Feature Blog Post discussing short film 'Manami.'

Atmospheric and overflowing with energy, the short film ‘Manami’ based on Japan born and Bristol based DJ, Manami Baba, takes us on an intimate adventure to the jam-packed dance floors of the UK and on a wild spin through Manami’s musical career.

With her ground-breaking sets landing her on line ups alongside the likes of Denis Sulta, Bicep and HAAI and relentlessly supported on airwaves scoring residencies at both 1020 Radio & Noods Radio, the house and techno inspired DJ has been making some serious moves on the club scene.

Having premiered at venues as such as Printworks and Motion, Manami has been championing the rising DJ ever since, and good friend, videographer and photographer Marco Bardusco-Brazier was keen to document her journey.

A Blackpool native, the art of photography has always fascinated Marco, and after being inspired by films such as Clockwork Orange and Blow Up, he soon became enthralled in how tension was created in still and moving images.

Packing up his things, he ventured south to Bristol to study Photography, a city synonymous with the ‘Bristol Sound’ and renowned for its thriving music scene and urban street art culture, where his friendship with Manami blossomed.

With no city quite the same, with its experiential diversity and a strong sense of community, Bristol booms with culture. Being the perfect city for Marco to take his inspiration gathered from Chris Steele-Perkin's award-winning book, ‘The Teds’ based on British subculture The Teddy Boys, he was able to incorporate subculture into his own work, creating his own unique flair.

“The most fascinating thing about the Teds was the richness of the subculture and that it was being driven from below, from the working class, with a youthful rebellious energy: kids that had nothing re-inventing themselves” said Steele-Perkins. These topics of subculture and youth are prominent in Marco’s work, photographing musicians, drag artists and even cabaret dancers to name a few varieties, and he magically captures the essence and the reinvention of character in each piece of work produced.

Since moving to London, he has worked with clients such as Monkey Sounds, whilst also photographing music events in Bristol such as The Future was Disco and Turbo Disco.

“My other love is music so it was a perfect marrying of the things I love most - Music culture; filming and photographing them.”

With music perhaps best described as ‘cosmic sounds,’ Manami’s energy is poured into her sets and it’s difficult to believe that Manami was once a stranger to electronic music. Now, founder of music collective Better Days alongside good friend Anil Chohan, her victories within the electronic music scene are unstoppable.

Opening with Manami expressing, “we’re always evolving, sonically – we're always going to have different music enter into our lives, and every time that happens, I think it will always shape our taste in subtle ways,” the film steps inside venues as such as Mick’s Garage, Lakota and even a secret location from Bristol collective Alfresco Disco’s Block Party event.

Using alluring camera angles and sublime technique, Marco encapsulates perfectly the supreme verve and high-energy from the ravers as well as the dark, grungy feel of UK clubs associated with underground music.

With pulsing and dynamic tracks throughout such as Yushh’s - Touch Again Soon and Rello, Cando’s - Clutch and Manami’s own track, The 2000’s combined with Marco’s cinematic camera shots, the production is sophisticated and masterful - capturing Manami’s journey over the past year flawlessly.

Strolling through the streets of Bristol and a simulating a free backstage pass to several clubs, we see Manami playing alongside fellow DJ and good friend HAAI, browsing for new records in Bristol’s Idle Hands, practising her craft in the studio and even broadcasting her Hanami w/ Manami show, live on Noods Radio.

Digging beneath the surface, the film showcases her inspirations and how her surroundings have had an influence on her sound and musical direction. “I’ve been able to absorb so much good music in such a short space of time, and that’s because of the Bristol sound coming through, which is at the forefront of the UK techno scene at the moment.”

The absence of toxic competition between other Bristol-based members of the industry and the continuous support from peers is what has made the Psychology student, with no intention of pursuing music the roaring success she is today. Now working endlessly towards the release of new music, the film captures an authentic and truthful reflection of her musical prowess.

"You're creating a relationship, and the music becomes a bridge between you and the crowd. Creating that connection is a really incredible feeling."

Whilst their style of art may differ, what both Marco and Manami share is the majestic ability to create that visceral connection between the audience and their work, and are both set to become pioneers within their scene.