finding that inner harmony and living according to God’s promises.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi2e5AVtgXM
How would you describe your musical style?
An alternative.
Can fans expect an album from you soon?
Yes! The album is coming this summer/ early fall. I’ve been working on this for so long, I really can’t wait to get it out!
Do you have any tour plans?
I want to tour so much, but I haven’t really had the opportunity to do so. When I can I will have a kick ass show. Full story, choreo, and action. BANG BANG BANG
What do you hope to achieve over the next ten years?
Help the world become less materialistic and focused on temporary trivial pleasures.
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