Manolaco

BIOGRAPHY Michalis Manolakos aka Manolaco, started practicing music from the age of nine as he began music studies in a local music school where he studied theory and harmony of music for 7 years. At the same time his music influences were coming mainly from radio and cds listening to soul, funk, acid jazz, hip-hop and early days of Detroit house scene. Practice makes perfect and Michali's curiosity and love for music leaded him to stick with house records at a friend’s house after school. His curiosity became passion and just listening was translated into buying two turntables and enough records to make a mix. Soon, he became confident enough to walk to a local club and offer the club owner to give me him a slot during a night. Michalis gained valuable experience from those trial nights which was again enough to pack his records and get ready for his next step. That step was called Paros island where he introduces his self to the Linardo Bar owner to try him over which he did and occasionally he became a resident during the summer months. Later the same year, back in Athens, he joins his good friend Pascal who gives him the opportunity to appear in the show called “Majestic” events along with top house djs such as Mr. V, Osunlade, Roger Sanchez, Kenny Carpenter and others. Those successful appearances attracted Blend’s attention and in 2006, Michali gets a chance of a lifetime to present his talent into bigger events and in clubs such as Blend Club and legendary Cavo Paradiso, Mykonos next to the hottest names in the electronic scene such as Richie Hawtin, Ricardo Villalobos, Marco Carola, Loco Dice, Adam Beyer, Luciano, Sven Vath and many more... Joining Blend was a turning point as far as his influences were at that moment. Manolaco’s sound was still house groove based but playing next to techno and minimal acts his sound was impossible to escape from becoming more electronic, more minimal, more dark but happy at the same time. 2010 was a year of studio dedication, inspiration and creativity for Manolaco. His fresh ideas were nicely put together with his rocking beats and managed to finish fifteen quality house tracks, some of them with his other music half and good friend Ikee in well known labels such as Monique Musique, Unlock Records, Greelpound, Akbai Music, Arjaus Records, Datagroove and Sound Mass. The outcome of this effort was a massive support by many international artists including: Ronan Portela, Ariel Rodz, Barem, Marco Carola, Alexis Cabrera, Urss, Someone Else, Anja Schneider, Nic Fanciulli, Jay Tripwire and Utku Dalmaz to name a few. In 2011, Manolaco is more mature and more confident than ever his ability to plan and look forward into new things brings him amongst a new challenge – a residency in Blend’s new project called “On Off”. It is no surprise that those events are more than successful and Manolaco’s popularity has exploded into the local scene. 2012 was a massive year for Michalis dj career so far and there is no doubt that his future into the electronic scence looks very promising for him and it just has started... 2013 is the year that Manolaco explodes his career in the local scene of Greece. He is touring all over the country rocking every place that he is playing. With the extremely big support from his fanatic crowd he is now definitely one of the leaders in what greek audience calling Techno House. Ο Μιχάλης Μανωλάκος, γνωστός και ως Manolaco γεννήθηκε στην Αθήνα το 1983. Άρχισε τις μουσικές τους σπουδές από την ηλικία των εννέα ετών και για τα επόμενα επτά χρόνια μελέτησε θεωρία και αρμονία, κάνοντας παράλληλα εξάσκηση στις δεξιότητές του στα πλήκτρα. Στην ηλικία των δεκατριών ετών η κύρια επιρροή του ήταν η West Coast Hip Hop και η Detroit House μουσική. Επηρεάστηκε, επίσης, από Big Beats, Soul, Funky και acid grooves. Το καλοκαίρι του 2002 έπαιξε ως κεντρικός dj στο club Linardo (Πάρος) δίπλα σε πολλούς διάσημους τοπικούς Djs. Μετά από αυτό, ο φίλος του ο Pascal (Deejay) τον συμπεριέλαβε στο “Majestic crew” και ο Manolaco έπαιξε σε μερικά από τα πιο hot clubs, όπως Home, Club 22, Hilton (Αθήνα), Motel, Danza, Plus X, ανάμεσα σε διεθνείς House καλλιτέχνες, όπως Kenny Carpenter, Mateos& Matos, Kenny Hawks, Roger Sanchez, Mr. V, Onsulade και πολλούς ακόμα.. Το 2006 η μουσική επιρροή του από τον καλό του φίλο Lorenzo (BLEND) τον οδήγησε στη στροφή του προς την Electronic House με στοιχεία funky. Αυτή η εξέλιξη του έδωσε την ευκαιρία να συμμετάσχει σε μερικά Blend events σε clubs όπως FUZZ, LUV, Shadow, Ammos, Blend Club (Αθήνα) και CavoParadiso (Μύκονος), δίπλα σε καλλιτέχνες όπως Richie Hawtin, Ali Dubfire, Gaiser, Magda,Troy Pierce, Terry Francis, Ray Okpara, Nekes, Matthias Tanzmann, Raresh, Kreon&Lemos. Το 2010 ήταν χρονιά έμπνευσης και δημιουργικότητας για τον Manolaco και γι’ αυτό ήταν μια χρονιά ολοκληρωτικά αφιερωμένη στο studio. Οι φρέσκιες ιδέες του συνδυάστηκαν μοναδικά με τον rock ρυθμό του, δημιουργώντας δεκαπέντε ποιοτικά house κομμάτια. Ορισμένα από αυτά δημιουργήθηκαν μαζί με το άλλο μουσικό του μισό και καλό του φίλο Ikee, σε γνωστές εταιρείες όπως Monique Musique, Unlock Records, Greelpound, Akbai Music, Arjaus Records, Datagroove και Sound Mass. Το αποτέλεσμα αυτής της προσπάθειας ήταν μια μαζική υποστήριξη από πολλούς διεθνείς καλλιτέχνες, όπως: Ronan Portela, Ariel Rodz, Marco Carola, Alexis Cabrera, Urss, Someone Else, Anja Schneider, NicFancioulli, Jay Tripwire και UtkuDalmaz . Τι έπεται; Λοιπόν, αυτή η χρονιά είναι πολλά υποσχόμενη για τον Manolaco, καθώς συμπεριλαμβάνεται στον τεράστιο καλλιτεχνικό κατάλογο της εταιρείας Blend, ανάμεσα στους παγκοσμίως κορυφαίους djs και παραγωγούς. LINKS: www.blendathens.com/artists/manolaco www.facebook.com/manolaco.official www.soundcloud.com/manolaco www.beatport.com/artist/manolaco/110630 RELEASES Manolaco - Yeah (original mix) / Homage Rec. Manolaco - Hello House (original mix) / Akbal Music Manolaco - Bobbo (re-edit) / Akbal Music Manolaco - Yo (original mix) / Homage Rec. Manolaco - Your Black Eyes (original mix) / Homage Rec. Ikee and Manolaco - Stupid (original mix) / Unlock Rec. Ikee and Manolaco - Beam me up (original mix) / Arjaus Rec Ikee and Manolaco - Filaraki (original mix) / Arjaus Rec. Ikee and Manolaco - Jazzu (original mix) / Sound Mass Rec. Ikee and Manolaco - Disco La (original mix) / Unlock Rec. Ikee and Manolaco - Concept (original mix) / Unlock Rec. Ikee and Manolaco - Funk off (original mix) / Greelpound Rec. Ikee and Manolaco - Frank's Nos (original mix) / Greelpound Rec. Ikee and Manolaco - Guitar (original mix) Sound Mass Rec. Ikee and Manolaco - Miss You (original mix) Sound Mass Rec. Ikee and Manolaco - Heart Lover (original mix) Sound Mass Rec. Ikee and Manolaco - Re Turn (original mix) Datagroove Rec. Ikee and Manolaco - House U (original mix) / Monique Musique Ikee and Manolaco - Snow Show (original mix) Datagroove Rec REMIXES Berik M. & Camilo - Cenote Dive (Avgoustino & Manolaco mix) Blaq Rec. Manolaco - Bobbo (Pol On mix) Akbal Music Alexis Cabrera - Miss Miss (Ikee and Manolaco mix) Ikee and Manolaco - Disco La (Alex Medina mix) Unlock 027 BLEND , FunkedUP (Athens/Greece).