RITUAL 028: Manfredas (LT)

Daryl Knows is a bridger of genres – from amorous soul cuts and spry jittery electro, to frisky disco rarities and his uplifting house jaunts. It’s this versatility that’s made the veteran a figure in some of Singapore’s biggest festivals. Daryl’s gig portfolio in the local bar and club circuit is compatibly expansive, filled by his duties as a longstanding stalwart resident of Headquarters, Offtrack, and Singaporean international record label, Darker Than Wax. A key member since 2016, Daryl’s been instrumental in orchestrating some of the scene’s most beloved events on behalf of Darker Than Wax, including the renowned courtyard bash, BREW, alongside the region-drawing Haw Par Thrilla spectacle with +65 promoters, Ice Cream Sundays. As a deeply embedded advocate of electronic music within the community, Daryl has also participated in historical gigs that made national headlines, spanning the pandemic-combatting #SaveMusicSG campaign and The Last Mile which bid farewell to cultural and architectural icon, Golden Mile Complex. The seasoned tastemaker’s milestones and prospects, meanwhile, stretch beyond the Lion City. Daryl’s performance accolades have seen him support the international likes of Peggy Guo, DJ Boring, Jackmaster, Demuja, Lars Vegas (Dam Swindle), Dan Shake, Frits Wentink, Young Marco, Kornel Kovacs, Luca Lozano, Christopher Rau, Hidden Spheres and Max Graef to name a few. His career wholly embraces his love of sharing sounds to audiences from all walks of life, and this has been apparent in his international appearances in London, Tokyo, Melbourne, Ho Chi Minh, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Bali where he even played for Bestival. Daryl Knows is a true Singaporean soul with global appeal, and it shows every time he hits the decks.

Manfredas. The name packs a hefty punch. After years spent amassing knowledge as a radio DJ, he took his talents to the club, where he’s been convincing the unconvinced ever since. This man has a serious gift for throwing his every physical move hammering home the strength of his musical convictions. From the unique way he palms the jog wheel, to the ardent torque of his dancing, music feels a little more impactful in his midst. As one of the key residents and programmers at Opium Club in Vilnius, where he runs his club night "Smala", Manfredas has been instrumental in creating a culture that has led some mega-respected DJs to call it their favourite club in the world. Space feels like a feedback loop of love, dramatic intensity, and open-minded passion that draws everyone deeper into the music. Fact: the best DJs are always residents. Fact: Opium just might be the best club in existence. Logic dictates our man is a champ.

Just visualise a metropolis blanketed in austere ruin, coloured by an ominous soundtrack with a heart of iron and stone. Such is the harsh dimension introduced by Muto Masashi, a name that’s bobbed along the surface of the Singaporean electronic scene for some time now. After years of cutting his teeth in the local DJ circuit, the Japanese selector has finally released Ishi, his debut EP that translates his imagination and influences into these dystopian musical fantasies.