In Conversation With #274 - Lando Manning
South London’s Lando Manning has just released his sophomore EP ‘Brighter Days’ via Mango Wax Records.
Written, recorded, and produced by Manning in Wiltshire in the autumn of 2022 - mixed by Miles Dee and mastered by Bobby Smyth (Hutch) - Brighter Days finds its inspiration as much in the soundtracks of Ennio Morricone and the ambient works of Japanese pioneer Hiroshima Yoshimura, as in the classic works of 70s folk songwriters like Nick Drake and Towns Van Zandt. Offering a deeply introspective yet calming listen, Manning's latest effort grapples with dark mental states yet constantly reaches for light at the end of the tunnel - the folk artist took a moment to talk to us about how the EP came together.
Hey there Lando - how are you? So your EP is out now - how does it feel to have it out there in the world?
It feels great! All things considered, from writing the first song to release, the process has been about two years so to finally be able to share it with the world feels lovely.
It is called ‘Brighter Days’ - what is the meaning behind that?
All of the songs were written during a really hard period for my mental health, I had moved to a city where I didn't really know anybody and I was going through the motions of grief which was a bit of a recipe for disaster. I wanted the songs to reflect the emotions I was feeling, but with a sense of hopefulness that things would get better, hence Brighter Days. During that difficult time in my life the thing that got me through it was holding onto the fact that brighter days were just around the corner.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the creative process you are happy to share with us?
I recorded the EP by myself over the course of a week or so at my parents home in Wiltshire while I was between houses. I had just come back on a trip from Central America with my girlfriend during which I totally switched off from music, which helped me to decide on the sound I wanted the songs to take. Some of the songs sounded very different before the trip and I think being able to disconnect from the creative process for a few months gave me the bigger picture view of what I needed from the EP.
I feel that when producing music it's easy to get too absorbed in your own projects and by taking a step back you can assess what you really want people to take away from it, the disconnecting part is something that is now a crucial part of my process.
What are the key themes and influences on the EP?
The EP is mainly tackling themes of grief and isolation, although they have melancholic foundations all of the songs on the EP are very hopeful in their message.
In terms of influence, I've always been greatly influenced by early psych-folk pioneers like Mark Fry and Linda Perhacs, but it wasn't until I really got into ambient music and minimalism that I really got a proper understanding of how I wanted this particular collection to sound. I was in particular influenced by Hiroshi Yoshimura, I think the way he uses space in a musical way is really masterful, so I definitely took a lot from that.
If the EP could be the soundtrack to any film - which one would it be and why?
Cinema has always had a big effect on my music, I always try to write songs that put the listener somewhere.
I think I'd like my music to soundtrack some kind of animation, maybe a Ghibli film. Hayo Miyazaki is maybe my favourite film maker, I think the stories have really nice subtle messages about society and often have a melancholic undertone so I think it would fit well!
Do you have a favorite lyric on the EP - if so, which one and why?
I think my favourite lyrics in the EP are in Sugar in the Sun; "Free in the breeze, like a convention of trees, drunk on sugar from the sun". I actually got the lyrics from mishearing an Allain Toussaint song and realised I'd imagined the lyrics so I took them!
The song is about being in love so I think the imagery works nicely with the feeling of drunkenness you get when you are in love.
Now the EP is out there - what next?
I'm going to be gigging a lot with my band over spring so keep an eye out for us, I also have a lot more material in the pipeline alongside lots of fun stuff with my label, Mango Wax Records.
