Now that we have collectively gorged ourselves on turkey, booze, stuffing, all things pumpkin, and family induced shame…it’s time for a little magic to brighten your tryptophan dream-state.

This Saturday November 26th at SVT, Manateemann unleashes his hip hop magic on the world with the release of The Wizard Album. We sat down with the musical magician earlier this week to get the scoop on the party, the album and the man.

East Austinite: Who are you?

Manateemann: Michael Joplin A.K.A. Manateemann:  actor, dj, improviser, wizard

EA: How long have you been making music?

MM: I’ve been making music for 10 plus years and djing for about 6 years.  My shows always seems to end up being more performance art than a concert.  I used to have a glam rock band that morphed into a wrestling league, The Blue High Machine Mid Southern Wrestling Coalition.  We did that for 5 years off and on, and I still run into people that tell me they want to wrestle.  But alas… I’m getting older and I can’t take any more whiplash or other random rasslin’ injuries.  I used to dj regularly at the Hotel San Jose and Spiderhouse, but I have just returned from a year living in South Korea and have yet to secure any regular djing spot.  During my year abroad, I had plenty of time to finish this project.  I also do improv comedy with The Knuckleball Now and The Available Cupholders.  I’ve been known to act in a play from time to time as well.

EA: How would you describe your music?

MM: Wizardfresh

EA: Are you a solo act? Or do you have some kind of musical coven?

MM: On the album there are several guest mc’s, Monster Love (Ron Weisberg), Dollar Bill (Bill Stern), and the Berfday Boy (Johnny Walker) and my lady wizard Riskay (Megan Czapla) helps with her amazing vocal talent.  I had some of the tracks mastered by Prevolt (Chet Hirsch) from NYC.  I also have a dance crew that will be there at the release party, the Magic Wanda’s (Errin Delperdang, Kelly Hasandras, Olivia O’Hare).  As Dollar Bill and Monster Love both live out of state,  Berfday Boy will be my hype man and the Magic Wanda’s will be shaking their money makers.

EA: What kind of magic can you do, if you are in fact a wizard…

MM:  I’m a wizard of beats and rhymes.  I magically make love to your earhole.  We’re taking the definition of wizard to another level.  It’s much more broad.  Manateemann believes that when people are in their element doing what they love they are practicing their own forms of wizardry. We are all wizkidz.

EA: Will this album give me magical powers?

MM: This album is like living in middle earth with break-beats.  So yes, you should feel some residual powers being transferred through the speakers.

EA: Are you a fame whore, or are you happy just doing your stuff on the East Side?

MM: I’m a legend in my own mind.  What else is there?

EA: When is this event and what is happening at it?

MM: SVT, 9pm on Saturday! There will be keg beer and vodka drinks, a performance of the whole album with all sorts of magic and special effects then a dance party with yours truly on the wheels of steel and a copy of The Wizard Album.  All for only 5 bones.

EA: Why should we come? (I’m sure I have something better to do)

MM: You don’t have anything better to do.  It’s the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  You’re sitting at home eating leftovers probably.  Come out and get down.  Also, it’s an outrageous deal for your entertainment dollar.

EA: Are you like a cult and is this brainwashing?

MM: If there’s an owl at your house.. you just might be… a member in the guild of supreme wizardry

EA: How long have you been working on this album/cult following?

MM: It started with me and Berfday Boy about 5 years ago freestyling over some beats I made.  That’s when we came up with and recorded three of the hottest songs on the album.  I’ve talked about finishing it for a long time, and it took the seclusion of the far east to get the job done.

EA: Do you know Harry Potter?

MM: No but I’ve heard he has a tiny patronus.

EA: Anything else people need to know about you, your show, your cult, or your album?

MM:  I’ll quote the elite wizard master Bruce Lee “I use the way of no way, no limitation as my limitation.”

Kung fu, magic, music and booze all in one spot? Sign me up! Besides,  we all need a good booty shake to get rid of some of these turkey pounds. See you 9pm Saturday at SVT and see Manateemann work his magic, fatties!