Pictured DJ Manny Lehman
Superstar DJ Manny Lehman visits Chicago [Hydrate bar] this Friday, giving us a much-needed warm-up from our not-so-summer days. This hot Puerto Rican was raised in a humble home in the Bronx, but since then he's grown to international fame as a DJ spinning everywhere from New York to Ibiza. Known as the Latin from Manhattan, his body slamming of aggressive vocals, pulsating drums, and hard tribal beats get thousands of party revelers in a trance.
He got into the business by playing live for a local radio station, 'Hot 97', in 1984.
Since then he's achieved international status by producing chart-topping remixes for Madonna, Janet Jackson, Sting, and more. He brings along with him his new mix compilation CD Bangin' (Progressive Beats), which is available in stores nationwide.
Bangin' includes 15 tracks of high-energy remixes of club favorites by Kristine W, The Roc, Project featuring Tina Novak, and others.
This isn't Manny's debut album, nor is it his first time at the playground.
Manny comes to Chicago prepared to make you dance!
If you're one of the lucky club kids to make it past the line this Friday at Hydrate, you'll not only hear but feel what thousands have already.
Manny Lehman is cool and collected as he talks to me about this much-anticipated (for both of us) visit!
Emmanuel Garcia: You're here this weekend spinning at Hydrate. Are you excited?
Manny Lehman: Yes, [Chicago is] one of my favorite cities. I'm always excited to come to Chicago.
EG: How long do you stay in each city you visit?
ML: Depends—a day, sometimes half a day, sometimes two days. ... I'm here in Chicago for two days. I hang out with a couple of friends, then go out and play the next day, and then I leave.
EG: Tell me about Bangin' (Progressive), your new mix compilation CD.
ML: Bangin's been out for a little while. It's a Tommy Boy compilation that I mixed together, with most of it being exclusive mixes of new stuff that were not previously released on Tommy Boy. It's kinda like a 75-minute trip to a long night. It's about fun and energy. It's done very well.
EG: You have the responsibility of getting people to have a good time. How do you prepare yourself before a session?
ML: I can't say that there is one preparatory way. I just feel the vibe of what's going on and try to stay musically astute. I'm there to do a job and do it the best that I can.
It's kind of like a spontaneous thing. When it happens, it's great, and sometimes it's harder work than others. It's all about trying to be as ready as possible.
EG: Have you ever had a dead crowd, unwilling to respond?
ML: Yeah it happens, or sometimes they're a little more enthusiastic or less enthusiastic. Sometimes when they are not responding as you'd like them to, you button press a little bit. You're like, 'Alright, it's time to take out a couple of things they know!' A party is a form of energy. ... How people congregate and what's in the air—there's all those elements that add or subtract to the environment.
EG: How would you say the circuit scene has changed?
ML: It's changed. There is not as many—I don't think—nationally big parties. I think they're more regional now. I think there are a couple of huge weekends left in the year. But it's shifted a little bit. It's not as widely attended as it used to be.
EG: What is your favorite club to spin at?
ML: Hmm. My favorite club to spin at is still all the clubs in New York. It's just so much fun. They really are musically progressive. The crowd is great.
EG: What is your most memorable experience while spinning?
ML: I have too many. I have a book about the top 25 parties of all time. Each one offers something that meant something, and I've had moments of having 5,000 people peak at the same time. ... Every hand in the air makes my hair on the back of my neck stand up! But I can't say that there is one moment that is the best moment because I'm fortunate to have so many.
EG: What are common misconceptions about DJ's?
ML: (Laughs) Oh Lord! Common misconceptions about DJ's? That we're stupid! (Laughs) Nah, I'm just kidding! That all we think about is night clubbing and music and drugs and all that stuff. Because I know a lot of different DJ's that are into different things—into production, some of them are bookworms, some of them are real estate agents. Being a DJ is something that when it affects you—whoever you are—is like a bug. This music bug bites you and it's an infectious thing that you have to follow.
EG: Do you have any music guilty pleasures?
ML: Yeah, female acoustic, like Eva Cassidy, Norah Jones, and Everything But The Girl, and Beth Orton. I love those female crooning, crying, acoustic females! (Laughs)
EG: Who's your favorite person to work with or you've done a remix of?
ML: Well, I've had a chance to remix all the Divas. They're all great. Having their a cappella in my hands and having them do an interpretation of my song is amazing. It's just an honor to do that for them. These are people that I love and respect and admire.
EG: What can we expect this Friday?
ML: I say you can expect to have some fun! You can expect to hear something old, something borrowed, something new. A little bit of everything because it's Friday night and people don't want to get too severe. People want to just feel like there is something going on!
EG: I'm sure something will go on!
ML: I hope so!
Superstar DJ Manny Lehman spins this Friday at Hydrate 3458 N. Halsted.
Emmanuel Garcia is at: www.emmanuelgarcia.com