Experience

Indaba Music

• United States
• Musicians
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Co-founder, Executive Vice President; Artists and Community

  • Feb 2006 - Present

  Greater New York City Area Indaba Music (indabamusic.com) is a music technology platform which is the online home to a community of over 1.3M musicians worldwide, from emerging artists to Grammy Award winners. Indaba Music provides musicians with opportunities ranging from major artist remix competitions to licensing placements to consumer brand content programs. To date, Indaba Music campaigns have featured artists and brands including Usher, Chainsmokers, Christina Aguilera, Converse, Red Bull, The Roots, Snoop Dogg… Show more Indaba Music (indabamusic.com) is a music technology platform which is the online home to a community of over 1.3M musicians worldwide, from emerging artists to Grammy Award winners. Indaba Music provides musicians with opportunities ranging from major artist remix competitions to licensing placements to consumer brand content programs. To date, Indaba Music campaigns have featured artists and brands including Usher, Chainsmokers, Christina Aguilera, Converse, Red Bull, The Roots, Snoop Dogg, Sony Electronics, Peter Gabriel, Linkin Park, Yo-Yo Ma, Microsoft, Paul Simon, Bacardi, The NFL, Hertz, T-Pain, and over 500 others. In 2015, Indaba launched the Rubber Tracks Sample Library (converse.com/samplelibrary) in partnership with Converse - an ever growing online library of royalty free samples from world-class artists. To date, there are over 40,000 samples offered completely free. Indaba also operates IndabaSync, an online licensing platform that represents thousands of independent artist songs for sync placements in film, TV, video games, and commercials. Show less



Mantis Evar

• A&R Director

  • 1985 - 2018

  Worldwide A consummate A&R representative, Mantis owns and operates the Indaba Music Studio, a private 7 room recording facility in New York City and continues to work with emerging and world-class artists such as Wyclef Jean, Bootsy Collins and Vernon Reid. Including vast experience in marketing, sales, promotion and distribution, this 40-year music industry veteran has provided countless opportunities for thousands of music creators while mentoring scores of music industry business personnel. A NARAS… Show more A consummate A&R representative, Mantis owns and operates the Indaba Music Studio, a private 7 room recording facility in New York City and continues to work with emerging and world-class artists such as Wyclef Jean, Bootsy Collins and Vernon Reid. Including vast experience in marketing, sales, promotion and distribution, this 40-year music industry veteran has provided countless opportunities for thousands of music creators while mentoring scores of music industry business personnel. A NARAS voting member, Mantis has received 8 Grammy Award Certificates and is regarded as a well respected inspiration throughout the world-wide music community with musical dedications such as Where’s Mantis Evar? (Canada), Mantis (France) and Lord Mantis (Germany) all charting in their prospective territories. Show less



Bassist

• Musician

  • 1975 - 2018

  Worldwide A bassist since 1975, Mantis has performed live internationally including gigs with Stevie Ray Vaughan and Joey Defrancesco. Mantis has played in studios around the world with Vernon Reid, Melvin Davis and Twisted Sister founder, Jay Jay French as well as many others. Mantis uses Ampeg amplifiers and continues a 15-year endorsement with DR Strings.



Veritas Records - Harvard

• Board Of Advisors

  • 2003 - 2005

  Greater Boston Area Veritas Records is Harvard College's student-run record label which provides opportunities for students to perform and record their music, and get involved with music production. Veritas provides student musicians with the services of a professional record label at no cost, while offering unique opportunities to learn about the music industry. As a result of the successful Pub Nights event series in 2005 created and hosted by Veritas Records and Harvard Student Agencies, Harvard University… Show more Veritas Records is Harvard College's student-run record label which provides opportunities for students to perform and record their music, and get involved with music production. Veritas provides student musicians with the services of a professional record label at no cost, while offering unique opportunities to learn about the music industry. As a result of the successful Pub Nights event series in 2005 created and hosted by Veritas Records and Harvard Student Agencies, Harvard University invested millions of dollars to build a performance space, bar, and restaurant for students. The Queen's Head Pub thrives on Harvard's campus to this day. Show less



Blue Note Records

• Production Manager

  • 1998 - 2005

  Mantis transferred to Blue Note Records where his list of credits grew to include Joe Chambers, Ron Carter, Joe Lovano, Pat Martino and Chucho Valdes. A member of the team that signed Norah Jones, Mantis was afforded the opportunity to work many facets of the label beginning in the Sales Department, working closely with the A&R Team and publicists, eventually expanding to Production Management. Recipient of company's most prestigious employee award: Tower of Excellence Award. During a two-year… Show more Mantis transferred to Blue Note Records where his list of credits grew to include Joe Chambers, Ron Carter, Joe Lovano, Pat Martino and Chucho Valdes. A member of the team that signed Norah Jones, Mantis was afforded the opportunity to work many facets of the label beginning in the Sales Department, working closely with the A&R Team and publicists, eventually expanding to Production Management. Recipient of company's most prestigious employee award: Tower of Excellence Award. During a two-year residence at hallowed jazz shrine Village Vanguard, Evar recorded jazz greats such as Martial Solal, Greg Osby, Jim Hall, Bill Charlap, Bill Frisell, the Chucho Valdes Quartet and many others. Show less



Capitol Records

• Musicians
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Marketing Manager

  • 1992 - 1998

  Working for Capitol Records marketing, promoting and coordinating album releases, live performance and in-store appearance events with Beastie Boys, Butthole Surfers, Yoko Ono, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and many others. Liaison between Los Angeles Tour Marketing division and New York City Marketing department. Collect and distribute Soundscan figures, oversee expense reports.



Sam Ash Music

• Audio Consultant

  • 1987 - 1992

  New York City As audio consultant for Sam Ash Music, Mantis has designed and maintained sound systems for many New York City hotspots including the Limelight, Palladium and The Tunnel as well as live systems used by Metallica and Guns 'N' Roses. Consulting owners and designers of upgrades and recommendations ensuring optimal system performance. Producing the highest sale record in company history, Mantis designed multiple sound systems supporting the reelection campaign for President Omar Bongo of Gabon… Show more As audio consultant for Sam Ash Music, Mantis has designed and maintained sound systems for many New York City hotspots including the Limelight, Palladium and The Tunnel as well as live systems used by Metallica and Guns 'N' Roses. Consulting owners and designers of upgrades and recommendations ensuring optimal system performance. Producing the highest sale record in company history, Mantis designed multiple sound systems supporting the reelection campaign for President Omar Bongo of Gabon Africa. Show less



United States Marine Corps

• Non Commissioned Officer

  • 1982 - 1987

  A graduate of MCRD; Parris Island and meritoriously promoted to Non Commissioned Officer in charge of up to 150 personnel. Serving back to back West Pac's and participated in the overthrowing of the government and ousting of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. Holding a US Government Top Secret security clearance and qualified as a Rifle Expert and Pistol Marksman, Mantis completed Cold Weather Training, NCO Training and granted SCUBA Instructor status by National Association of… Show more A graduate of MCRD; Parris Island and meritoriously promoted to Non Commissioned Officer in charge of up to 150 personnel. Serving back to back West Pac's and participated in the overthrowing of the government and ousting of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. Holding a US Government Top Secret security clearance and qualified as a Rifle Expert and Pistol Marksman, Mantis completed Cold Weather Training, NCO Training and granted SCUBA Instructor status by National Association of Underwater Instructors upon successfully graduating Sea School at MCB, San Diego. Received Good Conduct Medal, Overseas Service Award and MSSG-13 Unit Citation by President Ronald Reagan. Honorable DD214. Show less



TKO Recording Studios

• General Manager

  • 1980 - 1982

  Maintained studio equipment. Book and configure studios to cater to client needs. Transition the closing of studio to live performance center.