Black PomadeBlack Pomade is a DJ and producer whose journey spans Milan, Lisbon, and New York, shaping a sound deeply rooted in the NY disco scene and Chicago house pioneers. Founder of the RuĂnas collective and Whoopee parties, he blends analog synths, groovy basslines, and syncopated beats into sets that traverse house, disco, and acid, leaving dance floors buzzing with energy.From a pivotal residency at Lisbonâs MusicBox to stages across Europe and Asia, heâs shared the spotlight with legends like Hunee, Nicky Siano, and Josey Rebelle. His studio work includes releases on Last Forever Records, Rollover Milano, and Dig This Way, alongside his vinyl-only Manzo Edits series and a remix featured in Apple TVâs Platonic. With upcoming projects on Whoopee Rec and Wilson Records, Black Pomade continues to bridge eras and continents with a sound thatâs as timeless as it is forward-thinking.2025 sees Black Pomade touring. I talked to him about the tour and also got to talk about his acclaimed Manzo Edits series.Hi Christian. Tell us about your current tour. What kind of gigs are you looking most forward to. Are you going all new places? Are you returning to some venues? The tour is happening right now. I recently did a label showcase at Fred Records in Milan and played at Bluesquare, a fantastic new venue curated by Turbojazz. It was a special night with local legend Carloalberto, great energy all around. Next, Iâm heading to Lisbon, where Iâll be playing with Trol2000 at Mirari. Rodrigo (Trol2000) owns the incredible PeekabooRecords, a small but mighty record shop in Lisbon thatâs been a staple for me.Anything Goes | Rollover Edit Service Vol.7 by Rollover Milano RecordsOn February 1st, Iâll play at Duro De Matar for SuccoMĂĄximo, which is a showcase by my agency, Succo. Then Iâm back in New York on February 8th for my debut at CafĂ© Balearica a spot Iâm really excited about.Speaking of New York, I recently relocated there, so maybe thatâs something we could touch on. Itâs been such a vibrant and inspiring shift for me musically and personally.Black Pomade With Not So Black LatteYour music spans connections between Milan, Lisbon, and NYCâthree cities with rich musical histories. How do these cultural influences shape the vibe of your tracks, especially within the âManzo Editsâ series?âManzo Edits Vol. 4 by Manzo EditsAs for the influences on the ManzoEdits, theyâre definitely rooted in the Italian disco and Italo disco traditions, itâs what I grew up listening to, mostly thanks to my mom playing it while driving or cleaning the house. Itâs a bit of a guilty pleasure, even though my sound has evolved. Youâll still hear hints of that influence in my tracks.Lisbon, on the other hand, shaped my attitude and vibe. When I left Milan, I was a bit disillusioned with the scene there, it felt dry and posery. Lisbon had this raw, DIY energy at the time, with free parties popping up around old, cranky speakers that somehow had more soul than clubs with fancy setups. That casual, fun atmosphere really stuck with me, and I try to bring that into every set I play.As for NYC, itâs been a huge influence on me, even before I moved there. The birthplace of disco, the Paradise Garage, and the house scene⊠itâs such an inspiring musical legacy. Now that Iâm here, Iâm loving the mix of tradition and innovation. Whether itâs hearing legendary names play decades-spanning sets or discovering new scenes bubbling up, thereâs always something fresh. Each space, whether itâs a micro club in Manhattan, a warehouse in Bushwick, or a quirky spot in Greenpoint, brings its own flavor, and Iâm just starting to soak it all in as a newcomer. Itâs a bit overwhelming but also very inspiring.Iâve also got a couple of Manzo releases lined up for this year (vol 5 and 6) alongside a few digital freebies, no firm dates yet, but theyâre coming :)Just One Perpetti (Gigi Croccante Edit) by Gigi CroccanteHaving experienced such diverse musical landscapes, from Milan to Lisbon and now NYC, how do you think these influences will shape your future productions and the direction of Manzo Edits?This is a tough question :) Definitely, my time in Italy and Portugal has nudged me heavily towards the disco, fun, and cheeky side. It was also a moment where that kind of sound was very popular. My recent tour to Asia exposed me to a different soundâmuch more electronic and club-oriented. Then thereâs NYC which has a very diverse scene, where you can find anything on the spectrum, from the old-school disco vibe true to the original sound to more edgy, smoky warehouse parties, so I feel like Iâm sitting somewhere in the middle.Moving forward, Iâll focus much less on complex melodies and harmoniesâI want to be more minimalistic, focusing on the groove, on a bass and drum section that moves your body and hypnotizes your mind. Even the disco-friendly stuff will be more dubby, using fewer and shorter samples and stretching them as far as possible, with minimal exaggeration of builds and dropsâsomething much more subtle, underground, and club-friendly.Moreover, I definitely want to work more on originals. Edits are fun tools to put together, but I feel like I have much more to say when I build something from scratch.Thanks for chatting to Discoholics Anonymous, Christian!Check out more Black Pomade:SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/blackpomade Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/black.pomadeBandcamp: https://blackpomade.bandcamp.com
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