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Artist Name: Manifest

Birth Name: Lavard Parks

Birth Place and Date: Freeport, Bahamas-May 1980

Official Bio

Lavard Parks, commonly known as ‘Manifest’, is a native of Nassau, Bahamas whose passion for quality music and audio engineering led him to pursue a career in the field.

Manifest’ exploits through hip hop music and digital recording has earned him four national awards, over twelve nominations, and a reputation that’s hard to match. His hands on approach to audio engineering while applying theoretical research have gained him clients from all over The Bahamas. In 2000 he founded the record label and studio, Dunamus Soundz Records. In just over five years the company has produced seven albums including Manifest’ personal projects, all of which include top quality music videos frequently viewed nationally. Just recently his unique idea of incorporating operatic style singing with hip hop and rock has caused him to hit the top of the charts among Bahamian artists. He has been applauded by many on the song ‘I Shall Rise’, in which popular soprano singer, Joann Callender, adds a rich operatic fusion unrivaled to anything produced in the region. All of these projects were recorded and mixed in the Dunamus Soundz Lab.

Manifest’ exertions are not limited to producing just hip hop, however, as his experiences lie in providing quality recording for all genres of music and audio needs. Dunamus Soundz Records employs the best software to date for audio engineering, a few of which include Pro Tools, Cubase SX + SL, Nuendo, Logic Platinum and Sonar. These programs are used around the world in most major studios as the number one digital recording mediums.

Manifest has toured and worked with persons out of California, Jacksonville, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas and New York. He is steadily gaining an exceptional reputation in these states and throughout the Caribbean.

Manifest’ immediate plans are to help other aspiring artists achieve their God given
purpose as he continues to develop the company and world-class studio of Dunamus
Soundz Records.

Exclusive Interview with GospelReggae.com

GR: How did you begin doing music?

Manifest: I began doing music in my mothers womb. It was my destiny. On a real though (As the artist) – it started in church where my brother and I would rap n stuff at the church talent events. Many times I shied away cuz of the thick crowds, but once I got older it became a hobby. Then it progressed to recording myself on my dads answering machine (The engineer), to owning my own DJ system to now my studio and record label.

GR: What is the most valuable lesson that you learned from your Mom or Dad growing up that you still apply today?

Manifest: To try and try again. One day you will succeed. These great words of hope leave me with only one hope for my future…. To survive against all odds.

GR: If you could share the stage with any Christian or secular artist in the world (living or dead) who would it be?

Manifest: hmmmm I’d have to say Jesus – His lyrics are dope. Secular I’d say Wyclef. That boy just plain talented and in some way shaped my style.

GR: I know that you have written a whole heap of songs in the past, but what's your favorite one? Now, if that is too hard for you to answer, then tell me this; if you spent 5 minutes with an avid reggae fan and only had enough time to play them one of your songs, which one would you play them?

Manifest: I’d say my favorite is wherever you go, from my second solo joint Parables – go download it now!!! Why, cuz it was written to my wife and that song just solid. Headbangers is also a fun one with that hype high flying rock beat….. Man that gets me high (in the Spirit). But if I had to let an avid reggae fan peep a joint it probably al be Never Give Up, my joint with Monty. Please go cop all of em now in the download section!!!

GR: Is there any song that you wrote in the past that you are embarrassed about? Anything that you wish you could make disappear?

Manifest: Oh ‘heaven’ yea. Almost my entire first album – Manifestival. I mean it’s a good album in all, better than most hip hop but I mean some of the lyrics to me is just like ahhh (My face is skinned now)! I mean peeps like the album in all, but I’ve grown so much since then.

GR: What were the last 5 CDs that you put in your disc changer?

Manifest: Ummmmm, Flame – Our World Fallen – good album, Everyday Process – disappointing joint, Six Pence Non The Richer, Delirious – the song Worthy & The Dunamus Lounge.

GR: Read any good books lately?

Manifest: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MUSIC BUSINESS by Donald Passman – man, I’ve been in that book since I got it in 2004, it never gets old too, it travels everywhere I go and advises me on every contract I get, everyday I see and learn something new, even if I’ve read it seven times before. Every artist should have this in his or her library.

GR: What's your favorite verse in the Bible and why?

Manifest: John 21:25 “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written”. Why? You read it – that al tell ya why!

GR: As Christians, God is of course our true inspiration, but beyond the generic response of "Jesus," what are your muses in your life (for lack of a better word)? For example, what are the people, places, or things that trigger a fresh musical idea and ultimately a new song for you?

Manifest: Just plain old life experiences, the way people treat me n stuff among other things causes me to write them hits over and over again!

GR: What’s the most embarrassing job that you have ever had?

Manifest: Dang, working construction for my father & being a delivery man smack in the middle of my career and when you show up stink n smelly, people recognize me as Manifest, mannn I hated that.

GR: Name one thing that fans do not know about you.

Manifest: Before being an artist, am a straight up business man…… I know my stuff.

GR: Name something personal that gives you great satisfaction.

Manifest: Forgetting the music and the business and just chillin’ with my wife Radel, watching ‘Fresh Prince; also when I read through the bible - am doing that again.

GR: What has been your lowest moment so far in life?

Manifest: Hmmm being broke hommie. Ein nuttin like that! Money answereth all things, well most things. So help me out by coppin a download or two lol.

GR: What is your philosophy of stage ministry? Is there any one message that you always want to leave with your audience?

Manifest: Yup, that they can see I gave it my all, weather I sing to 1 or 1,000,000 – I hit em HARD!!!!

GR: Can you name three things that you wish you knew when you first got started doing music?

Manifest: How to save, how to invest & mmmm how to save lol.

GR: What are the three things you enjoy most about touring? And least?

Manifest: Travel, experiencing new cultures, meeting people and networking and most of all seeing people come to Christ through ministry. The least, I don’t think there is nothing not to like about touring, well maybe beside the constant going & going & poor co-ordination from the event planners, but even in that comes something good, I know that I ein excepting they invite no mo.

GR: What is the best audience that you have ever played in front of?

Manifest: Youth Quake Live – Jacksonville & Hip Hop Fest – Bahamas

GR: What country would you tour (even if you didn’t get paid to perfom)?

Manifest: The entire Caribbean hommie, my peeps first.

GR: What goes through your mind before you go onstage at the average show?

Manifest: Let’s do this

GR: If you could whisper in the ears of youths aspiring to start a music ministry like yours, what would you say?

Manifest: Make every song from day one a hit. Put on the headphones with content to blow your own mind with the joint you about to do.

GR: Are you working on any future projects/releases that we should look out for?

Manifest: Yup ‘His Life His Mic’ my third solo – enough said. Keep peepin the web for updates, http://www.dunamussoundz.com

GR: Could you please give a message to the reggae fans that are reading this and would like to know more about your faith and who Jesus is to you?

Manifest: Jesus is everything to me, my father, my provider, healer man whatever you need him to be. I serve One God, and believe in the Trinity and the death, burial and resurrection of the soon coming King…. One

Ministry

To reach every creature through quality Music, Ministry and Technology.

“Every Life Counts”

Foundational Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9: 19-20

“Though I am free & belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law”

Discography

2007
THE DUNAMUS LOUNGE (Compilation)

2005
THE DUNAMUS BALL (Compilation)

2005
PARABLES –
THE SILENT STRUGGLES (Manifest)
WAY OF LIFE (Miff)

2004
THE MANIFESTIVAL – MUSIC FROM MY HEART
(Manifest)

2002
HEAD BANGERS – (Single)
THE NEW BREED (Compilation)

2001
UNDERGROUND SESSION (Compilation)