London-based artists MANT have been catching all the right eyes of late with a brash ensemble of dance-floor weapons. The pair have featured to date on the likes of MTA Records and MadTech Records. The rising producers return with a fresh self-release this month. ‘Basil Plant’ is a bouncy bass-driven cut, which bridges the gap between tech house and techno. In addition to sharing an exclusive full premiere of the record, the guys took us on a mini-tour of all their favourite haunts in the English capital…
Franco Manca, Brixton Village
MANT started in Stockwell just up the road from Brixton. Our studio was there for a year or so, which meant we had literally bonkers amounts of good food and drink options 5 mins away. (Which has pros and cons tbh) The standard for us though was always Franco Manca. We’re both really into pizza, and this is one of the best. This branch is the first and best of the chain and is in a pretty old skool and varied covered market where you can buy some fish and a mop on your way home (although the area its gradually being gentrified). The staff are friendly and the pizza is next level.
Stone Cave, Dalston
If we’re playing in East London we’ll usually hit Stone Cave before the show. Its an epic Turkish restaurant that does all the stuff you’d expect, really well. Crazy good Baba Ganoush. The restaurant is made to look like a cave inside and if you go at the right time of night theres a belly dancer. Its just down the road from The Nest club.
Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly
There’s always something new on at the RA and the vibe there is good, so its a good place to go for a bit of culture and inspiration. They recently had a massive Ai Weiwei exhibition. The other bonus is theres a hidden little underground members bar there which we sometimes drop in on if we’re in that area, and it isn’t rammed like a lot of the pubs nearby.
Soho
One of the best parts of London really, its still got loads of character and soul. There’s literally about 20,000 pubs. Actual record shops too, independent ones. Loads of good coffee and food. Basically its where we’ll end up if we’re in central for any reason. You can go there in the morning for a meeting and the next thing you know you’re in Soho House and its 1am, without ever having left the area.
The Electric, Notting Hill
There’s a lot of good cinemas in London, but The Electric is the one. The vibe in there is epic, sofas, arm chairs, a bar, and they’ll bring you burgers to your seat. It’s basically a cinema, but better.
MANT – Basil Plant (+ Transcode Remix) is out September 9th, 2016.
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