Mani

Fusing soul, pop, and electro with Gallic rock, Mani are a French quintet fronted by the voice behind one of the biggest dance anthems of the 2000s. Named after lead singer Mani Hoffman, who appeared on the Supermen Lovers’ 2001 smash “Starlight” and Jealousy’s 2006 hit “Lucy,” as well as composing the soundtrack for Frederic Berthe’s 2009 comedy RTT, the band formed in 2007. Backed by guitarist Pierre-Arnaud Crespeau, bassist Ben Durand, keyboardist Antoine Le Guern, and drummer Stanislas Augris, Hoffman originally decided to sign his new outfit to his former songwriting partner and ex-Jamiroquai member Toby Smith’s Angelic Union label, but following disagreements over their musical direction, the group left to join fan-funding initiative My Major Company instead. Produced by Tiery F (Estelle) and Veronica Ferraro (Ben l'Oncle Soul), their debut album, Heroes of Today, was released in 2012. ~ Jon O’Brien