Manny Norté is “the name you can trust” and when it comes to black music in the UK he is one of the people you can guarantee to let you know what’s up.
As a radio presenter on Capital Xtra, DJ, producer resident host and overall figurehead of all things Black music and culture there aren’t many spaces his influence has not touched.
Over the years throughout his time on the radio, Manny has been in the centre of black music in the music having interviewed everybody from Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Tiwa Savage, Wizkid, Snoh Aalegra, Stormzy, Dave, Tems, Cardi B and the endless list. His love for music and the culture is one thing that can not be disputed for one second.
As a DJ and producer, it’s no surprise that Manny releasing music would happen. The release of his debut single 4 AM saw him collaborate with Rema, 6LACK & Tion Wayne to bring a blend of Afrobeats R&B and a vibe that worked well together. 2 years later he is back and this time representing the ladies teaming up with Tiana Major9, Ayra Starr and Stalk Ashley for Worth Your While.
As a hint of what is to come on the upcoming project, he is working on Worth My While that blends the styles of these three artists whilst staying in that Afrobeats lane. Speaking with Manny we talked about everything from the single, what we can expect from the project, the growth of black British music, his impact on the music landscape and more.
You released Worth Your While with Tiana Major9, Stalk Ashley Ayra Starr. How did this come together for you?
To be honest, from how the last single 4 AM got received, I thought I need to do another one. But this time, I wanted to do it with some ladies that I’m a fan of. I’m in the clubs a lot, I’m on the radio every day and I’m always playing these artists and I thought it’d be good if I can get some with some of the girls that are killing the game. You know Tiana she’s Grammy nominated with her song Collide and I fell in love with that song and her as an artist and I thought that it’d be sick if I could do something with Tiana. And Ayra too, I was Ayra in Ghana you know just hanging out, going to parties and we’ve always caught a vibe and she said, if there’s anything that you’ve got, that’s big, just let me know. And Stalk had a couple of songs that I was playing so basically, I was a fan of them and I thought I want to work with them together.
With each of them having their styles of music how was it combining them together on the song?
I had the track first and then I was thinking about who I love, who I’m playing. Who could sound sick on it because it’s not just a case of having just anyone on the record? I know that each of them has got their flavour and they’ve been around for a while and they could bring something to the table in a track like this, which was important to me and so bringing them together actually then just worked perfectly for the song.
On both the songs you’ve released you’ve had a combination of international artists. Is this something that you consciously think of in terms of bringing together the different artists you’ve worked with?
100% international borders are something I think about. Obviously, there will be always the elements of the Afrobeats in it. But then Stalk is from Jamaica, she’s got her whole Reggae/Dancehall twang flow and a Patois as well. Ayra has her whole pigeon and a Nigerian flow and Tiana is from the UK. So she’s got her UK flow. But all the elements still make sense and still make the record sound good. So I’m just literally trying to bridge the gap, to be honest, and just make it all sound good on one record.
I know the visuals for the last single Worth My While were great, so what can we expect in terms of a video for this single?
As it stands at the moment, we’re doing a lot of online videos and TikTok is picking up at the moment as well. So for now, we’re just getting the vibe and heat up. Schedules are crazy, I’m here, Tiana is here but Ayra is doing her thing in Africa and Salk is in Jamaica. Everyone’s busy so to get all of us together to try and do a video is so hard but we’re trying, we’re still trying, you know.
As a trusted figure in afrobreats helping to represent the sound in the UK, How has it been seeing the growth of the genre?
It is been really good I feel. I mean I feel like I am right in the middle of what’s going on everything UK, everything African, everything West Indian, American, like all the artists whenever they are in the UK, they always come on my show. If there are artists that I’m playing, you know, the record companies, the artists, the managers hit me up direct, so I’m right next to everything that’s going on. And African sound is growing by the day. Like African artists are doing the biggest venues and most iconic venues in the country and around the world. What Burna Boy is doing selling out Madison Square Garden in New York and Wizkid doing multiple dates at The O2, You can’t deny it. I even saw Usher in the studio with Davido and so I feel like you really can’t ignore what’s happening because it’s commercial now it’s not even a niche anymore. It’s something that you need to be listening to and need to understand.
You are known as “the name we can trust” when it comes to all things Afrobeats and just even across Black British music, do you feel like there is pressure you feel as you are working on your new project?
I feel like a lot of people do reach out to me in wanting to be a part of the project, but for me, it’s just got to be real and organic, if an artist might sound good on a record, or if I feel them, or if they feel me, if I’m playing them, it’s just got to be real, I’m not going to put anyone on for the sake of just putting them on because they’re this big artist here. it’s got to make sense of what I’m doing and who I am. It’s a long process for me because obviously, I’m working around the clock, I’m literally on the radio every day, seven days a week at the moment. So I’ve got to juggle that as well as playing out and trying to put a project together. It’s almost like going from single to single and what I’m trying to do is put a project together like an EP which would hopefully lead to an album. But I want to do it where people care. My slogan is “the name you can trust” And I like the fact that when people listen to my music they genuinely like it and that’s not me forcing anyone to play it, the radio stations, the bloggers, the music lovers, it is genuinely a good feeling to see people that love music, love my music. And that’s why that’s what’s important to me.
What have been some of the biggest shifts in British black music you have seen over the years?
There is very much a big shift in the industry because what used to be underground is now overground. You know, black music is now right at the forefront and this country can’t survive or manage. Without embracing the black culture and the artists, and the executives. And with me, there’s been a shift personally where I’ve learned that sometimes you have to realise your potential in your mind. You have to train your mind and your thoughts of telling yourself I can do this. If they can do it, why can’t we? I think a lot of the shift in the musical landscape is about recognising who you are and what you’re doing, recognising your worth, and putting in as much time as you possibly can without killing yourself. And I feel like with these artists that have come and shifted Black music in the UK that is something that is very much in them. There is a massive shift in the industry in this country in terms of black music because everyone’s looking at everyone, the Americans are looking at the UK, the UK see the Africans, we’re both we’re looking at each other and you see what is charting, you look at the charts where undiluted music is topping the charts. People can make their minds up now. They’ve got their outlets and social media platforms so it is not about being told this is what you should listen to, they can decide what they want to be number one whether it’s J Hus or Dave or Wizkid or Stormzy. You’ve got your rappers making millions of pounds, they’re all millionaires now and they’re selling out venues. Look at what Dave is doing, look at what Stormzy is doing, look at what Wizkid is doing. It’s crazy because it never happened before but now is their time.
How important is your role as a DJ in developing and continuing to grow the black music landscape?
For me, I live it. Some people will come to realise this is more for me than most other DJs. I’m not just a DJ I love the culture and the music, for black music in general. Which is why Stormzy has come twice on my show playing these albums from start to finish, which is why Wizkid came on and had his best interview. Burna Boy and his crew invited me to his concert then I go backstage and I see Burna, thenTiwa Savage comes on my show. Black Sheriff invites me to the studio. Cardi B on one of her the first times in the UK comes on my show and then Nicki Minaj. The list goes on and on and on but they know, I care about the music. Before anything else, I’m not trying to get them on my show to get clicks. I’m a fan of them. I’m a fan of the music. And I just want it to grow and I will help whoever I can, if it’s something I like, within my power. A lot of people have said that they’d had their best interviews on my show and for me, I feel like it’s about authenticity and being authentic when people have been around long enough to know the history of the old school and what’s happening now. It’s not as easy to keep your finger on the pulse.
Why now did you decide to move to the next chapter in your career?
You know I’ve been doing this a lot longer than most, but it’s almost like I’m still getting warmed up. Sometimes it is just gods time, when it’s your calling it is your calling. I’ve been around so many artists and I’ve built so many relationships with labels and managers and I’ve been championing so many people and I just said okay let me champion myself let me do this for myself it would be silly of me not to do anything. Sometimes you don’t force it, it’s been decades. And you know I’ve always kind of dabbled in production but right now I feel like my foot is on the gas. If there’s a cape in front of me then I have to put it on. You know Spiderman got bitten for a reason and that quote that goes with great power comes great responsibility is true. It is my job to put on for the scene and the culture so I figured let me do it for myself and I feel like people have embraced me because they know that I care its not just doing it for myself.
Worth My While ft Stalk Ashley, Tiana Major9 & Ayra Starr is out now.
Follow Manny Norté via @mannynorte
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