The story begins many years ago ....”Ive worked so hard on so many things to bring me to the point of, yes, its time to go out and do this myself. I have enough confi dence as a writer and a performer to go out and show people who I am. I’m not trying to be the next anything, Im just me. I’m Damien Mancell.”
A natural born singer songwriter, Damien Mancell has been penning tracks for years,and now its time for him to step behind the mic as the voice behind a meld of pop and dance he brings you the anthemic dance hit “Be With You Tonight”.
Take a dose of George Michael add a spoon full of Daft Punk a touch of Kylie Minogue and a whole heap of Europop and you get Damien Mancell. But to box him in like this is too dismissive. He is more than that. He is a writer, performer, concepualist, producer...
After working on countless projects for other artists, Australian singer song writer Damien Mancell fi nally goes it alone with his fi rst solo release.His ground work in production as a writer & producer has earned him the stripes to fi nally take centre stage. Having started musical theatre at a young age, Damien was your typical “showbiz” type child. Going from drama, to dance to singing, Damien worked on everything from stage productions of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, to dance competitions.”I won my first singing competition at the tender age of 4, singing Kiss’ “I Wanna Rock and Roll All Night” at a local shopping centre. I was probably cute as a button, but i worked it.Even at age 4”.
This was a taste for him, a carrer that would develope over many years to come.
“When I left home, I worked with anyone, on anything. From plays, to script readings, from film contributions, to drag shows. I became friends with designers, singers, producers, film directors, drag queens, performers. Each peice of the puzzle made up a valuble experience, that hopefully I can take to my own work. I wasn’t thinking about the gain for myself, I was creating art. Whether it be backing vocals, which I have done too many to count, to helping produce some form of artistic statement for someone elses vision, this journey has been a long, yet colourful one. I had worked with theatre as a young adult, had worked with some underground bands, did the odd dance/cheerleader show, and was always called for doing vocals for DJ’s underground dance tracks.I never knew where they ended up , but I was just happy to contributing”.
Whilst working on floating projects for people, Damien developed a good grasp of songwriting & production. His confidence grew as a writer, and as a singer of his own voice. Whilst doing the rounds of work, Damien came across the talents of Sydney based Producer Steve Mellare . The two struck up an instant friendship, and so a collaboration was born.” I was working on projects for an underground band called “elements”. It was like an elctro boyband, but they needed serious help. I offered. At the same time I was starting a working relationship with Steve, who had started his work on the new record for Partizan. Somehow our worlds clashed, and goodbye to the “elements” stuff, and time to concentrated on me.” Meeting some where in the middle (“ I was obsessed with Kylie & Madonna, he was taken with New Order and dance beats. We met in the middle , with BT and Depeche Mode”), so began the work on the Damien Mancell record.
“ I was listening to alot of Depeche Mode, BT ,William Orbit, Pet Shop Boys, and of course Georgio Moroder. I still feel that “I Feel Love” is one of the greatest dance song ever. I knew I wanted to make a dance record more than anything” Damien & Steve Mellare would then take the journey into the pop dance vein, and make an impressive body of work. Melding pop melodies with dance beats, with obvious throwbacks to the early nineties, theses sessions created some great results. This became the main focus of what is set to be unleashed in 2009.
“Be With You Tonight” came out of this sessions. This was the first taste of what is sure to be an impressive debut. After test pressing the single in late 2008, the reaction was immediate.
DJ’s loved this record. They had no idea it was Damien, and it was getting great spins around Sydney.
It became obvious that Damien needed to take this to the next level. “it was very strange going out with your friends to a club, and hearing yourself.” This perfect piece of 4 minute pop, is infectious, irresistible, catchy and chic and will stay in your head for days.
The reviews have been amazing to say the least. As for the album...? “ Ive taken this to writing this album in the form of a big night out. There is songs to get ready to, songs to dance to, songs you’ll hear in the club atmosphere. There is songs to get down and nasty to, but most of all its a really cool club record. Its an album that I wanted to make for some time.”
“Be With You Tonight” taken from the forthcoming album due late 2009