The Legendary - French Manoo- Learns from Mzansi Djs

By Quibell Ramantswana , 26 Aug 2009 | (2) Comments

The Legendary French - ManooSouth African House Music enthusiasts sing- “Mzansi House Music is taking over this…, Mzansi House Music is taking over that…”

Whilst I was still taking pleasure from the unreleased tune, the thought of introducing the desired tune to the masses, across the world, before it’s official release, seemed rather fascinating, and we thought we’d start with the French legend, Manoo.

Manoo doesn´t need the an introduction to the House Music scene. It´s best you google him! I don´t want to write five to ten pages, or end up writing in French. I can just add his African roots to his biography. His family came from Togo, but he was born in France. Now I know why I understand his taste in music? “Maybe it’s because of my roots, my African roots. I´m trying to include a lot of African roots in my music. That is why I love it! I´m very glad that people like what I´m doing, especially South Africans. It´s a blessing. South Africa is dope! Is very hot!”

“When I play that music here, in Europe, or all over the world, people love it! So, you know, It´s strange, and I´m glad that the tracks are with me, and when I play them, more people know about South African music.”

Manoo has remixed a countless tracks, from world renown DJ’s, such as Dennis Ferrer (Defected Records), Sir James (Private Party Vol1 Compilation Universal), Justin Martin (Buzzin Fly Records), including the South African, Mzee (Ocha Records). This was Mzee’s first offering from the American record label, with 8 remixes of “Mahuwelele” hit track from different DJ`s. Manoo’s remix was highly rated by Franck Rodger, Karizma and Jammie Thinnes, amongst others.

How did Manoo do it? Manoo expounds, “Carlos Casamena sent me the music. I liked the guitar, the vocal also. I was worried about the mix and the edit, and I wanted to try something totally different from what I used to do. I tried to put the vocal tune better but I didn´t know how. I said, let´s try at the end, to let people focus on the music first, and then, the vocal.” Manoo did exactly that! “It worked!” The French reminisce about the first day he played the International Club Anthem, Mahuwelele. “I did it especially for the [Annual South African Music Conference] and I played the track in Pretoria, South Africa. It was huge, huge, huge!”

We all know that the taste of Black Coffee has been reinvented in order to make music in South Africa. Black Coffee, the South African DJ/Producer, has won the heart of the international DJ´s globally. He is the first South African DJ to play alongside Manoo. If you wanna hear Manoo sound a bit French-ish, mention the name Black Coffee. We (Mzansi Show) just did it!

“My man, this man(Black Coffee) is crazy, is crazy…I´m looking forward to play with Coloe [ De Song] because I love his work. Every time when I listen to a new Coloe or Black Coffee’s track, it inspires me a lot!” Manoo has only played in South Africa twice, both times last year. He describe his first visit to South Africa as “crazy”, and the second time as “craziest!” I wonder how crazy the third time would be, “craziestness” maybe? It doesn’t surprise me that the South African house music followers are chanting… “We are the World Capital…, We are the World Capital of house music!”.

According to Manoo, he rates South African house music 9/10 Worldwide. “I was very sad that South African music didn´t cross the boundaries, Manoo revealed. “I heard some good tracks from Black Coffee, Coloe, Mzee, G-funk and all the DJ´s. When I play that music here, in Europe, or all over the world, people love it! So, you know, It´s strange, and I´m glad that the tracks are with me, and when I play them, more people know about South African music.”

Manoo has also learned that the South African DJ´s do not just make quality music. They have “the ability to keep the crowd, to make people participate.” He is hoping to be on the World Cup 2010 menu, not only to watch Thierry Henry, but to Vibe Lezinto!

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