1)Alternative/experimental rock band from California, USA

2)Hardcore… Read Full Bio ↴1)Alternative/experimental rock band from California, USA

2)Hardcore/psycore DJ & producer from Winterswijk, Netherlands

3) hardcore punk from Atlanta.

1)Ryan Green - drums

Paul Gross - vocals/keyboards

Zane Smythe - guitars/keyboards

Nate Perry - bass/backup vocals

Believe it or not, Manic didn’t want to get signed to Suretone, the new label of ex-Geffen president Jordan Schur. Not because they had something against them but they didn’t want their creativity stifled by a corporation. This band, who crafts lush, layered pop rock, wanted to do things on their terms and to be the masters of their own destiny.

“We’re believers in the idea that the only way you can grow as a band is to play shows and work your ass off, as opposed to trying to write a hit single,” explains guitarist/keyboardist Zane Smythe. “We want to make a good record that we like, not radio singles. And if things don’t work out, we can at least have made a record we are proud of.” Spoken like a true artisan that isn’t interested in the politics and culture of the music business machine. Smythe finishes his thought, saying, “What we try to do is make a quality album, as opposed to a product that will appeal to a bunch of people. We know that the people we do appeal to will be into it on a deep level.” Clearly, Manic know what they want, in terms of their business and their art, and they’ve found a way to balance the two.

“We had no inclination to sign with a major label,” says Smythe. “We recorded a demo that was essentially the Floorboards EP.” The five-track EP in question ended up landing in Schur’s hands who quickly approached the band because he couldn’t stop listening to it. “We wanted a deal where we could do what we wanted to do. He said yes to everything we asked for, so we couldn’t turn him down,” Smythe says.

Rare is the case where a band dictates its own terms to a label courting it for a record deal, but Manic, featuring drummer Ryan Green, guitarist/keyboardist Zane Smythe, bassist Nate Perry, and vocalist/keyboardist Paul Gross, is a rare band in many facets. Manic are actually native to Los Angeles. They didn’t come from somewhere else to L.A. in order to find success like so many bands these days; rather, they’re from L.A., and formed there five years ago. “There is so much going on,” Smythe says about the L.A. scene. “It’s over-ridden with bands, and inherently, it makes people care less and more fickle. We’re just trying to set ourselves apart with our songs and with how we present the songs live.”

Musically, Manic admit they are not here to cater or to kowtow to radio. They just want to write songs with plenty of depth, breadth and scope, songs that they can replicate live.

“We are a fairly tech-heavy band,” says Smythe, shedding light on his band’s sound. “We use a lot of gear. Our bassist has a keyboard. Our drummer has a keyboard next to him. I have a keyboard. We have a laptop, guitar, and vocal effects, etc, so the music is on the technical side. We’re big fans of stuff that’s sparse but not thin. When we record, we throw everything into the pot and start reducing, and what’s left is what we play live. We’re fans of music that is thick and we think we do a really good job at representing ourselves and our songs when we play them live.”

Indeed, Manic aren’t your average LA band. They are doing things their way, remaining true to their independent music ethos.

2)Maarten Prinsen; Dutch hardcore DJ and producer born on January 25, 1989 in Winterswijk (NL) produces for Cenobite Records. His music is experimental hardcore with influences of acid, goa, rave, drum & bass and gabber.

Illusion
Manic Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

On a street of old bones
Dust masquerades as skin
Time turns itself to stone
Nothing left to lose and nothing left to win

Desires to break and deconstruct
I defend the middle ground
Every battle I've ever fought

Has either been lost or bought

And in the rhythm of your voice
I find space to rejoice
My complicated illusions
Leave me with no choice

Even the answers that I dream
Are riddled with doubt and holes
Illusions are complicated
Redacted and retold

And in the rhythm of your voice
I find space to rejoice
My complicated illusions
Leave me with no choice

And in the margins of the page
Truth hides but leaves a trace
My complicated illusions
Are now no more than faith

And in the rhythm of your voice
I find space to rejoice
My complicated illusions
Leave me with no choice

And in the margins of the page
Truth hides but leaves a trace

My complicated illusions
Are now no more than faith

Overall Meaning

In "Illusion," Manic explores the complexities of personal illusions, the struggle between truth and perception, and the power of finding solace in someone's voice. The lyrics evoke a sense of desolation and weariness, symbolized by the "street of old bones" and "dust masquerading as skin." Time is portrayed as a force that turns everything to stone, highlighting the inevitability of loss and the futility of chasing victories.

The singer reflects on their desire to break free from their illusions and deconstruct their beliefs, yet they find themselves stuck in the "middle ground." They have fought battles that were either lost or won through compromise. This internal conflict is further explored through the repetitive chorus, where the rhythm of someone's voice brings a sense of joy, but also reinforces their complicated illusions.

The lyrics suggest that even the answers the singer dreams of are plagued by doubt and uncertainty. Illusions are portrayed as intricate and multidimensional, being both redacted and retold. The rhythm of the voice seems to provide a temporary respite from these illusions, offering moments of clarity and relief.

As the song progresses, the singer acknowledges that truth may be hidden in the margins of their perception and leaves traces behind. However, these complicated illusions have become a matter of faith rather than reality. The conclusion of the song reveals a sense of acceptance and surrender to this state of illusion, as the singer realizes that their illusions are no longer complex but merely a form of faith, perhaps finding comfort in the ambiguity and embracing the uncertainty.

Line by Line Meaning

On a street of old bones
In a place filled with remnants of the past

Dust masquerades as skin
The superficiality hides the truth beneath

Time turns itself to stone
Moments become solidified and unchangeable

Nothing left to lose and nothing left to win
No stakes remaining, nothing to gain or lose

Desires to break and deconstruct
Yearnings to dismantle and analyze

I defend the middle ground
I protect the neutral standpoint

Every battle I've ever fought
Every conflict I've engaged in

Has either been lost or bought
Resulted in defeat or compromise

And in the rhythm of your voice
Within the cadence of your words

I find space to rejoice
Discover solace and happiness

My complicated illusions
My intricate deceptions