Interview : Get to know Wareus Records founder Mäntic

Behind Wareus Records, there’s Mäntic, from his real name Antoine Pepin-Mayer. Today, we’ll dig a bit in the story that led to the foundation of the record label.

Why did you want to start Wareus Records ?

I’ve always been an electronic music addict. I remember listening to The Prodigy’s albums at just 11 or 12 years old, blasting my ears with massive synths and aggressive basslines. That passion kept following me until I decided to create my first record label with an old friend of mine. The label grew exponentially very quickly, until we signed to the project over 100 artists. Unfortunately, my associate started to manage the project in a very toxic way, and I resolved myself to leave.

That moment had a huge impact on me, and I was at the same time preparing the “Baccalaureate” (the France’s national high school exam), while studying for a “Grande École” competitive exam. Because of my stress, I haven’t been able to create anything until summer 2022. After being accepted at one of my top universities choices in the hearth of Paris, I moved to the City of Lights. I quickly started to meet a lot of incredible people that were into House music and very supportive regarding my project. I also started to approach the parisian club culture through the events that were organised by my university. All those things gave me motivation to go back on track. 

On October 2022, I felt it was the time to work on something new, and until the first release by Lucas & Alex on July 14th 2023, I worked like a crazy guy to create a project that would look like the “today-me”. I love to work on that project because it gathers everything I like in life : music, friends, design, and creating memorable moments while giving smiles to others.

What do you want to accomplish through Wareus Records ?

I want Wareus to be a place to gather creatives with a similar vision. I’ve seen so many times artists struggling to find a welcoming and supportive community in the music industry while being incredibly talented and hardworking, or even just a helping hand. I want to offer that kind of roof for the people I’ll encounter for the next years of my life and offer them a place to let them express who they are with the absolute minimum of boundaries.

I also would like to showcase different art forms and types of artists through Wareus : photographs, sculptors, painters, video-makers, dancers, designers, you name it. More than a record label, I want Wareus Records to be a true artistic expression plaza.