Speaking The Language Of Pop: An Interview with Roger Joseph Manning, Jr.

Posted in Current Faves, Interviews, Music |

Popshifter: Would you ever consider doing fake film soundtracks? I love music that has no connection to a film but sounds like it should.

Roger Manning: I don’t know if you’re familiar with the stuff I’ve done under the moniker of Malibu. A full record came out last year in America on Expansion Team records out of New York. It’s more of a dance label

It’s my take on Kraftwerk and Giorgio Moroder through Fatboy Slim. It’s definitely me getting out and away from everything everyone knows me for, and having lots of fun. More late 70s, early 80s, German hard disco, keyboard-based music.

Popshifter: What are you listening to right now that is inspiring you?

Roger Manning: I used to get introduced to groups the same way everybody did, which was late night video watching.

Popshifter: (laughing) Yeah!

Roger Manning: And the occasional cool magazine or a friend hipping me to something. The fact of the matter is, those avenues just aren’t around. There may be some totally cool band happening and I know nothing about them because I’m not in those circles and I don’t do regular blogging. Frankly, I don’t have the leisure time. I’m so immersed in trying to get the next thing out to my fans to make them happy.

So once in a blue moon something will fall through the cracks and really turn me on. A friend of mine sent me a video the other day because he was trying to show me something cool the art director did in the video. And he said the song’s pretty amazing, too. And it was.

It’s this French duo, kinda like Daft Punk, but more full hard disco. They’re called Justice.

Popshifter: Oh, I heard they were amazing at Coachella!

Roger Manning: People always ask me, “What’s your favorite kind of music?” And I’m like, “I like everything.” The thing is, I only like about five percent of it. I mean, I hate disco, but there is about five percent of it that I thought was brilliant. Most New Wave was a disaster, but there are a few bands—Echo and the Bunnymen and Devo—that were great! I mean, amazing, amazing shit. If you look at my record collection, that’s what it’s like: my favorite 60s, 70s, disco, New Wave, punk, reggae, dance music. . . it goes on and on.

Herbie Hancock

I’m not saying I’ve discovered and heard everything; there are still 60s psychedelic and garage bands that I’m getting turned on to through reissues and stuff. But I like country music, bluegrass. . . I’m a huge jazz snob. I went to music school as a jazz pianist. I wanted to be Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea but it was too much fun to dress up like a girl and jump around onstage singing songs I’d written with my friends.

To this day, I love playing jazz piano but I have more fun making rock and pop for people to sing along to. If somebody says it’s retro, fine. If somebody says it reminds them of The Carpenters, great, that’s a compliment. I don’t care what the commentary is; if I’m moving people and they are singing along while they’re stuck in traffic, that’s why I’m on the planet.

Popshifter: That also relates to the question of music downloads. Obviously there are issues related to downloading. How do you think that type of technology has impacted fandom?

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Click to read more from Roger Manning on. . .

Bill Bartell and MST3K
Playing well with others: new TV Eyes EP!
Jamming with Beck and Ross Angeles
The importance of humor
Where does Jellyfish fit in?
Movie soundtracks
Favorite kind of music
The music mafia model
“Just do what you’re passionate about. . . “
A reason to get out of bed in the morning
Speak my language

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