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Kaitlyn Nicole

Review: "Clementine" - Manta



We've all experienced or at least heard of those sweet summer loves. The ones that are so passion filled yet never seem to make it to the fall. Manta's new single, "Clementine" is a vibrant blend of hip-hop, pop and indie that communicates the warmth and romance of the summer and our desire for the season to never end. Manta uses sound and storytelling techniques to transport listeners to a warm, sunny day, spent with a flirtatious love interest. The single's intricate lyricism conveys the overwhelming joy felt when a new romance blooms and the simultaneous fear that surrounds the potential loss of that connection. For instance, the line "I've spent too long in the dark without another lover that I can call home," establishes a prior yearning for companionship and the immense happiness that can be felt when you finally meet someone you can feel safe with. The ethereal vocals, lively instrumentation and creative lyrics make "Clementine" passion-filled, Summertime anthem.



Airy acoustic guitar introduces "Clementine" to audiences. An assortment of natural sound is included under the lead instrumentation such as snapping, whistling and vocalizations, giving it that carefree element that makes "Clementine" the perfect Spring or Summer jam. Between Manta's subtle rasp and English accent, his voice has the perfect indie vibe. He has incredible vocal range, using his higher register for effortless singing, harmonizing layers and beautiful vocal runs and his lower register to hit those deeper notes during his rap verses. The single's chorus is fun, energetic and warm, perfectly balanced with the fast-paced rap portion, offering an exciting change in tempo. In preparation for the release of "Clementine", Manta took to the streets of Manchester to break the world record of the most oranges eaten in an hour. The footage of this excursion became the visualizer and lyric video for "Clementine".


Born in Japan, raised in Skipton and currently based in Manchester, Manta is a rising singer-songwriter, performer and producer. Starting from his bedroom, Manta has worked to create a successful career in music. In fact, the self-made artist has directed, edited and graded all of his music videos, alongside producing all of his own music. Due to his involvement in every step of the creative process, it's safe to say that Manta's work fully represents his unique artistic vision. Manta's 2022 debut EP, "Confined Spaces" contains five groovy tracks, most notably "Dream World" which has amassed over 132k streams on Spotify alone. "Confined Spaces" was dubbed "undeniably brilliant" by Dork Magazine. After his first EP, Manta released two singles, "F.O.M.O" and "God Complex" both of which were accompanied by beautifully shot music videos. Manta has been taking on live performances as well, from his debut performance at The Great Escape in Brighton to supporting Rejjie Snow on his sold-out headline show in Leeds. Luckily for fans, you can catch Manta live at The Deaf Institute in Manchester on April 27th. Keep an eye out for Manta's highly anticipated, upcoming EP, "Roundabouts in Therapy" set to release on April 28th.


Written By Julia Hooper



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