LAST NIGHT A DJ SAVED MY LIFE: ROB MANGA (AMSTERDAM).
First time we’ve met Rob Manga at his soul party ‘Legends’, spinning wonderful music, which pushed us and everybody to groove all night long. We realized, that this person breathes with music, and we were wondering to know Rob more. Finally that was a lucky chance to interview him for our Online-Magazine, and this conversation became a pure inspiration.
MIJ: Introduce yourself, Rob, and tell us why is Manga?
RM: I am Producer and DJ for 30 years right now. My family name is Nanere and I came up with Manga, because when I was a child and that was football and I’ve heard name Manga, I thought: “Wow, it’s a cool name”. So it’s nothing to do with Japanese cartoons and more about mango fruit, because the area, where I am from originally, is called ‘Manga' and it’s 20 different kinds of mango there.
MIJ: Could you please tell us how did you start your career?
RM: It started naturally, because when I was a child 4-5 years old, I was always surrounded by music. Compare to eating and drinking, music was very important element in our life. I’m from a big family and we didn’t have a lot of toys in our house, but we had more music instead and it is like in my blood.
I’m originally from Maluku Islands, Indonesia, where the culture is music, food and drinks. And this social natural things created me the person, who I am today.
MIJ: And how did you become a DJ?
RM: I didn’t choose to become a DJ. Once I started to listen to mixes at radio station “Social”. There you could hear all great music from 70s and 80s every thursday night, but I didn’t like, that in between guy introduced record and I wasn’t down with talking in between. But than in the middle 80s, when the mixing part became important, that was time, when I jumped on the DJing. People like Larry Levan, Kenny Dope, Lou Vega started mixing different styles of music: soul, funk, reggae, brazil, hip-hop, rock, house,afro house, latin house. They were already very famous, and it was inspiration for me to play music, that I liked for audience.
MIJ: Do you remember your first vinyl?
RM: Yes! I got it for my birthday in 1976, I was 10 years. And my sister gave me album of Michel Jackson called “Ben”. I was really happy, because back in a days we used to write our names on albums and I still have that album. But first vinyl, which I bought, is David Bowie's production "The Man Who Sold The World" by Lulu - soundtrack for movie "The Man Who Sold The World”. It’s really great tune.
MIJ: Do you remember your first DJ-set in a club?
RM: That was on a Thursday night in Groningen - my home town I was born and raised there. I was invited by guy in a club called “Subway". I came there with two crates of records, and when I put on my first record, the dancefloor was on fire, since than I never lose touch with a dancefloor. It was like coming home.
MIJ: How did you become to connect with a dance scene?
RM: That’s really good question! Most of the dancers I met at ‘Legends' in Paradiso, I’m talking about 10 years ago. We started ‘Legends' and it was packed, as you know, but I didn’t know anybody of the dancers to invite and even back than dancing just started. But they came by themselves to the party, all the dancers, who traveling around the world now and giving workshops and win prizes. So they came for a music, and once they came, they never left, which is really great. Since that time we started connection with the dancers.
MIJ: Do you feel the difference of playing to regular audience and dancers?
RM: It depends on what kind of party is it. Dancing is a God giving talent, same as DJ. And I believe you can hear, if DJ loves, what he is playing, the same with dancers, you can see, if he or she is really into the music and feel it and it’s not program in the head just to hit the beat. As you know, music has different layers and for me mixing music, but also mixing frequencies does something with the brain and body. And old generation dancers, they are incredible, new generation mostly still looking for the beat, they don’t feel the strength, the bass-line, the greed of a record. I love dancers, and the last after party of Summer Dance Forever was incredible, we started 12 o’clock with room full of dancers, and during 5 hours I could create whatever I want. It’s like a candy store for me, and you don’t need to play hits, the whole room was dancing.
MIJ: I’ve read from your website, that except “Legends” you play at “I love Vinyl”, “In living color” “House Clash”, “The Illest”. Do they all still exist and you spin there and what else do you do for living?
RM: I don’t spin at “The Illest" anymore. I was just booked as a DJ, that was 90s party. Right now, as you said "House Clash", “Legends", "I love Vinyl", "In living color" in Rotterdam and more often "Wicked Jazz Sounds".
What I’m doing for my living that’s DJing and producing, so besides that I’m 100% DJ, no other extra job. I play all kinds of parties: sometimes its hip-hop, disco, house, classics, it depends on what are they want. They booked me on North Jazz Festival and for me personal it’s the best festival to express myself as a DJ musically, because you can play straight jazz music or hip-hop, funk, soul, house, whatever during 2 hours set, and I really like parties, where you are free and can play everything. Nowadays it’s really sad, when you are booked and they ask to play only house, or just one genre. I like more create, to take people on a journey. And Theo Paris one of those, who inspire, because this guy spins from techno to uptempo jazz and whole room is getting it, he really surprises people. You can hear DJs who have that skills, you really have to know music.
MIJ: Tell us more about yourself like a producer. You’ve been released at Dopeness Galore, right?
RM: That was my first release in 2014 on June the 9th and I’m very proud of it, because I had Lady Alma from Philadelphia on vocals and because I love music, I really take it seriously. It’s weird, because when you make your own record and you look at your collection of 10 000 records, you should put the level very high, when you release something. So the first one was really hard, right now I’m working on the second one. I’m very critical to release music, because music, as I said, is God’s given, it’s not just producing and release, release, release, just make hits. No, that’s not for me. It takes a while, when the next release comes out, but it will definitely another record out.
MIJ: The highlights of your career.
RM: One of the highlights was opening for Earth, Wind & Fire in 2013. It was weird, because I have all their records and they booked me as support act. It was sold out, and can you imagine, when I started, I felt like a mouse from stage with 2 turntables and when I looked in front of me, it was really amazing, everybody was dancing. That was weird in mind, we were all in the same backstage and I was talking with them and realizing, that this is one of those things you have as a DJ.
Another highlight is of course spinning with Theo Parish, with those who is gisted to you. That was special. But to be honest beside that I had so much good evenings and nights at the Paradiso. I love Legends, I was spinning 5hours by myself. I did that for more than 10 years and nowadays DJs get booked for 2hours set, which is good for them, but for me its like: “Ok, what are you gonna tell to the crowd?” And if you have 5hours set, you have time to create something. And it was very normal back in the days: you start 10 o’clock and finish 5am in the same club, and it was 4 nights in a raw. And if you go to the festival now and you have 16 DJs in a raw, what are you gonna tell!?
MIJ: You’ve just reminded me your concept AM/PM, which is 24hours set, that definitely shows, how music is important for you. When was it? How did it go? And are you going to continue?
RM: The first time AM/PM was in 2014, I did it after watching interview, where was mentioned, that if you come from the church, you can sing 24hours no matter where you are. And I thought how about DJ thing? I was really sure, that if you know your music, your records, if you believe in what you play, you can do it. I also have so much respect for artists, who produced, made, created music and released their albums from 70s and 80s, I collect records just to do a tribute. I mean without those records, I would not became a DJ and also to show people, that you shouldn’t forget the background and where its come from. It’s showing respect to artists.
2014 AM/PM was amazing I did totally on my own, 2015 was also amazing at the Melkweg in the Theatre room and I already invited 16 DJs and everyone played for an hour, for 2016 its a surprise, but I will come back definitely. I would like to move it to different cities and do collaborations with DJs, who has the same view. Just imagine, if you have somebody in Moscow, who collect records for more than 20 years and it’s also like a building a movement of people, who invest in albums. When I buy an album I own the album, but I also pay the musicians and artists, who created that record, so when you buy mp3 its totally something different: the information, the picture, the symbols of the record.
MIJ: Have you ever thought to open your own record store?
RM: No, I never thought about it, because for opening a record store you need another skill to keep it alive, it looks nice and funny, but its hard work so, and nothing to do with DJing, because you have to sell records, even if you don’t like it.
MIJ: But what if it would be independent?
RM: You still need another skill, to have record store. It’s not only selling records, but also socialize it and to be in contact with people, who love music. Totally not a bad question. I did work in record store in Rush Hour for 3 month, when I came to Amsterdam, they asked me.
MIJ: How do you connect to the "Redlight radio”?
RM: I have my show "House Clash” radio there. It’s great to have it, to bring guests and play, what you like. I chose to play house music and everything related to house music: soul, funk, house, disco, boogie. It’s once in a two months - a 2 hour show red-light radio. I already had Rich Medina, Kid Sublime, Olivier Boogie & Resolman, Skeme Richards, Sense Unique. I invite DJs, who has a really good skills, because there are a lot of new DJs, young talents with a lot of knowledges.
MIJ: What’s your plan for 2016?
RM: Release another record, drop another good party, new party hopefully. I can’t say a lot about it, but I would like to be at party with some good young generation of kids, who wants to play quality music and just keep digging records.
MIJ: What is the last track, which touched you?
RM: I was at the party, where DJ Marcellus Pittman from Detroit played that track : “Convention" featuring Leroy Burgess and Louie Vega
did remix on it. When I heard this tune, that was really touched by.
MIJ: You also make remixes, right? So, how does it feel?
RM: It’s always good to do remixes for somebody, because it's creating your expression of that song. Make a remix is also, I would say make it better, but it's more about to make it danceable. It’s also honor to be asked to do a remix.
MIJ: Tell please some words, for those, who read our blog.
RM: Keep listen to a good quality music, follow your heart and keep creating, but also have fun with it. Smile when you dance and enjoy your talent. And use your talent in a good way, don’t let money full you. That’s one of the most important thing, because I think money is destroying a lot in a music business.
