Manami launches new label, announces forthcoming EP 'Dreaming Still'

Manami has launched her new label, VMR (Virtual Myth Recordings) and shared lead single 'Dreaming Still' taken from her forthcoming eponymous EP - set for release on May 10 - housed on her new imprint.

The six-track record marks an evolution in her musical journey through navigating a plethora of electric genres: think sub-heavy styles with a keen club focus.

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Lead single 'Dreaming Still' acts as a sonic exploration knitting timeframes together, as the Tokyo-born, London-based DJ, producer and pianist explores electro, proggy house, breaks and bassline.

"'Dreaming Still' is a consolidation of my past, present and future both creatively and personally," she explains. "Where two worlds push and pull; where a dream-like state is intercepted by a distorted reality. A chase for life’s resolve but the resolve constantly pulling away."

Her label, meanwhile, traverses a hefty portion of inspirations beginning at her upbringing, heavily centred upon the rave, and continuing sourcing such inspiration through her career journey. VMR ramps up the subs, but with a vibrant and insightful approach.

"With this label concept, the penny dropped in my creativity when I drew on certain feelings, experiences, deep visual materials, the world outside and imagination into the outer realms to create music," Manami says. "The four walls inside my production software had been broken, and there was drive and meaningful intent in the creative choices that I was making. With human experience being the focal point of the production process, genre boundaries crumbled and my musical voice, I feel, has finally begun to sprout.

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"The purpose of this label is to house my productions which don't fit within the box of a standard genre-binding label, being able to tell the stories of the music in the way that I intend to, and to create worlds within each release. I want future artists on the label to harness this power, and for it be a home to share their stories too.”

'Dreaming Still' by Manami is available now, with the full EP landing on May 10 via VMR (Virtual Myth Recordings). Check out the single here, and pre-order the EP here.

Niamh ingram is Mixmag's Weekend Editor, follow her on Instagram