Man Power is a DJ and producer from the North Eastof England who is frustratingly hard to pin down for the purposes of a convenient DJ Bio. In the 10 years plus since the project first burst into prominence through an initial string of cult releases and high profile mix tapes in 2014 Man Power has managed to pursue a path that has been defined by its polarity.
It might feel easy to pinpoint the artist as releasing on some Dance Music’s biggest labels (DFA / Rekids / dHypercolour), playing its most prestigious parties (Panorama Bar, Glastonbury, Printworks) and appearing on its biggest platforms (The Essential Mix, The RA Podcast, or his Rinse FM residency), however it’s just as true to say that he’s an artist who keeps things resolutely underground and grass roots, working with some of Club Culture’s most underground imprints, supporting unknown grass roots parties and offering behind the scenes support and mentorship to newcomers and breakthrough artists.
Musically it would be just as tempting to pinpoint his output in Techno and House music as being a defining characteristic of his artistry, but it would be just as easy to approach things from another direction and focus on his albums as an ambient and experimental artist, his symphonic Orchestral composition, or his mercurial approach to DJing which seeshim draw on the widest range of disparate music that can be danced to from the last six decades and more.
Ultimately it would seem Kirkwood’s refusal to be tied down to being just one thing has been a major contributing factor to his ability to maintain a consistent high level global touring career for such a prolonged period of time, and it would seem easier to focus on those poles that seem consistent across his oeuvre and the pleasingly contrary ways he can marry what seems serious, precise and poignant, alongside that which feels absurd, chaotic and made up on the spot. Man Power is never going to become the worlds most famous or successful DJ, but for those who value sincerity and uniqueness he may still become their favourite.
