Manana: More Than A Moment
Manana is a name that has been circling for a while now in Africa’s budding R&B scene. The soulful musician appears to have just emerged in recent years but is already off to an impressive start. Introducing himself to the world with his debut project In The Beginning Was The End, the 28-year-old went on to win his first Grammy for his songwriting credit on Burna Boys' Twice As Tall. Growing as a songwriter and performing artist almost in parallel to one another, Eswatini-born Manana is proving that there are no rules when it comes to going after what you want.
Having written for some of Africa’s biggest names, Manana explains how he makes the distinction between writer and performer, “It’s about putting the music first. When I write for other artists I always prioritize what the artist is trying to say with the song we’re busy with and that helps me almost take me and my musical preferences out of the equation,”. His most notable writing credits include Sauti Sol, Burna Boy, Shekinah and Ami Faku to name a few.
On June 23rd, Manana returned to present his latest body of work, a no-features EP titled …but could the moments in between… He divulges that this makes up the second part of what will be a trilogy of projects, all connecting to form one expansive story of love and loss; always underlined with the hope to to try all over again.
Manana has spent the time between his last release and this one building a formidable presence as an incredible live performer. Having returned from a string of sold-out shows in Johannesburg and making a notable debut at Bushfire festival on his home turf in Swaziland, he notes that live performance is an integral part of what he does. “I’ve always focused on making the experience of coming to a live show like listening to a new album. Making different arrangements for songs keeps it exciting and makes coming to see us live worth it,” he explains.
In our full interview below, he takes us back to the moment he fell in love with music, how he plans on moving forward, and why he advocates for taking your time.
Jade Kelly: How did you get started in music? Was it always your plan to be an artist and if not, when did you make that decision?
Manana: For me, it all started when the Drakensberg boys choir school came to Eswatini for a concert in 2002. I auditioned to be a part of the choir and a year later, I was one of the choristers. After that music was the only option for me, I initially planned to go down the classical music route but ended up studying Jazz at UCT and that introduced me to a lot of the collaborators I work with today.
What is your earliest memory of falling in love with music?
My older brother used to play his Maxwell and Musiq Soulchild CDs and I fell in love with that sound from the first time I heard it.
How would you describe your sound?
I’d say it’s a combination of alternative RnB with a little bit of singer-songwriter.
Who would you cite as some of your biggest musical influences?
I really like Labrinth, Yebba, Emawk, Pheelz, Lucky daye. I don’t necessarily use styles from my favorite artists all the time though.
“In the beginning was the end” was your debut EP. What did that do for you as an artist?
It put me on the map as an artist. Previously people knew me for my songwriting for other artists so the project established my presence as an artist.
You have been credited as a songwriter for some of the continent's biggest stars. How do you separate Manana the artist from Manana the writer?
It’s about putting the music first. When I write for other artists I always prioritize what the artist is trying to say with the song we’re busy with and that helps me almost take me and my musical preferences out of the equation.
How long have you been working on your forthcoming EP, “...but could the moments inbetween…” ?
For about a year and a half
Talk to me about the name of your new EP
This Ep is the second within a trilogy of projects.The names of the projects form a part of a short Poem: “In the beginning was the end, but could the moments in between,…….”. The third project will end the series.
Do you think you’ve grown alot as an artist since your previous release? Musically, can people expect a similar experience to “in the beginning was the end” ?
I think I’ve grown as a musician for sure. I’ve spent time learning to produce and use new compositional styles. This project will be a little of the old but a lot of new as well.
You have chosen to have no features on this project. Why did you choose to do it in this way?
A lot of the songs were started when lockdown hit. The workflow I was in meant that I finished songs relatively quickly and consequently felt that the songs didn’t really need anything else.
Many people may not know that you are from Swaziland. Why have you chosen SA as your home base as an artist?
I think after schooling and growing up here, South Africa became my second home so it made sense.
You have recently returned from a string of sold-out live shows. What do you think makes it such a big part of your brand as an artist?
I’ve always focused on making the experience of coming to a live show like listening to a new album. Making different arrangements for songs keeps it exciting and makes coming to see us live worth it.
Who is this project for?
All of us. We’re all kind of going through it together, and I know the stories in the songs are relatable to a lot of us.
You write a lot about love and heartbreak in your music. How much of that is derived from your personal experience?
Most of the music I write isn’t really from personal experience. I write a lot from observation and other people's experiences, then add my own perspective on said stories.
What advice do you have for someone who wants to pursue a career in music, but has no idea where to start?
If you want to make music, I think it’s important to know what you want to say with the art you make. If you believe what you have to say is worth it, then prepare yourself to work at your craft even on days when it doesn’t feel rewarding. From there I think relationships with fellow musicians and artists is important to start in this career. So start there.
What do you hope this project does for your career?
[I hope it] puts me in-front of people who haven’t seen me before. And I hope this project helps grow the brand as a whole, I’m a firm believer in slow and steady growth so I hope the project helps with that vision.
Do you have a favorite song in this EP and if so, why?
Dance therapy. It’s the song I spent the most time on production for so I love how it turned out.
What’s one thing you wish you knew when you started out?
That not everyone has to get the vision you have for yourself.
What excites you about the future?
That it’s uncertain. I think knowing that helps me focus on what’s going on right now.
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