MANAFEST interview by Cole & Lacey Massey

*NEW ALBUM OUT NOW!!!!  www.MANAFEST.net

1)         Ford or Chevy? Ford

2)         Coke or Pepsi? Coke

3)         Sprite or 7up? hmmmm…. 7up

4)         Which variety of M&M’s? Peanut

5)         Snickers or Milky Way? Snickers

6)         Icee or Slurpee? Slurpee

7)         Flex-fit or Custom? custom 7 ¾

8)         Concrete or Wooden Skate park? Concrete

9)         What is your favorite skate trick? 360 kick flip

10)      Who is your favorite skater? Park: Ryan Gallant vert: Danny Way

11)      Gatorade or Powerade? Vitamin Water

12)      What size board do you ride? 7 ½  

13)      Where do you live? Pickering, Ontario. It is my wife’s and my hometown. What’s the       name of your home church? “Church Without Limits”  

14)      Who is your favorite preacher? John Hagee, because I’ve loved him even since I was young.

15)      Will you have kids in the future? Yes, we’ll definitely have kids in the future. Right now I believe that practice makes perfect.

16)      How long have you been married? “7 amazing years.”

17)      What does the name MANAFEST mean? If something is manifest, it’s about coming into the light, so I see MANAFEST as being the light. In the Bible, believers are compared to light and salt; darkness is dull! I want to bring light.

18)      How did “MANAFEST” take off? Well, I started writing my own songs- I even called in sick to work once to spend a whole day writing… it hasn’t been automatic and sometimes I second-guessed whether I should be doing this. The day I quit my job was the real nail in the coffin- no turning back. “Were you married at the time?”: “yes; it was a big step of faith.”

19)      Is that step the inspiration for the song on your new album, The Chase, called “No Plan B”? It’s a combination of that and the concept of forgetting what’s in the past [Philippians 3:13-14]. I see people get held back because they’re thinking about the past so much. We should live like there’s no ‘plan B’!

20)      What is the largest crowd you’ve ever performed in front of? 18,000 people in Edmonton, Alberta. 

21)      The name of your new album is The Chase; how did you come up with that? In life we’re all running on this treadmill, caught up in the hustle and bustle- I think you should enjoy the journey and chase your passions. You can trade life for a small dream, a big dream, or no dream at all- I want to pursue a big dream!

22) What legacy would you like to leave for the next generation? “I want to leave an inheritance for my children’s children, and I want it to be remembered that I loved God and loved people.”

23)      What one event in your life has made the greatest impact on you? When I heard the truth of Christ and started applying it. I started to get good results!

24)      You inspire so many people worldwide; who are your heroes? Someone I admire in business is Peter Daniels; a hero in faith is Kenneth Copeland; and one of the artists I really respect is Linkin Park because they are such good musicians.

25) What are some of your goals for 2010? (family, ministry, and social goals) my family goals are to grow closer to my wife and my family members, and to have kids soon- don’t know if I can do that this year, maybe I’ll have a baby by December 31^st, 2010 haha.

Some goals for my music and my social scene are to expand the reach, crossover more into the general market- which we’re doing- and just to see kids saved! Recently I saw fifteen students accept Christ at a show in British Columbia- this church does a skate demo all the time and decided to add a show onto the end of it when I was there- it was awesome.

26)      What is the best advice you could give to someone regarding success? “There are principles laid out in the Bible like Jeremiah 29:11 and in the first chapters of Joshua. People don’t realize that in order to be successful you have to go through some pain and know the arena of pain. The reason I don’t have a 6-pack is I like chocolate chip cookies too much! Musicians, athletes, scientists have all made a sacrifice for what they’re passionate about. You may sacrifice food, entertainment, and sleep for what you want.”

27)      What would you say to kids who are launching into the music industry? Write as much as you can- know your trade.

Practice.

Go to open mics.

Read the book, “I don’t need a record deal” Record labels are dying and you need to know someone isn’t going to do for you the things you won’t do for yourself.

28)      Who is your best critic? My producer Adam Messenger. He helps me with writing, mixing, and producing. He helps me to say what I want to say and tells me if something sucks.

29)      What is your favorite song on the album? “Supernatural, No Plan B, and Avalanche.”

We’re shooting a video for Fire in the Kitchen next month and a video for Avalanche in the summertime.

30)      We’d love to get you out here to Denver! “It’s all about the Rocky Mountains, baby!”