Whatever. - Manny Ward, Rissa Garcia & Ruez, Todd Fatjo

Who they are

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  Manny Ward

  Pennsylvania · 14 bookings since Sep 2023 · Nervous Records rooftop house

  “Manny Ward has always been around music, as most musicians are.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  Manny Ward has always been around music, as most musicians are.  As luck would have it, he grew up with a Mom who’d send him out to buy records for her many house parties because he had a knack in finding great music that was not always charted.  His stepdad produced R&B and Soul for artist like Jocelyn Brown, and Evelyn Champagne’ King. His step dad brought him out to his first club experience at the Funhouse in NYC.  Then there was the fateful meeting with the Godfather of House; Frankie Knuckles in the early 90s who took Manny under his wing and launched his DJ career in NYC. Through these journeys of following music, from DJ-ing when he was in the military at base parties, to playing along side Frankie Knuckles at New York’s famous Roxy, Sound Factory Bar, Tunnel, and regular gigs at Stereo in Montreal, to eventually producing his own remixes and tracks. Some of them now cult classics. This Staten Island boy saw a dream realized.  Then this prolific talent left the industry for a few years only to be returned at the request of his friends/teachers Angel Moraes, Danny Tenaglia, and David Morales. This made him realize this was his calling.  And thank goodness he did return.   This second phase of his career has seen many more milestones as he ramped up his production skills with notable remix opportunities.  He has been able to collaborate with many talented producers and musicians, including Celeda, Lula, and DJ Gomi, with whom he reintroduced legendary Sandy B with new original music written by all three. “Resilience” was the result and has graced many DJ charts and on Hector Romero’s 2019 Weaving Genres compilation. In the Fall of 2017, he was asked by the legendary Nona Hendryx to remix a single off of her new album with Soul Clap.  He enlisted long-time friend, Curtis Atchison (Midnight Society) to help out, with whom he had recently collaborated on a floor banger “Big Mouth” on Twisted Records.    That Fall, Retrotech was born. This partnership has proven fruitful as a DJ duo as well. They were given several remix opportunities in 2018. Black Stereo Faith (Ultra Naté & Quentin Harris), Lenny Kravitz, Nenah Cherry, Stevie Nicks, and Kiwi Dreams and much more to come. Incidentally, Kravitz’ “Low” became his first #1 Dance on Billboard.  Manny has continued doing solo work putting out a single with remixes on DJ Pierre’s Afro Acid Records in 2019, which was getting recognition by DJ’s such as Danny Tenaglia before it even came out! In between, he’s also been busy DJ-ing, criss-crossing the country, and a regular participant at ADE in Amsterdam, and N Y’s legendary party Birdcage.  With everything going on, be sure to keep a watch on Manny’s next move because it will be nothing but delightful and surprising. Contact info: DJMannyward.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manny.ward https://www.facebook.com/MannyWard.dj/ Instagram:@MannyWard Sent from my iPhone RETROTECH: Retrotech is Manny Ward and Curtis Atchison. The name comes from a party the duo created for which they and their guest DJ’s could play music that reflected their love of dance music, old and new. Previous to this collaboration, each had and still maintain an active DJ-ing schedule, as well as an impressive discography as producers. Friends for well over 20 years, they decided to work on a track together back in 2015 entitled “Big Mouth” released on Twisted Records to very good success. After that, they knew their collaborative efforts just meshed well and that the end-product was a sound that was uniquely theirs. Their talent was not lost when remix opportunities included Nona Hendryx, Black Stereo Faith, Lenny Kravitz, Neneh Cherry, Kiwi Dreams, Ultra Nate, Stevie Nicks to name a few were presented to them. In October 2018, Lenny Kravitz hit the top of the Dance charts for the first time with “Low”, for which they contributed a house remix in the release. This past NYC World Pride their remix of the newly visited dance music anthem classic “Free” by Ultra Nate was debuted in NYC to rave reviews.
  Their RA profile lists King Street Sounds, Nervous Records and SoundGroove Records.

  Recently at Good Room, The Office, The Keep · often with Peter Napoli, Riccardo Tavarez, Eric Umble, none of them here that night

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  Rissa Garcia

  New York City · 28 bookings since Aug 2023

  “Rissa Garcia is a celebrated New York house DJ, producer, and NightChild Records label boss, widely regarded as a driving force within NYC's underground dance music scene.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  Rissa Garcia is a celebrated New York house DJ, producer, and NightChild Records label boss, widely regarded as a driving force within NYC's underground dance music scene. Influenced by her Staten Island upbringing and the legendary atmosphere of clubs like Vinyl, where Danny Tenaglia's sets captivated her, Rissa’s career has been shaped by a deep connection to House Music. That moment of discovery remains her "Paradise Garage" spark, fueling her passion for crafting immersive experiences on dance floors across the city and beyond. Over nearly two decades, Rissa has earned her place among the greats, sharing decks with icons such as Danny Tenaglia, Tony Humphries, Danny Krivit, Kenny Dope, and TODD TERRY, among others. Praised for her ability to seamlessly blend house, funk, soul, classics, and beyond, her sets reflect a nuanced mastery designed to move bodies and unite spirits. As the founder of "Dancing Room Only," Rissa champions authentic club culture, crafting spaces where the music takes center stage and the crowd reconnects. Her ethos is simple yet powerful: put the phones down, feel the beat, and dance together. Her work with NightChild Records, relaunched in 2018, showcases her commitment to advancing house music’s artistry. With a catalog approaching 100 releases—including collaborations with legends like Todd Terry—her label has become a hub for soulful, high-quality productions. Her releases also appear on distinguished labels like Plastik People Recordings and Rhythm & Culture. Rissa’s talent has drawn accolades from peers and legends alike— King Britt called her "unreal," Tony Humphries hailed her as "an immense talent," and Danny Tenaglia praised her selections and mixing as "wonderful." A DJ, producer, event curator, and label head, Rissa Garcia is not just a standout artist; she’s an untapped gem whose dedication to NYC’s house music heritage continues to resonate globally.
  SoundCloud ↗Bandcamp ↗
  Deep House on 10, House on 9, Tech House on 3 and Nu-Disco on 1. styles on their catalogued releases

  Released on NightChild Records (2), Bambossa Records (1) and LW Recordings (1); their RA profile also lists King Street Sounds, Seta Label, Fresh Meat Records, InHouse Records and 4 more. labels on their catalogued releases and on their RA profile

  Recently at Good Room, House of Yes, Superior Ingredients · often with James Anthony, Orson, NIGELTHREETIMES, none of them here that night

• Ruez

  5 bookings since Feb 2024 · Loft-lineage NYC house

  Last at Good Room in Feb · often with USERONLY, Sean Cormac, Sandy Rivera, none of them here that night

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  Todd Fatjo

  New York City · 18 bookings since Aug 2023

  often with Pjay, DJ Courtney K, Giovani, none of them here that night