Manafest (Interview)

CMZ: Hi Manafest, Thanks so much for taking the time to answer a few questions for our readers, how are you doing today?

Manafest:I’m good just on tour with Skillet & Disciple in the USA, right now hanging out in a hotel beside Mall of America

CMZ: You recently released a music video for your song “Renegade”, can you say a little bit about the concept behind the song and why you chose to do a video for it?

Manafest: We shot a total of 6 videos for this album “The Chase” and I wanted to do a video so me and Trevor could hang out and he could be in it. Gave us an excuse to chill. We’re both so busy all the time.

CMZ: One of our readers asked about your relationship with Trevor McNevan, frontman for Thousand Foot Krutch, who appears in the video. How did your friendship with him evolve?

Manafest: I met him at the Set it Off CD release party many years ago, we stayed in touch and became good friends. We’ve done over 5 songs together now.

CMZ: Back in June you also came out with a Live CD/DVD, was that a fun process to put together and is it typical of a Manafest show?

Manafest: Yes it was, it was inspired by Johnny Cash’s Live at Folsom Prison. I’ve always wanted to do one and had a great time putting it together. I’d like to put another one out with the next record, but shot in Japan or somewhere cool!!

CMZ: Last year you came out with your album “The Chase” and it was a pretty big departure from what I remember in your early days, was there a specific reason you wanted to go more to the rock side of things rather than all hip hop?

Manafest: I’ve always done rock music, but it was more of a 30/70 split between that and hip hop. Sometimes as an artist it takes time to find your style, and I feel like rock music allows me to express myself the way I want to. It comes off more natural than my hip hop songs. However I still enjoy hip hop music and may do something under a different name in the future.

CMZ:You’ve been pretty busy touring as of late, with the Maple Noise Tour in Canada and the Music With A Mission Tour and you’ll be touring later in the year with Skillet, do you enjoy having a heavy touring schedule and how do you handle being on the road so much of the time?

Manafest: I’ve toured too much this year, by the end of the year I will have performed over 173 shows, which does not include travel time or days off on the road. I’m definitely going to be pulling back trying to do more with less. Family and my relationship with my church is very important to me and I’m no longer willing to sacrifice that for the sake of my music career.

CMZ:Do you have plans on working on any new material in the near future? What can fans expect to hear with your next release?

Manafest: I have a new record almost completed that will release in early spring 2012, it’s my best work yet and is going to rock some faces off. Can’t wait for everyone to hear it!!

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