Strong words with Mano Le Tough
WE CAUGHT UP WITH mano for a few quick words ahead of his sold out show at fidelity studio this saturay
What was the turning point that made you realise music could be your full-time path?
There wasn’t so much a single turning point as a series of moments. When I started producing, I put the first tune I made on Myspace and Tensnake found it and wanted to release it. Then, when I moved to Berlin, I was accepted into the Red Bull Music Academy, which was pretty life-changing. I was always confident in a way, but I still couldn’t have dreamed of how far music would take me. I’ve been really lucky.
Are you working on a new album?
I am always working on new stuff but I’m also currently building a new house and studio so that’s taking up quite a lot of my mental bandwidth recently.
This year has been more about remixing and DJing but I can't wait to make an album in the new space!
If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?
I’d love to collaborate with Fontaines DC.
What’s your take on why Irish music, and culture in general is having a “moment”?
It seems like Irish people are more self confident and comfortable in our sense of self nowadays. The doubts of previous generations aren't so prevalent now especially when there are so many examples of Irish people having massive success in the arts worldwide.
When Irish kids see actors, bands, djs, designers etc achieving big things at the highest levels i guess its easier to believe they can do it too.
tell us about Passion Beat?
It's a label and occasional party series. We just had one in Berlin which was mega!
Given today’s landscape, would starting your career now make it harder or easier for your music to reach an audience?
I think it's easier to make music that sounds good now and it’s also easier to reach people via social media but there is also more competition and noise. Good music is like life, it always finds a way.
And overall do you feel about the state of dance music in 2025, particularly the speed at which tracks come and go?
It can seem like tunes have a shorter shelf life and that the culture is constantly accelerating as attention spans diminish but great music always lasts.
How did it feel to play B2B with Erol Alkan at Phonox, given how much he inspired you early on?
Yeah it was super cool, Erol is a gent and someone I have so much respect for. He was iconic when I was a kid and has always marched to the beat of his own drum.
For anyone unfamiliar, what’s the story behind the name Mano Le Tough?
I was in a band with my friends called hang tough when we were quite young. We moved into a house together to make music but the first weekend we had a party and continued having parties, the band did not survive this. The house became known as hang tough and as I needed a dj name at the time, I took my nickname Mano and added Le Tough from the band name and here we are 20 years later.
What do your kids make of what you do for a living?
They think it's normal. they were excited to see me play at a charity event recently but I played after a trad band with ten people on stage so they thought what I was doing was quite boring in comparison.
You’ve lived in Dublin, Berlin, Meilen, and now Greystones — how much does your environment seep into your music?
Yeah completely - my music is always quite autobiographical and representative of different stages of my life and places where I live.
Backlash or Electric City?
BACKLASH forever.
Even though the show is sold out, why should someone who came to the last show at Fidelity come to this one?
I feel like I understand the place a bit more so I think this time will be even better!
Finally, have you selected your jumper for the gig yet?
I have a few options depending on temperature.
mano le tough plays Fidelity Studio Friday 17 October
We spoke to Mano on Wednesday 10th September 2025.
Interview by Jon Averill. Gig photography by Ruth Medjber.