Written By: Paul Amyot
Michael Mancuso’s pop sounds which he describes as, “a mix of Justin Bieber, Nick Jonas, DNCE and Ariana Grande” tend to resonate with all listeners. He just released his newest single “Give it to Me” which marks the start of an edgier chapter in his career.
Photo Credit: Monty Limon
upfrontNY: How do you think growing up in Westlake, CA influenced your decision to become a musician?
Michael Mancuso: Living in Westlake gave me the opportunity to be a part of the Westlake High School Choral Music Department. I decided to pursue music as a result of my time in the WHSCMD and will forever be grateful for the people I met and the lessons I learned during my time in the program.
upfrontNY: Did you grow up in a musical family? How did they help you to achieve your dreams?
Michael Mancuso: My mom and her siblings sang together growing up, but none of them pursued it professionally. I grew up in a sports household. I was the first child to pursue something in the creative arts.
upfrontNY: How would you describe your time at USC with the SoCal VoCals?
Michael Mancuso: My time with the SoCal VoCals at USC were some of the best years of my life. As a member of the SoCal VoCals I performed at the Hollywood Bowl, The White House (during Obama’s presidency), and toured Hong Kong for 2 weeks, which included 2 sold out performances at the Queen Elizabeth stadium. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg!
upfrontNY: Who are your favorite musicians and how have they influenced your style?
Michael Mancuso: I’m a big fan of Zedd, Calvin Harris, Nick Jonas, Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande. All of these musicians have had massive hits and have heavily influenced the sound of today’s mainstream pop. I constantly look to their tracks for inspiration in regards to production and vibe.
upfrontNY: How would you describe the way you go about writing your songs? Do you have a place that you like to escape to write?
Michael Mancuso: I write best in group settings. 2 or 3 writers minimum. When I’m alone I tend to get in my own way. Having people to talk with and bounce ideas off of makes the overall process of songwriting feel way better for me. I always like the songs I create in a group setting much more than the songs I create on my own.
upfrontNY: Can you talk about your style of music and the favorite songs that you have written so far in your career?
Michael Mancuso: I would say that my style is a blend of Justin Bieber, Nick Jonas, DNCE and Ariana Grande. I aim to create relatable songs with vibes or grooves that can be appreciated by people of all generations! “Give It To Me” is a song that I have been really looking forward to releasing, but I would say that my favorite song I’ve ever written would either be my unreleased song “Memory Of You” which is a straight up ballad, or my (also unreleased) song “Casual.”
upfrontNY: Can you tell us about your new single “Give It To Me”? What was your inspiration for writing it?
Michael Mancuso: “Give It To Me” was written about the longest dry spell I’d ever had in my love life. My producer Dan and I met up for a writing session and the first thing we do when we get together is catch each other up on whats been going on in our lives. Dan told me about a lot of the cool work he’d been doing and the songs he’d been writing…and all I could think about was the amount of time it had been since I’d last been with someone! He finally asked me what was up and I just jokingly said “I can’t get any…nothing else matters!” We both laughed and, after making a few more jokes, decided it was time to get to work. He started showing me some demos he had been working on when he suddenly remembered a track that he had just finished up. He played it and I nearly lost my mind! He could tell I was just as excited as he was, so we worked together to come up with melodies for the verse, pre, and chorus. After all of that was locked in it was time to decide what to write about. Dan jokingly said we could write about my dry spell….and after some laughing…”Give It To Me” was born!
upfrontNY: Who would you like to collaborate with one day?
Michael Mancuso: My ultimate dream is to collaborate with Zedd. I think he is an incredible all-around musician and I’ve been a huge fan of him for years!
upfrontNY: What is your all time dream venue / city to perform in?
Michael Mancuso: The Staples Center in LA. For as long as I can remember that stage has always been my dream stage!
upfrontNY: What is next for you?
Michael Mancuso: I will be releasing a lot more music in 2018. “Give It To Me” was just the beginning, so if you like what you heard then stay tuned for more!
This is an excellent interview with Michael.
It presents very good insight to the great singer/songwriter and entertainer that he is.
Looking forward to see and hear what’s next. 2018 promises to be a really good year for Michael Mancuso!!