The LowDown #54 - Chiara Manchia Spotlight
Fifty-fourth installment of our weekly newsletter from the Team.
From the Team:
"Be Thankful For What You've Got"
As many members of our community prepare to head home for the holidays, we thought it might be smart to share a story about the origins of Thanksgiving. Feel free to recycle this one to impress those cousins you only see once a year at the dinner table:
Long ago, the house music community was divided. DJs spun in isolation, guarding their unique sounds, while dancers wandered, disconnected, longing for a rhythm that united them all. It was a time of chaos and quiet dancefloors—until Low End Directive emerged.
The label, led by visionaries who believed in the power of unity, invited DJs and dancers from every corner to a historic gathering, headlined by Chiara, with support from Eric Louis and Auphoria. They chose TBA in Brooklyn as their hideaway, filling it with the deepest basslines and soulful grooves, promising a night like no other.
As the music traveled through the space, the divisions melted away. DJs collaborated, weaving their tracks into seamless sets, while dancers moved as one, their steps telling a story of gratitude and connection. It wasn’t just a party—it was the birth of a tradition.
On a more serious note, we are deeply thankful for our readers, followers, and the incredible talent of our DJs. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Low End Directive!
-Nick (Stepping in for Costanza while he’s OOO in Paris)
Interview:
Chiara Manchia
Instagram: @chiaramanchia
By day, Chiara Manchia is an engineer; by night, she is a music producer and DJ known for her contagious energy and groovy basslines. Her journey into music production and DJing began in 2019, inspired by her passion for videography and the use of electronic music in her videos. Starting in Toronto, she embraced the deep tech/minimal house style and has performed at top electronic nightclubs, including Vertigo, Subdivision, and CODA. She has also played at major festivals such as VELD and Electric Island. Since 2021, Chiara has released numerous tracks on 10+ labels, including Lazic Records and Innocent Music. For Chiara, music is everything. Her talent, hard work, and dedication ensure a bright future. She is always learning and growing, with no plans of stopping.
To mark the release of her Movement EP on Low End Directive, we sat down with Chiara to talk about the EP, life in Toronto, and what the future holds.
Tell us about your Movement EP release. What inspired these tracks?
"Movement" and "60Hz," are super special to me! First, I want to give a shout-out to Nuni (@nuni_music_) for her incredible mixing on "Movement"; she nailed it. Working with her made me realize just how crucial a good mix is. “Movement” was inspired by the sound of house from the 90s and 00s, which I find always carries a lot of energy in the drums. I discovered some cool vocals that really tied everything together, and the fact that I placed the vocal 'bass' hits right at the bassline made me super excited. On the other hand, “60Hz” is a deep house track inspired by the hecticness of my life at the time I wrote it. I find that “60Hz” is the perfect frequency for a bassline, and the synths bouncing around it helped me feel calm in the chaos.
What’s your process like when producing music? Do you start with a specific idea, sound, or emotion in mind, or do you let things evolve naturally?
My process is pretty intuitive—I always begin with the kick and bassline, letting everything else flow from there. Usually, I don’t have a specific idea in mind; instead, I experiment with the bassline first. In deep tech and minimal, the bassline is everything—if I can get it right, the rest of the track just clicks into place. Of course, emotion plays a big part, too. Electronic music is all about a feeling, and once I find that groove, the track builds itself around the mood I want to capture.
Do you have any formal music training that you can draw from? Any instruments you are looking to add to your production or experiment with your sound?
I don’t have specific formal music training, and if you want to produce you don’t need any in my opinion. I’m an engineer by background and have always been tech-savvy and creative. For example, I got into videography at a young age, which helped me pick up Ableton quickly. I’ve learned music theory mainly through tutorials and consistent practice. I am interested in experimenting with live synthesisers, but right now, producing from my home studio with minimal equipment (like my AKAI mini) works well for me. I like to keep things simple, avoiding too many plugins or extra gear as it helps me stay focused on creating great music without overcomplicating the process.
Deep tech and minimal house are at the core of your sound. What draws you to these genres, and how do you approach adding your “groove?”
The genres of deep tech and minimal house are overall just so listenable and timeless. The music may sound simple, but there are so many layers that go into it. You can dance to these genres for hours without feeling tired. I love how each element is distinct, which really helps my production approach. It reminds me to slow down and keep things minimal, focusing on the groove while letting each sound have its own space. Less is more!
What inspires and influences you outside of music?
People! I love connecting with others, whether it's through conversations with friends, old and new, or even strangers. I learn so much from the people around me. That’s why I was really looking forward to playing in Brooklyn, I got to meet new people, which always inspires me. I think my connection to people is what makes me a great DJ; I genuinely want to connect with everyone dancing to my music and build a sense of community.
For someone who’s never heard your music before, what’s the one track you would want them to hear first, and why?
I’d go with “Vibration”, released in March 2023 on Diserpiero Records. That track was a turning point for me, it’s when I really started to feel confident in my production skills. Production can be intense mentally, and this track was where I felt like I was finally finding my sound. It captures everything I love about minimal.
Toronto has a vibrant music scene. How has the city shaped your sound and provided opportunities for growth as an artist?
Toronto has a niche house music scene, especially for minimal, which has really helped me carve out my space as an artist. Unlike more saturated cities, it's easier to make a name for yourself here… if you put in the work and stay humble. I started attending events where my favorite DJs were booked. “Toronto After Dark”, “All Blak”, and “Yunaverse” parties brought in artists like Chris Stussy, Leo Pol, and Rossi. I knew I wanted to be part of that community, so I began supporting their events, and connecting with the DJs and promoters. Eventually, I landed a gig with them. I’m forever grateful for their support; they saw something in me, and that connection has been so valuable to my growth as an artist. Shout out to Paul, Devv and Mitch!!
Favorite thing about Toronto?
What I love most about Toronto is that it strikes a perfect balance. The city is small enough to create a close-knit community while still being big enough to offer something new and exciting every weekend. I also love the outdoor spaces in Toronto, such as Trinity Bellwoods Park and the beaches along Lake Ontario. These areas are perfect for unwinding after a busy night!
What is the most memorable set or event you’ve done and why?
Promise Cherry! I had the opportunity to curate my own day for a event series called Promise Cherry Beach. I brought in two incredibly talented friends, Andre Zimmer and Negin, with Audiojack as the headliner. It was a packed crowd of hundreds, and the energy was amazing—it was on summer solstice on the beach…can’t go wrong. Promise is known for attracting the best crowds, the people were dancing with barely any phones out, fully present in the moment. I hope to run it back again next summer!
Do you have any dream collaborations with certain artists?
I would love to collaborate with any of my favorite female artists, especially since there aren’t many of us in the industry. I would love to see their creative workflows and how they start idea. It would be amazing to work with artists like Lola Palmer, Silvie Loto, or ALISHA.
You recently were selected as a finalist of 20 for Elrow. What would something like that mean to you? Any other aspirations or goals that you hope to accomplish?
Sadly, I didn’t make it to the final 10, but being selected as a the final 20 out of 3,700 people was an incredible honor. It definitely reinforced me that I’m on the right path with my music if I just keep at it. I prefer to stay present and not dwell too much on big goals, so for now, I’m focused on enjoying the journey and continuing to grow as an artist.
What does the future hold for Chiara Manchia? Anything in the works?
The future holds a lot of production for me! I’m still figuring out where I want to take my sound, so I plan to hibernate a bit and learn more about different production styles. I’m also excited to connect with new cities. I would love to release music on labels like LED, which not only gives me a release but also the chance to perform in new places. Sharing my music with new audiences is something I really look forward to!
Event of the Week:
Simone de Kunovich + Iñigo Vontier / CtrlZora + DJ Tara / Zotos @ Public Records
We’re giving another shout to Public Records, who is hosting an absolutely bohemian event this Friday. I am not super familiar with all the artists as a whole, but I was recently put on to Inigo Vontier by my friend Mikey Stern (also known as Doof head honcho). Inigo is a Mexico-based producer who has collaborated across the indie dance world with the likes of Red Axes and Simple Symmetry. His sound is perfect for getting enveloped in the groovy energy of the dance floor. You can even catch some influence of rock throughout his music, which is sick—unless your parents weren’t cool and you don’t like rock. Get your ticket here
-Mike
Mix of the Week:
Paradise with EVIE - 9 November 2024
Yes, another mix from Rinse. They have too many incredible artists on air each week! I was very excited to see a Evie takeover, as her music rules and have never listened to a mix of hers. Some tasty tech!
New Tracks/EPs/Albums of the Week:
Note: we created a playlist for the New Tracks of the week. It will aggregate all the tracks for the month. Here it is!
Playlist —> The LowDown Top Tracks - November 2024
10. Fcukers - “Bon Bon” (Confidence Man Remix) [Technicolour]
9. Merker "- “Alright Now” (Vocal Jam Mix) [Hardline]
8. Richard Vission - “Bom Bom Bom” [Brobot]
7. Milion - “Space Invaders” [Dark Side Of The Sun]
6. Folamour - “All Dancing Under The Same Sky” [FHUO]
5. Carl Waller, Tom Savage - “Ghetto Bop”
4. Beck Rollins - “Cold Killa” [You&Me]
3. Kolter - “She Wants Bass” [Hot Creations]
2. Chris Stussy - Won’t Stop (Don’t) [Up The Stuss]
1. Audiojack - “90s Dreamin’” [Gruuv]
Thank you again for reading and hit that subscribe button to feel like you finally graduated from the kids table (right in time to spark a political debate with your Uncle)…Until next week!
