Ahead of a massive summer, Manila Killa is proud to reveal his newest single “Desire” featuring Madi, set to drop on June 23rd.
“Desire” alongside recent singles “Dusk,” “Take Me Higher,” and “Dark Places” are part of Manila Killa’s highly-anticipated debut album Dusk, which is due later in mid July. The accompanying Dusk national headlining tour will be his most ambitious to date, kicking off on September 16th at the legendary Bluebird Theater in Denver, Colorado. For tickets and more info on the tour, head here.
“With ‘Desire,’ I wanted to showcase a darker, moodier, emotional side of my production. I started with some lush piano chords which I wanted to contrast with a deeper, grittier electronic-driven drop. The pieces began to fall into place when Madi sent me the initial vocal demo she wrote over it. She wrote about leaving something very unhealthy, which can be applied to any sort of situation, whether it be a relationship or a part of life. It’s the feeling of a newfound freedom that she focused on, which translated into trusting your gut even if leaving the situation is deemed bittersweet. The song is intimate yet powerful, and I hope that everyone who listens can relate and understand what we were going for.” ~ Manila Killa
Setting the stage for his pièce de résistance out next month, “Desire” expands Manila Killa’s identity as it delves into another subset of his musical styles and techniques.
Immaculate production and intricate sound design are on dazzling display in the LA-based producer’s latest, with MADI’s vocals taking center stage. “Desire” is a vivid, heartfelt depiction of relatable human emotions, the feeling of breaking free from an unfavorable situation and the bittersweet nature of saying goodbye. The juxtaposition between MADI’s soft, heartfelt vocals and Manila Killa’s deliberately aggressive bassline make for a truly dynamic single that gives listener’s a further glimpse into his creative and artistic state of mind.
Surveying the wonders of cultures from across the globe, Chris Gavino, best known as Manila Killa is a well-traveled producer inspired by his cross-continental upbringing. A now decorated producer with an expansive repertoire of accolades, Manila Killa cut his musical teeth as a high schooler in The Philippines by combining self-taught Ableton lessons with a penchant for electronic music.
Guided by emotion-driven soundscapes and the connective nature of melodic dance music, Manila Killa excels at synthesizing the foundations of human passion. In 2014, he formed the successful house duo Hotel Garuda and co-founded his own independent record label Moving Castle which has since housed acts like Robokid, Slow Magic, Khamsin, and many more.
Since his departure from Hotel Garuda in 2018, Manila Killa refined his solo craft with his 2019 debut EP 1993 which garnered praise from media heavyweights like Billboard, Forbes, and Ones To Watch adding to a laundry list of critical acclaim joining tastemakers like Complex, Paper, and NYLON. With official remixes for Chvrches, The Knocks, Tegan and Sara, and performances at festivals like Firefly, Ultra Miami, Electric Zoo, 88rising’s Head in the Clouds, and more, Manila Killa is defined in equal parts as a producer, performer, and in-demand collaborator. Dedicated to the consciousness of contemporary dance music, Manila Killa is distilling years of passionate experience and expertise to unveil his debut album in the summer of 2022.
Manila Killa’s North American Dusk Tour starts off in the Southwest on September 16th at Bluebird Theater in Denver, Colorado. Performing further along in Chicago, Detroit, Massachusetts, and a stop in Toronto, Canada, Manila Killa concludes his tour as he makes the last few stops in Pennsylvania, New York, a hometown show in DC, then wrapping in Texas, followed by his two largest shows, The Fox in Oakland, and wrapping in Los Angeles at the Novo. For the full tour schedule, see below:
