Máni Orrason – „D&G“ + Exclusive Interview

Hello, thank you for your time, please introduce yourself in a few words!

Hello, I’m Máni! Thanks for having me 🙂

I’m an artist from Iceland living in Berlin making music in tiny rooms.

2. Please give us an update about – new single, new album, tour dates, new videos?!

I just released a new single called “D&G”, it’s a fun two minute song that I wrote to play during sunset at Coachella. I have no plans to play Coachella, but when I do, I’ll be ready. I shot a music video for it that is just me and my friend Monique running around a forest dressed as cowboys. I’ve also spent the year working on an album that is almost ready! I think it’s really good music but I’m also going insane 🙂

I played a couple shows around the release for “D&G” which felt really really good but I probably won’t be playing many more until March/April next year.

Name 5 things we all should know about you as an artist?!

It’s very hard for me to describe my music to people because it’s kind of all over the place musically, so if you don’t like a song, try another lol

When I was a young boy, my father took me in to the city, to see a marching band

Last year I made an EP under the name B A T. It’s really weird and strange but a lovely thing

I’ve been living in Berlin for 3 years making music! big shouts to berlin!

My favourite type of music is music with bass in it.

4. What fashion style or brand would best describe your music?

Tough question because I kind of just wear whatever I find, most of my clothes are from friends or video shoots and things like that. I’m also emotionally stagnated in some fantasy where I’m a skater so I kind of dress like one most of the time lol. In my friend group as a kid I was the one that couldn’t really skate but hung with the skaters cause I could take photos, so the fantasy lives!

But I wear pretty basic things, especially for the last year where I haven’t been performing and just been a guy wearing pants making music in a room.

5. Tell us more about your songs! Topics! Message!?

My songs are great! I’m a huge fan. This album I’m finishing came from going through a break up right after quarantine hit last year. It left me living in a bubble of memories that I clung on to to get through that time. The comfort was nice but it started to make me feel so frozen and afraid of the future. Where the person I saw myself as didn’t exist anymore and I became really debilitated by how I was perceived by other people. So the album is about getting through that. Realising you can be whatever you want, nothing is certain or defined. But I have no message really, right now I still exist in such a bubble but what I hope is that people find comfort and joy in my music.

Beside music, do you have any special talents?

I can make really good margaritas, I’ve practiced a lot

7. Being on stage feels like….!

The only time where I think people can really see me. There’s so much bullshit in music that really bothers me but being on stage and engaged with my band and an audience is the most fulfilling part of all of it.

8. How did you learn to sing/ to write/ to play??

I saw a video of Green Day playing at Woodstock ’94 when I was around 12 and immediately started playing guitar. Then I started a band with some friends. Then we decided to enter this battle of the bands competition where we had to perform original songs, so I started writing songs! Then I was just hooked and didn’t want to do anything else.

A question you’d like to answer, but never been asked in an interview before?! + Answer pls

Máni, do you have the lyrics to Fancy by Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX?

Yes, I can!

First things first, I’m the realest (realest)
Drop this and let the whole world feel it (let ‚em feel it)
And I’m still in the Murda Bizness
I can hold you down, like I’m givin‘ lessons in physics (right, right?)
You should want a bad bitch like this (ha?)
Drop it low and pick it up just like this (yeah)
Cup of Ace, cup of Goose, cup of Cris
High heels, somethin‘ worth a half a ticket on my wrist (on my wrist)
Takin‘ all the liquor straight, never chase that (never)
Rooftop like we bringin‘ ’88 back (what?)
Bring the hooks in, where the bass at?
Champagne spillin‘, you should taste that

I’m so fancy
You already know
I’m in the fast lane
From L.A. to Tokyo
I’m so fancy
Can’t you taste this gold?
Remember my name, ‚bout to blow-oh-oh-oh

I said, baby, I do this, I thought that you knew this
Can’t stand no haters and honest, the truth is
And my flow retarded, each beat dear, departed
Swagger on stupid, I can’t shop at no department
And get my money on time, if they not money, decline
And swear I meant that there so much that I give that line a rewind
Said I get my money on time, if they not money, decline
I just can’t worry ‚bout no haters, gotta stay on my grind
Now tell me, who that, who that?
That do that, do that?
Put that paper over all, I thought you knew that, knew that
I be that I-G-G-Y, put my name in bold
I been working, I’m up in here with some change to throw

I’m so fancy
You already know
I’m in the fast lane
From L.A. to Tokyo
I’m so fancy
Can’t you taste this gold?
Remember my name, ‚bout to blow-oh-oh-oh

Trash the hotel
Let’s get drunk on the minibar
Make the phone call
Feels so good getting what I want
Yeah, keep on turning it up
Chandelier swinging, we don’t give a fuck
Film star, yeah, I’m deluxe
Classic, expensive, you don’t get to touch, ow
Still stunting, how you love that?
Got the whole world asking how I does that
Hot girl, hands off, don’t touch that
Look at it, I bet you wishing you could clutch that
That’s just the way you like it, huh?
It’s so good, he’s just wishing he could bite it, huh?
Never turn down nothin‘
Slaying these hoes, gold trigger on the gun like

Instagram: @maniorrason

Photo: Max Hartmann