Who is IMANU? IMANU Songs, Music, Discography & Artists Like IMANU
When Adam first came across IMANU’s music, something clicked immediately. The pressure-packed sub bass, the halftime rhythms that feel simultaneously mechanical and alive, the textures that push drum and bass into genuinely unsettling territory. This is the kind of producer that makes you stop what you’re doing and turn up the volume.
4D4M has always gravitated toward artists who refuse to color inside the genre lines, and IMANU is exactly that kind of artist. Rotterdam-based producer Jonathan Kievit has built a reputation for neurofunk and halftime EDM that sounds unlike anything else in the space. If you haven’t dug into his catalog yet, you’re missing one of the most inventive producers working in bass music right now.
Who Is IMANU
IMANU is the project of Jonathan Kievit, a Surinamese Dutch producer originally from Saint-Denis who is now based in Rotterdam, Netherlands. He has carved out a distinctive niche in the electronic dance music world through a deeply personal take on drum and bass, neurofunk, and halftime. Where a lot of producers in this space lean into aggression or pure floor functionality, IMANU brings an introspective quality that makes his tracks feel genuinely emotional.
His rise came through a string of EPs and singles that circulated heavily in the underground bass music community. Releases like the “EGO” EP in 2019 and “Memento” in 2020 established his sound: dense, textured productions built on churning rhythms and melodic elements that create tension and release in equal measure. Collaborations with Zeds Dead, What So Not, DROELOE, and Apashe helped bring his work to wider audiences while keeping him rooted in the experimental corner of the scene.
His 2022 debut album “Unfold” on Deadbeats and mau5trap signaled a maturation of his vision. It brought cohesion to a sound that had previously been heard mostly in EP form.
IMANU’s Sound Explained
Pinning down IMANU’s sound is harder than it looks. On paper, the tags are drum and bass, neurofunk, halftime, and hybrid trap. In practice, listening to his tracks feels like being inside a machine that has developed something close to anxiety. Everything is precise, but nothing is comfortable.
The halftime rhythms are central to his identity. Where standard drum and bass operates at around 170 BPM with relentless kick-snare patterns, halftime drops the perceived tempo to feel closer to 85 BPM while maintaining the underlying energy. IMANU uses this space to layer intricate percussion, warped vocal chops, and sub bass that physically moves the room. The result is music that is simultaneously heavy and meditative.
His neurofunk influence pushes the bass into clinical, almost robotic territory. Growling bass patches twist and modulate to create industrial texture, but IMANU consistently balances this with melodic elements that give the music emotional weight. Tracks like “Temper” and “Bleak” demonstrate his ability to blend atmospheric sections with moments of pure sonic intensity.
What separates IMANU from other producers in this space is his restraint. He does not pile on effects for the sake of it. Every element serves the track. The space he creates in his arrangements is just as important as the sounds themselves, giving his music a dimensionality that rewards headphone listening as much as a proper club sound system.
Top Tracks by IMANU
- Runaway (with Zeds Dead, MKLA): Brooding halftime bass with haunting vocals from MKLA. One of his most emotionally direct tracks.
- A Taste of Hope (Hallowvale): Stripped-back and atmospheric. Melancholic textures that feel genuinely moving from start to finish.
- Bleak (feat. A Girl Named Sue): Dark, precise production with A Girl Named Sue’s vocals cutting through the fractured rhythm work perfectly.
- Slow Motion (with What So Not, MNDR): A crossover collaboration proving IMANU can operate in accessible territory without losing his edge.
- CATALYST (with DROELOE): Two texture-focused producers colliding. Dense, detailed, and worth multiple close listens.
- Temper (feat. Lia Kuri): Patient build, enormous payoff. Lia Kuri’s vocals add vulnerability that makes the drop hit harder.
- Reminiscing (feat. INDI): Nostalgic energy with INDI’s vocal performance perfectly matched to IMANU’s restrained production approach.
- I’m Fine (IMANU Remix) (Apashe, High Klassified, Cherry Lena): IMANU takes an existing track and rebuilds it around halftime rhythms and darker textures entirely.
- Lost In Mumbai (IMANU Remix) (Apashe): Reframed completely with neurofunk bass and halftime structure. He makes the original unrecognizable in the best way.
- Sutekh (with YMIR): Ominous, ancient energy named after an Egyptian deity. Forward-moving production with a brooding undertone throughout.
- Nonplus: Early solo work showing where the IMANU sound was taking shape. Leaner and more aggressive than later releases.
- A Taste of Hope: The standalone version of his most celebrated production. Emotional halftime drum and bass at its best.
- Glass Hearts: Fragile and introspective. Contrasts sharply with his heavier material and shows genuine range as a producer.
- Bloom: A 2020 single balancing melodic ambition with IMANU’s signature heavy bass weight.
- Skin to Skin: Careful layering and perfect tension release. A 2021 single where his production instincts shine throughout.
Why 4D4M Vibes With IMANU
The connection to IMANU’s music goes beyond genre overlap. 4D4M gravitates toward producers who treat the studio as a place for genuine expression rather than formula, and IMANU is doing exactly that in drum and bass. His tracks carry emotional weight that goes beyond what the genre typically demands.
The halftime approach mirrors rhythmic sensibilities that resonate strongly in the 4D4M production outlook. Giving breathing room to heavy bass music rather than filling every beat with information creates an experience that rewards focused listening. His willingness to work with Zeds Dead, What So Not, and DROELOE shows a producer who is genuinely curious about where genre limits can be pushed.
IMANU Discography
| Year | Album / EP | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | EGO (EP) | Deadbeats |
| 2020 | Memento (EP) | Deadbeats |
| 2020 | Cheren (EP) | Deadbeats |
| 2020 | Re: IMANU (EP) | Deadbeats |
| 2021 | A Taste of Hope (Single) | Deadbeats |
| 2021 | Glass Hearts (Single) | Deadbeats |
| 2022 | Unfold (Album) | Deadbeats / mau5trap |
| 2022 | A Taste of Hope (Remixes) | Deadbeats |
| 2023 | UNFOLD Remixes (Album) | Deadbeats / mau5trap |
| 2023 | Paradise (EP) | Deadbeats |
| 2025 | Entangled (EP) | Deadbeats |
Live and Touring
IMANU performs as a live act rather than a traditional DJ set, consistent with his emphasis on production craft. His performances are rooted in the Netherlands but he has taken his sound to stages across Europe and North America, appearing at major festivals and club dates that put him in front of crowds well outside the core drum and bass faithful.
His bookings through Primary Talent in Europe and United Talent Agency in the Americas reflect the attention he has attracted from the broader electronic music industry. The live format suits his music particularly well. The halftime rhythms and textured bass elements translate into a physical experience that demands a proper sound system. Seeing IMANU on a serious rig, with sub bass frequencies you feel rather than just hear, is a fundamentally different experience from headphone listening. Though both are absolutely worthwhile.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About IMANU
What genre does IMANU make?
IMANU primarily makes drum and bass with a strong focus on neurofunk and halftime subgenres. His music also incorporates elements of hybrid trap and electronic production. The halftime influence is particularly prominent, reducing the perceived tempo of drum and bass rhythms to create a heavier, more immersive feel. He blurs genre lines freely across collaborations without ever sounding inconsistent.
Where is IMANU from?
IMANU is Dutch. He is based in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Of Surinamese Dutch heritage, his origins trace to Saint-Denis, but Rotterdam has been his home base and the city associated with his career. The Dutch electronic music scene has a long tradition of bass-heavy experimental production, and IMANU fits naturally within it.
What is IMANU’s real name?
IMANU’s real name is Jonathan Kievit. He has used the IMANU moniker exclusively for his music releases. The project name has become the primary identity in the electronic music world, though his identity as Jonathan Kievit is not hidden. He communicates openly with fans through social media throughout his career.
What label is IMANU on?
IMANU has released the majority of his catalog through Deadbeats, the label co-founded by Zeds Dead. His debut album “Unfold” also came out through mau5trap, which helped introduce him to a broader audience outside the core drum and bass community. These affiliations reflect the trust the bass music world has placed in his output.
Has IMANU worked with other artists?
Yes, IMANU has collaborated extensively. Notable work includes tracks with Zeds Dead, What So Not, DROELOE, and Apashe, plus vocal features from A Girl Named Sue, Lia Kuri, INDI, and MKLA. His remix work is also significant, with standout Apashe remixes broadening his visibility. Each collaboration preserves his sonic identity while genuinely incorporating the other artist’s strengths.
Is IMANU good for festivals?
Absolutely. IMANU’s live show translates exceptionally well to festival environments where sound systems can handle the sub bass frequencies that define his work. His halftime drum and bass creates a crowd experience that is intense without being relentless, making it work across longer sets on bigger stages. Festival bookings through major agencies confirm he is a viable headliner for stages focused on electronic and bass music programming.
Where can I listen to IMANU’s music?
IMANU’s full catalog is available on Spotify. SoundCloud has been a key platform throughout his career, with his profile at soundcloud.com/imanumusic. He is also on YouTube, Instagram at @jonathan__immanuel, and Twitter at @imanumusic. All official links are in the table below.
IMANU Online
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Spotify | Listen on Spotify |
| SoundCloud | soundcloud.com/imanumusic |
| Twitter / X | @imanumusic |
| @jonathan__immanuel | |
| facebook.com/imanumusic | |
| YouTube | IMANU on YouTube |
