Kittanning DJ Competing in Regional Qualifier

by Jonathan Weaver

For seven years, Nathan Manfredi has mixed songs together in Kittanning bars and Pittsburgh nightclubs, and it could all lead him to the international stage.

Manfredi – 27 – will compete April 23 in the DMC Regional DJ Battle held in Washington DC’s U Street Music Hall.

Manfredi – who classifies himself as a hip-hop/open format DJ under the nickname ‘DJ Manny’ – is a resident DJ at both Finn McCools and Charlie Murdoch’s Dueling Piano Bar along East Carson Street in Pittsburgh Fridays and Saturdays, but before mixed at Mel’s Pizzeria in West Kittanning, the Wick City Saloon in Kittanning and Sidebar.

A 2007 Kittanning Senior High graduate, Manfredi became interested in DJing after he started working as a Red Bull account sales manager and became familiar with ‘threestyling.’

“The term ‘threestyle’ is you have a 15-minute set and you can do anything you want as far as tricks, beat juggling or anything in general, but you have to play three different genres of music,” Manfredi said. “I’ve gone to a couple of the battles.”

Manfredi hopes to be able to compete in the next ‘threestyle’ challenge – with a location that has yet to be announced.

Manfredi said his friendship with a winning resident DJ in Pittsburgh pushed him to compete next weekend.

“Every DJ that I have battled against have all been from different states - St. Louis, Missouri, Anaheim, Calif., Miami, New York City…everybody has a different style how they DJ – just like with sports,” Manfredi said. “I try to figure out how each one battles to try and copy it or go just a little bit farther to try and give me an edge.”

Manfredi finished eighth in the Cincinnati, Ohio regional last year.

“I was happy with my performance,” Manfredi said. “I pretty-much went back to the basics and just redid everything possible (to try and qualify next weekend).”
Manfredi also attended Scratch DJ Academy in New York City to train for April 23rd.

DJs will each perform a two-minute routine for the elimination round. The top six DJs will perform a six-minute routine for a chance to advance to the 2016 DMC U.S. finals.

First place winners will then compete in the world competition.

“It would probably be the biggest accomplishment I think I would ever have so far in my career,” Manfredi said.

Manfredi – who missed being in the top six DJs by four points last year - said he will be judged on crowd response, mixing and beat juggling, but won’t know his opponent until next Saturday.

“Very little technical things,” Manfredi said.

A regional this weekend will also be held in Denver, Colo.

Manfredi – sponsored by both a Pittsburgh watch company and a clothing company – hopes to be accompanied to Washington, DC with best friend and fellow Pittsburgh DJ Craig McClintock.