Man Made Time

The one thing guaranteed to make an EQ break out a mile wide smile, is when an out-of-the-box thinking new act becomes known to us. To be quite serious now, it makes us really sit up and tune in!

With cookie cutter pop on tap in abundance all fighting for a piece of mainstream action, it’s the acts which commit themselves to going out left-of-field, that invariably enrich our music palettes by their cutting edge diversification alone. In so much, that they stand out from the pack and leave a new sonic imprint in our minds.

As, when you’ve been music blogging as long as we have, it’s moments of discovery like this which really are our state of nirvana.

LA based pop duo Man Made Time are the reason for our intensified goosebumps break-out today, as we clearly note them to be, an intuitive partnership at work, fully complementing each other in each individuals work strengths. They really do appear to be intrinsically honed in to the cause, together.

Singer/songwriter/producer Hillary Grace and Albert Babanian (synth/songwriter/producer) have awoken our senses with a future sound served of their forward thinking creative direction. A sonic template cut heavy from the percussion section set aside placement of esoteric electronic undertones from Albert, providing a fitting sonic dancefloor for Hillary’s otherworldly gilded vox to dance upon to its fullest potential.

A fine example of this comes in current single “Sail Away” which is lifted off of their newly released self-titled EP effort.

Backing up their strong electronic met identity, as Man Made Time. Hillary and Albert utilize a visual backdrop of lucid imagery and soft lighting to bring out the song narrative to the fore. This being a message of standing proudly away from convention and marching to the beat of their own drum as seen via the accompanying visual below.

We like what’s going on in their mindset as much as the diverse electronic pop approach they serve here.

Would we like to go in for some more? I think we’re up for that as feel, we could quite be in this left-of-field sonically defined world with Man Made Time for the long run.

EQ is happy to present to you the full EP stream EXCLUSIVE below.

Take delight in these alternative electronic pop nuggets one by one. As each track throws up a little cheery element of diversified surprise of its own.

We’re not so much sticking our neck out but are calling it, you are now looking at and listening to a new EQ favourite. - Rajj

LA based pop duo Man Made Time are happy to announce that they will be performing at LA’s Globe Theatre on March 24th. They just released the video for their first single “Sail Away”.Watch SAIL AWAY Video

Man Made Time discusses their video. “To us, the video for “Sail Away” signifies a live performance and interpretation we feel best represents the track and lyrics. Director Mr. Margos achieved this feeling by shooting our multi angle live performance in downtown Los Angeles while integrating projection screens of lucid objects (distant colors, cosmic shapes, clouds, strobe light illuminations) and computer animated imagery. The words written on walls in the video are taken from the song, attempting to represent thoughts inside a persons head. We love the result and feel it captures the mood we set out to create in the song. “Sail Away” is about a feeling of freedom and confidence one can achieve when proudly marching to the beat of their own drum.”

The duo comprised of Hillary Grace (singer/songwriter/producer) and Albert Babanian (synth/songwriter/producer) draw from their 80’s and 90’s pop rock backgrounds. Utilizing Hillary’s soulful voice and Albert’s tribal beats, they create a modern day sound that’s unique yet nods to the mainstream. They’ve performed at notable LA venues such as Hotel Café, House of Blues Sunset, Couture, Bardot just to name a few, as well as music festivals such as the Mesa Music Festival and this year’s upcoming Venice Wave Fest.

“Sail Away” is off of Man Made Time’s self-titled EP due scheduled for release on April 8th. - RJ Frometa

They’re called Man Made Time and they are among the brightest new lights on the L.A. indie scene – that would by guy/gal synth pop duo Man Made Time, aka vocalist Hillary Grace and instrumentalist Albert Babanian. Their self-titled debut EP drops this week (April 8) and in advance of that release they have unveiled a video via the Huffington Post. Here’s “Sail Away”: - Blurt Staff

Man Made Time is an up & coming indie pop duo from Los Angeles, CA. They just released there self titled EP Man Made Time, which has been getting great reviews! Listening to this EP, you can't help but embrace this new style of music. The duo is made up of Los Angeles natives Hilary Grace & Albert Babanian, who brings up the new style of music to listen to. This EP embodies the evolution of pop music in the 21st century, with its futuristic persona.

“Dancing in the dark with nobody by my side/ after trying to get you to see me in the light,” Man Made Time’s Hillary Grace croons on their newly released single, Sail Away, as Albert Babanian provides an almost ethereal electronic tune that somehow has listeners instantly tapping along to the beat. Along with Sail Away, their self-titled EP includes 4 other songs, including Crashing Down & Voices. Following in the footsteps of Sail Away, the other tracks on the EP are filled with Graces’s enchanting, melodic vocals and Babanian’s electric tunes. The duo's strongest moment comes in the chorus of the final track Dalia, where you literally can’t help but nod your head and hum along. Although their EP clearly establishes their sound, never do the tracks become repetitive. The lush sounds and beats provide the perfect soundscape for the vocals, and Grace’s melodies and knack for catchy hooks consistently sound fresh throughout the first listen of Man Made Time’s self-titled EP.

They also released a fresh, eccentric new visual for there hit single for Sail Away back in October. The video is greatly edited & unique in its own fashion. This visual portrays exactly how the EP is eclectic & new! You can view the video on YouTube which now has well over 2,000 views. This group is also all over social media, you can follow them here on Instagram @manmadetime. But guess what, we did not leave you hanging, you can listen to there EP below on Soundcloud. These unique characteristics of this duo mastermind as the driving force behind a new electronic pop sound that will only become more popular in time. So don't let this EP leave your ears, don't forget about Man Made Time, this duo will sure bring more good music in the near future! - The Moon Walker

It makes sense to call Man Made Time a "synth-pop" act, but the over-broad label does the Los Angeles duo a disservice.

In 2016, "synth-pop" conjures something of a contrived retro sound, a new-generation 1980s act that perhaps too desperately aims to recreate a time that can't genuinely be recreated.

Man Made Time doesn't sound dated as much as it sounds timeless on its self-titled debut. Hillary Grace and Albert Babanian concoct a quirky atmosphere on the too-brief, five-track EP, her high and exuberant voice soaring over his manic beats to create a fresh and kinetic blast of sound.

Grace's crisp vocals grab attention, whether she soars into the opening track "Sail Away" to sing about, "Dancing in the dark with nobody by my side," or to complain about a love-hate relationship on "Body and a Heart," though she also notes, "All I know is you get me so high."

Yet even though she consistently rates interest, Babanian is busy, really busy, at work creating all manner of percussive, synthesized nuance. There's the essence of both a xylophone and a reedy instrument on single "Sail Away," and the tandem of slapping beat and introspection conspire for a "Voices" that is part New Age, part alt-dance. Meanwhile, "Body and a Heart" contrasts honking synth jabs, chunky percussion and chiming notes, and the crackling churn of "Crashing Down" is offset by a vibes-inspired ambience as Grace assumes a calmer intonation and a chorus hitched to the line, "Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, we're always crashing down."

However, on closer "Daila," Babanian's enthusiastic instrumentation doesn't steal focus from Grace, who absorbs his energy for her strongest lyrical stand: "Eyes are open for the first time, I can see the colors bright/All the feelings running through my veins, I'm hoping this is right."

It's right, all right. - Chuck Campbell

According to Man Made Time...

“To us, the video for ‘Sail Away’ signifies a live performance and interpretation we feel best represents the track and lyrics. Director Mr. Margos achieved this feeling by shooting our multi angle live performance in Downtown Los Angeles while integrating projection screens of lucid objects—distant colors, cosmic shapes, clouds, strobe light illuminations—and computer animated imagery.

“The words written on walls in the video are taken from the song, attempting to represent thoughts inside a persons head. We love the result and feel it captures the mood we set out to create in the song. ‘Sail Away’ is about a feeling of freedom and confidence one can achieve when proudly marching to the beat of their own drum.” - Mike Ragogna

I saw MMT in a showcase club in Hollywood a couple of months ago. They followed a band I had been there to review and I decided to hang around for the second act (or third - I think they were the 9 pm show). They blew me away. I am used to female/male duos and how they can use the different voice timbres and instrumentalities to weave complex songs, but Hillary Grace and Albert James Babanian, took it to a new level. Their songs are all original and unique, yet they have a commercial feel . You could hear them on top 40 or in a Hollywood or Vegas club. Their love is 80's and 90's pop rock and it shows, plus something primitive, even as it is sophisticated - we will have to ask them how they pull that one off.

Both Hillary and Albert grew up in musical families and listened to music constantly while growing up, so they both had ta similar music background and they were both steeped in melodic sounds driven by tribal catchy beats. But they developed their talents and their styles separately - they did not know one another until hanging out with mutual friends threw them together at outings and dinners. They realized they had very smilier musical/life influences and decided to try collaboration. After a few experimental jam session in the parking lot of a coffee shop (that must have been fun!) the two decided to take their musical endeavor into the studio to see what could/would happen. They liked what they did. I like what they do. and you will love it. - Patrick O'Heffernan

Emotive, dreamy electro pop is just part of the mystique of the track, “Sail Away,” the lead single from the Los Angeles duo Man Made Time‘s debut EP, which will officially drop on April 8th. The video for the track officially introduces the duo to music lovers around the world.
Hillary Grace and Albert James Babanian‘s sound and style is inspired by their backgrounds with 80’s and 90’s pop rock, having both grown up in musical families. So it was not much of a leap for the two young musicians who are now posed to bring their blossoming talents to the dynamic LA music scene. - Max Hammer