Darkwave virtuoso Anders Manga announces his seventh studio album Andromeda. After spending last year focused on his Gothic Metal band Bloody Hammers and releasing a new album on Napalm Records, Anders returns back to his Darkwave and Post-Punk roots with his new album Andromeda.
Interview Meikee Magnetic
Where were you born and where are you now?
High Point, NC. I tried NYC for a while in the early 2000’s, then Los Angeles but I finally landed in Transylvania County, NC.
How does it feel having your 7th album released?
It’s exhausting but personally rewarding. It’s weird when I see ‘behind the scenes’ videos and photos of big bands who have so many people involved. Producers, mixing engineers, session musicians, managers and recording in these fancy studios. ‘Behind the scenes’ photos of my album making would be hilarious in contrast. It’s just me alone doing everything… writing the songs, lyrics, mixing and stressing out about getting the sounds/mix right… all from my not glamorous messy basement.
Tell us some insight on your new album and it’s concept:
Overall it’s a dark wave album as long time listeners would generally expect but there’s also some genre fluid moments. ‘Andromeda’, to me is surreal concept album. In my mind it lives in a weird post-nuke movie from the 70s or 80s. I also used quite a bit of an Alesis Andromeda synth on the album so that also influenced the title. I’m currently looking into 2020 tour dates and excited to play some of ‘Andromeda’, and of course a few classics live this year.
How do you find the balance between Anders Manga and Bloddy Hammers?
It really all just finds me. Bloody Hammers is the only project I have signed to a record label (Napalm Records) but they don’t want to release music as often as I like to. So, it’s nice to still have Anders Manga and my other project Terrortron to do because songs are always coming to me out of the cosmos.
We’re looking forward to your live shows, any plans on coming to San Francisco and where would you like to play there?
Yes, I don’t know the location yet but we are hoping to get out West. When I look at the stats of where my fans are, or whose listening the most, everyone is way the hell from where I live. It’s Berlin, Helsinki, all along the west coast, nothing convenient to where I live. People have no idea who I am in my own home town… but I think I prefer that.
Future plans:
I’ve done so much recorded music, I really feel like it’s time I go out and tour properly. I think I’ll focus on that for a while, see if anyone is interested in seeing me and if so, keep doing it. If not, go back home and make more music. I make music no matter what because that’s just what I do. Even if nobody is listening or cares, it’s still fulfilling to my soul and just something I have to do.
What does Dark Beauty mean to you?
It can mean a lot of things. Like when I’m writing songs and stumble on something sinister but juxtapose it with something beautiful. I felt that way a lot with ‘Andromeda’, the whole album really. It’s my challenge as a songwriter to come up with songs that are dark AND beautiful at the same time. I also admire the visual side as well… like the photos you feature are incredible. Good work. Also just in everyday life, I have dark thoughts about death, sickness, fear of not being able to grow old with my dear wife Devallia who is the world to me, stuff like that. The dark thoughts are a reminder of the beauty. Life is beautiful and every day is a blessing. To see my wife smile every morning, Take walks in the beautiful Transylvania County trails, create music… so much beauty in life but the darkness keeps me in check so I don’t take it for granted.
MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/AndersMangaOfficial
