Super-Star Entertainer, MANIKA Dishes On Her Sizzling New Single And Much More!

Las Vegas native MANIKA (pronounced Ma-NEE-ka), quietly dropped her new music video “I Might Go…”, featuring rapper Tyga, and quickly generated an impressive 400,000+ views — and scaling.

The tongue-in-cheek track, which debuted #35 on the Top 40 Nielsen Billboard Indicator chart, and is currently #60 at Rhythmic and #65 at Pop Top 40 and climbing on the published Mediabase charts, humorously teases the idea that she might go lesbian as she lists her many frustrations with men. The ever-charismatic Tyga steps in saying he’s a one-on-one kind of man, in an effort to close the gap, creating a sizzling display of romantic tension.

“Manika is the homegirl.  She’s talented and genuine.  She asked me to jump on this track and we made some magic.  The video is crazy too.”  –TYGA 

“Tyga absolutely shut it down with his feature rap in my song!  He is super sweet and talented.  I really appreciate all the time and effort he put into this song and music video.  …I was pretty bold with this song and video…kissing, heartbreak, torture, romance.  Whereas it is not a choice who you are attracted to, for those of us who are attracted to both men and ladies, it’s our choice which (or both!) we want to be with.”  —MANIKA

The singer, rapper, songwriter, record producer, reality-TV-show host and published author, was first discovered by Michael Jackson’s long-time manager Frank DiLeo.  Manika wrote and co-produced “I Might Go…,” which is now spinning at Top 40 and Rhythmic Radio.  Her previous single “B.Y.O. Bugatti” hit #12 on the U.S. Billboard Sales chart.

Manika recently performed on the main stage of MGM’s Wine Amplified Festival in Las Vegas.  She performed her songs in major Las Vegas nightclubs such as Hakkasan at MGM and Light at Mandalay Bay.  In prior years, she performed at KISS-FM’s Wango Tango and did an entire summer tour opening for One Direction. Additionally, she has headlined Pepsi’s “Shop ’Til You Rock Tour” and one of her performances was streamed to 200,000 people and 650 movie theaters through Fathom Events.  Manika is hosting the reality TV show Global Beauty Masters to air on the TLC TV network this winter.

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Purchase the single on iTunes here: http://hyperurl.co/ManikaTygaIMightGo

Learn more about Manika in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time! How was your summer? What’s a typical day look like for you lately?

I love summer time!  Even though it gets way too hot like 120 degrees here in Vegas! (Laughter) 😛  My schedule has been a pretty hectic combo of filming (I’m hosting a new reality TV series airing on TLC this winter), rehearsals (I just performed at Wine Amplified Music Festival at MGM Las Vegas and have some more gigs coming up)  and press (for my new single and music video that has just been released “I Might Go Lesbian (feat. Tyga)”).

Growing up, did you always want to be a performer? Can you recall your earliest musical memory?

I have always felt most comfortable on stage.  The earliest I can remember was in pre-school.  I would not talk to anyone; I was too shy.  But when I was onstage (for instance at the preschool student holiday concerts) I was comfortable, full of energy and would not shut up! (Laughter) 😛

How do you think being from Vegas has influenced you as an artist? What is the music scene like in Las Vegas? Do you ever think about moving to LA?

I actually lived in Los Angeles for a few years when my music career had just started.  I decided to move back to Las Vegas because Vegas is my home.  I love it here!  I love the people here, the ambiance, everything.  When I do need to travel to LA for certain things, it’s only an hour flight over 😉  Las Vegas has a huge music scene.  Snoop Dogg, Imagine Dragons, Britney Spears are just a few of my favorite artists out here.

Can you talk about the book you wrote at only 15 years old? What is “The Exciting Adventures of Boo” about? Do you still write at all today?

I have always loved children and animals!  Probably has something to do with owning numerous dogs, cats, birds, rabbits hamsters and having 3 little brothers and twenty-something cousins.  I started writing the book when I was 12.  I wrote down the most important lessons I had learned growing up so far.  There were over a hundred of them.  And I narrowed it down to the ten I thought were most important for children ages 2-12 and created ten stories in which the main character, a dog named Boo, goes through the exciting adventures of life and learns these lessons.  From when I was 15 to 17, I would go around to charity events, sell my book, and eventually raised $15K to donate to the ASPCA Animal Shelter.  I also toured inner city schools and gave free writing workshops to children and educated them about the ASPCA (serving as their teen spokesperson).  I am working right now on a second book!

What was the inspiration for your single “I Might Go Lesbian”?

I was pretty bold with this song… I took inspiration mostly from my own dating experiences and some from my closest friends’.  The story is pretty much all there in the lyrics of the song no holding back this time 😉  I’ve encountered too many jerks of guys in my life… heartbreakers, liars, cheaters.   Whereas I’ve encountered so many fabulous souls of women.  Plus us ladies are pretty damn sexy too 😉  I definitely do not think it is a choice on who you are attracted to.  But for us people who are attracted to both men and ladies it’s our choice which (or both!) we want to pursue/be in a relationship with.  I think a lot more people than come out to it are attracted to both (or more) sexes, but because of the pressures of society sometimes don’t pursue all their attractions.  I think artists like Miley Cyrus, who are leading the open sexuality and love who you love movement are great!  I hope this will give people more confidence and reassurance to be themselves in their sexuality and know that there are so many people out there who will not judge but embrace them!

What was it like working with Tyga on it?

I’ve always been a huge fan of Tyga’s work!  One of my favorite songs of all time is his “Rack City”… but now I’d have to say my favorite song of his is “I Might Go Lesbian (feat. Tyga)” verse 2 (his verse by the way LOL)… as he absolutely shut it down with his feature rap in my song! 😛  He is super sweet and talented.  I really appreciate all the time and effort he put into this song and music video 🙂

Can you remember first being discovered by Michael Jackson’s longtime manager, Frank DiLeo?

Yes! I was so nervous!  I remember the first time I met Frank.  He had seem some of my videos I posted of me performing my music online, and flew down to Las Vegas to meet with my family and me when I was 17.  He told me he wanted to take me under his wing and become my manager!  I then moved to LA to break into the music industry under his guidance.

What do you attribute to the success of your previous single “B.Y.O. Bugatti”?

My last single “B.Y.O.Bugatti” was my first single to chart on the Billboard sales chart and it peaked at number 12 on US Billboard Sales Chart!  I feel so fortunate to be able to do what I love and share my music with everyone.  I am so thankful to all my amazing fans and everyone who supported this single to make this possible!  I attribute my success to them 🙂

You’ve been performing at a lot of big name events lately. What’s been a favorite show of yours? What makes a perfect show experience for you?

My recent performance at Wine Amplified music festival at MGM Las Vegas was so much fun! Definitely one of my favorite shows of mine.  A perfect show experience makes everyone in the audience feel included.. it’s big and fun.. like one giant party!!  This Manika concert was out of this world!  I had fire throwers, pole dancers, live snakes, dancers, painters, brake dancers, ball balancers, stilt walkers, hand balancers, DJ, percussion player… it was definitely one giant party!  And several audience members even went home with party favors 😛

What was it like touring with One Direction? Did you get to spend much time with the guys?

It was such a surreal experience!  Touring and performing in different cities every night in sold-out arenas!  One Direction are super sweet, talented, hard working guys 🙂  It was also really fun getting to know them.  They were all supportive of my music too, especially Niall!  He would watch my concert from backstage and from the concert stream feed.  And we would love to watch Olly together too 🙂

Who are some of your favorite artists? Who would you love to work with in the future?

Tyga has been on my dream collaboration list for a while!  I was so excited when his management approached mine to collab!  I also love Eminem, Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, Aerosmith to name a few 😉

What do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope listeners take away from your songs?

I hope it can help people vent with things they are going through.  I hope it can help them party when they want to party.  I just feel so fortunate and thankful to my amazing fans for allowing me to do what I do 🙂 I also hope my boldness and not-holding-back approach to my songwriting can help others feel confident to freely be themselves.  That’s what I do in my music.  I get super personal and vulnerable in my music.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers about yourself or your music?

Thank you everyone for supporting me and taking me and my music to where it is today 🙂  Check out my new music video for “I Might Go Lesbian (feat. Tyga)” and request it at your favorite radio stations.  Also be on the look-out for my tour dates and the new reality tv-series I’m hosting airing on TLC this winter!

Check in on my official website: ManikaOfficial.com for all things Manika 😀  Love you guys!  And thanks All Access for chatting with me! 😀