Neu Mannas on SoundBetter

I'm a multi-instrumentalist, producer, songwriter & singer. From playing arenas opening for Guns n' Roses & Shania Twain, to the sketchiest rock clubs on earth. I've had rock n' roll radio hits, scored films, & made cinematic electronic records. I've put in my 10,000 hours a few times. I love music, lets makes some. ✌️

I've been in the record business for over a decade. I've spent about as many hours in the studio as I have on the road so I know both sides of what makes a song work.

I'm a recording academy member, the singer of The Matchstick Skeletons, Head of the Herd, and the mind behind Voldo Blanka. The first independent band to have had a #1 song on rock radio in Canada, multiple top 20s and a few hundred shows between them. I've worked with world renowned producers like Gggarth Richardson (Rage Against the Machine, RHCP), Mark Neill (The Black Keys), Ian Davenport (Band of Skulls), & Ben Kaplan (Mother Mother, Biffy Clyro).

While most of my touring experience has been in Rock n' Roll, opening or bands like GnR, Alice In Chains, Finger 11, & The Glorious Sons, I've scored films and spent time in the underground electronic world as well.

I wanna hear what you're working on, and how we can put our heads together.

Lets make some music! ✌️🤘

Send me a note through the contact button above.

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Interview with Neu Mannas

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: The song Every Single Day from the 3rd Head of the Herd record. We worked in England, Wales, Georgia and Vancouver to make this record with the heaviest hitting producers of my whole career (Gggarth Richardson, Mark Neill, Ian Davenport & Ben Kaplan), and I wrote/engineered/produced that song in the mix with all of theirs and it was a real pivotal moment for me.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: The Matchstick Skeletons, James Haydn, Darryl Kelly, Voldo Blanka, Wes Mack and scoring a film in LA for Dalia Rooni and Lauren Knoll.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Yea! I've got mixers who are absolute gems on here.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Just depends on the setting. I have a DSI Pro2 synth (digital oscillators with analog filters), and the moog voyager. Each do different things. I've made records on tape when it made sense to, and I've made records in the box when it made sense to.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I wouldn't say yes if I didn't think we could make something proper good.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Songs. Being immersed in music every day is all I've ever wanted.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That being behind the board limits your emotional connection to the song. I don't take anything on that I don't truly care about getting the most out of.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What's the plan when the song is done? Making it is the first step of many to get it heard, and the fun part....playing it every night on tour!
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Be honest about what you want the song to say.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Moog voyager, Fender P Bass, Senn 441, 6176, Melodion (ya know, if there's no electricity)
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: Been playing in bands and making records for over 20 years. Spent a decade of that on the road between studio sessions. Production just came with the territory. As an artist I've worked with some world renowned producers in world class studios and that was when I knew I'd do this forever. Gggarth Richardson & Ian Davenport in particular, as well as Rockfield studios in Wales were absolute life changers.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Alternative, cinematic, and from the heart.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Jack White or Dr. Dre, for the same reason. They don't think like the herd.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Change your sound by taking frequencies out of the EQ before you try turning any up.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Rock n' roll, electronica, and film scores.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: A left of center perspective. My favourite bands don't play coffee shops, they play arenas, but they got there taking their own route. Sound like everybody and you might trick your way onto the charts, but I reckon you don't stay there. I put lyrics at the top of the pyramid. Everything is made to support what's being said in the words.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I like to find the fundamentals in the song, and build up the instrumental in the way to best support that. From there you've already got a base informed by the vocal and can make the right decisions to have each part of the song compliment each other.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: Spend most my days surrounded by my guitars & synths. My go-to instruments most recently are the moog voyager for the keys, and my Baum Leapertone for the Keys. 20 year old Fender P-Bass has been my right hand since I started. Lots of tracks end up through the UA 6176 when applicable. Sennheiser 441 has been my favourite mic to experiment with lately. Did lots of vocals on the last album by The Matchstick Skeletons through that and the UA channel strip.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: People who change what can be expected of a song in a certain genre. Bowie, Prince, Damon Albarn, Daft Punk come to mind first but that question is impossible! (in the best way) Hit me up and we can talk more about it.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Production, mixing, songwriting, film scoring, editing, tuning, session work (bass, guitar, singing, synth, keys, drum programming etc)