MANSA TALKS DREAM

Interviewed by Culture Coast Talks editor Daniel John. Interview transcripts might have been edited for length and clarity.

What was the vision for 'Dream'?

The vision for 'Dream' evolved in a rather unexpected way. Initially, I set out to create a follow-up to my track 'Knee Deep', which had performed exceptionally well. I found myself feeling the pressure to meet high expectations, so I paused and stepped back from the process. However, one day, the melody for 'Dream' came to me, and while I wasn’t sure how it would translate, I had a vocal that I had been holding onto for a long time. I decided to experiment with the melody, and to my surprise, it worked beautifully. I began teasing the track on Instagram to gauge interest, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. That’s how 'Dream' came to life. The process behind creating songs is often full of surprises, but in the end, I wouldn’t change a thing.

What is your creative process like starting on a new track. Where can a song begin?

The creative process behind my songs can vary significantly. Sometimes, a melody will come to me spontaneously, and I’ll immediately record it on my phone. My voice memos are filled with fleeting melody ideas, some of which eventually come to life, while others remain just concepts. At times, I may collaborate with a vocalist, whose work I admire, and they might send me ideas for a chorus. We then exchange ideas and build the song together. Additionally when collaborating with another producer, I might receive an initial track from them and contribute my own ideas in return. Ultimately, the process depends on the song itself, and there is no singular method that I rely on to begin creating.

How fast do you move forward?

The timeline for my projects can vary, but by the time a song is released, I typically have a few others either completed or in the works. There’s rarely a lull in my creative process, as I’m constantly inspired by people I want to collaborate with or by new ideas. As a result, there is always something in the works. Whether it’s a song I’m currently working on or meaning to start.

Do you produce for any other artists as well?

For the time being, my primary focus is on developing and expanding my current project. I’m dedicated to growing it and ensuring its success.

You put out your first track in 2020, but what did things look like when things were still just a dream for you?

I released my first song in 2020, but my journey into music production began in 2017. At that time I started experimenting with FL Studio, a music production software. For a long period, I was not certain that I would fully pursue music production. However, after attending a music festival where I was deeply inspired by the large-scale performance of electronic music, I decided to give it a serious try. The following day, I spoke with a friend named Chelsea, who was well-versed in electronic music and she encouraged me to start producing. Never looked back since.

Did you journey through different musical genres before gravitating more toward house music?

I didn’t initially start with house. My first love was future bass, a genre I was passionate about at the time. However, I like to think of myself as genre-fluid, and I’m now more focused on creating whatever sounds good to me. I do not limit myself to a particular genre, if it sounds good, it’s good.

Your audience keeps on growing. It is quite amazing to see. How surreal can it be for you to think about the audience you have amassed?

It’s truly surreal to think that the seventeen-year-old version of me, creating music in my bedroom, would eventually have so many incredible people around the world listening to and enjoying it. It’s an amazing source of motivation, and while I know there’s still a long journey ahead, I’m excited about the future. I'm looking forward to expanding further and being able to tour globally. Nothing brings me more joy than creating music and sharing it with people.