12 for the road: Mankiyan's Horst journey
12 for the road: Mankiyan's Horst journey
At this year’s Horst Festival, Beatrice M. joins forces with Mankiyan, a staple in the Belgian scene for quite some time now. In collaboration with Bosch eBike Systems, we caught up with her to talk about her journey to the festival, the freedom of the road, and the tracks that keep her moving.
Published on
23.4.26
In partnership with Bosch eBike Systems.
Photos by Maryan Sayd.
Growing up between the Belgian seaside and Greece - with a Belgian mother and Armenian father - Mankiyan was touched by a mix of cultures that shaped her personally but also musically from a young age. The move to Brussels, seven years ago now, was what eventually got her into dj’ing, and teaching Dutch - a good way of staying connected with the city in other ways than through music, she tells us. The two aren’t directly linked, but things really took off after her first Kiosk Radio set back in 2020. Since then, she has become a regular at our own Horst Club and has played at venues like Open Ground in Wuppertal, Soup Kitchen in Manchester, and Traum in Antwerp. Music has always been around. "In my teens, I started digging deeper after discovering a bunch of weird stuff on Tumblr, my escape from Belgian seaside reality back then. I love living in Brussels - the people, the music scene. We're so spoiled with the concerts and events that are happening here on such a frequent basis.”
Growing up between the Belgian seaside and Greece - with a Belgian mother and Armenian father - Mankiyan was touched by a mix of cultures that shaped her personally but also musically from a young age. The move to Brussels, seven years ago now, was what eventually got her into dj’ing, and teaching Dutch - a good way of staying connected with the city in other ways than through music, she tells us. The two aren’t directly linked, but things really took off after her first Kiosk Radio set back in 2020. Since then, she has become a regular at our own Horst Club and has played at venues like Open Ground in Wuppertal, Soup Kitchen in Manchester, and Traum in Antwerp. Music has always been around. "In my teens, I started digging deeper after discovering a bunch of weird stuff on Tumblr, my escape from Belgian seaside reality back then. I love living in Brussels - the people, the music scene. We're so spoiled with the concerts and events that are happening here on such a frequent basis.”
What’s your most special Horst experience so far?
I've always loved going as a visitor. I still think back of the camping mornings in 2019. I was there with a big group of friends while DJs were playing at the brunch. One morning, we ended up having a full-on barefoot dance session right after eating, under the sun, all before noon. Going from a visitor to playing at the festival a few years later was, of course, very special. My set with mad miran in 2023 on the Eyes Eyes Baby stage will always be one of my favourites ever. Playing with someone you align with musically so much, in front of the most lovely open-minded energetic crowd, full of friends, will forever be a core memory.
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How long have you been coming to Horst?
My first Horst was back when it was still in Holsbeek, and I felt the magic immediately. I joined a friend who had free tickets because her father had supplied bricks for a stage. I remember it was unlike any festival I'd been to before. I was super impressed by how the stages looked, and how they made me feel. The crowd and the vibe were different too; it felt like I’d stumbled into something special. To top it off, I was suddenly hearing DJs live that I’d only ever watched online in my bedroom. Since then, I’ve tried to go every year. I even volunteered for the build-up of the first edition at Asiat Park, which feels like ages ago now.
You’re a true biker. Why do you love it so much?
Besides walking, biking is my favourite way to move through the city. To me, biking is freedom. You're outside, you can see what's happening on the streets, it's healthy, it's free, and in Brussels it's simply the fastest way to get anywhere. I also love how it feels like a bit of a radical act in a city that isn’t quite adapted to it yet, surrounded by drivers who sometimes look like they’ve never shared the road with a cyclist before. Sometimes, if I'm lazy or it's raining, I'm tempted to take public transport. But every time I'm waiting for the metro or bus, I'm reminded of how impatient I am. So most of the time, once I'm on the platform, I instantly regret not taking the bike.
Have you biked to the festival before?
I've biked to the festival a few times. The real challenge is getting back to Brussels afterwards. I haven't managed to bike home every time - either I'm too tired, cold, or not in the mood. Definitely something I take into consideration now when planning my trip to Horst.
Do you get inspired on the bike?
100%. Long bike rides are the best way to clear my mind and let new thoughts in. I think about my projects and usually get the best ideas on the bike, though I also catch myself going over day-to-day stuff like conversations and to-do lists.
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What kind of tracks keep you company when you ride?
I only recently started listening to music while biking. I used to find it overwhelming when the image and sound didn’t match. Now, it’s hard to go without, though I think it can be dangerous in heavy traffic. I’d only recommend it for longer, quieter stretches, like the canal. The music can't be too fast; it has to sync with the leg rhythm. I tend to go for more dreamy, melancholic stuff during a ride - I love a good cry on the bike!
What can we expect from your set with Beatrice M.?
We're playing in the 'put', which has always been a secret dream of mine because the energy there is insane. Closing it on Friday will be very special. Looking forward to play with Beatrice for the first time, incredible DJ and producer who I respect a lot. We are preparing a journey across different genres and tempos, high energy but grounded, playful and danceable affff.
And which tracks have you selected for us?
12 records for 12 kilometres. Listen in order!
1. Giorgos Katsaros - Kai giati den mas to les
I grew up hearing a lot of rebetika, basically the Greek blues, so listening to these puts me in a lovely nostalgic mood. Perfect bike-ride starters:
2. Felicity J Lord - £orP
Playful yet emotional, makes me sink deeper into thoughts:
3. Siglo XX - Some have a laughter
Sick 80s new wave from Belgian Limburg band Siglo XX. Love the dubby undertones in this one:
4. The Musickwreckers - Sons of god
This one's got a dark trippy mood to it, for the moment that one cloud suddenly blocks the sun. Only available on Bandcamp for listening.
5. Roots Control - Forward Roots
Pure vibes. Sun's back and there's a light breeze going!
6. Party Escort Bot - Money Talks
Amazing pick-me-upper:
7. Devon Rexi meets John T. Gast - Habitat Ibiza
Insane wild ride from Devon Rexi's debut album in collaboration with sickest producer John T. Gast:
8. Smart Alec & Clevor Cloggs - Karaoke
Pure emotional dub, perfect for zoning out on long stretches:
9. Ultra-Red - A16
Big fan of Ultra-Red and their political commitment in the stuff they were doing, while also releasing banging music. A16 is a good one to get the energy pumping again:
10. Maral - avesta khani reggaeton
Iranian samples over insane distorted beats, for when the legs are getting tired:
11. Daisy Ray - Mr. Willow
I love Daisy Ray. This one makes you feel like you're in an action thriller chase scene:
12. Aphex Twin - 24 Tsim 2
My favourite Aphex track: super punchy and emotional and over the top. This is the one that puts me through when there's a strong headwind. All pumped up and ready for a day of Horst!
The Horst Peloton sign-ups will open soon.
Made possible thanks to the generous support of our partner, Bosch eBike Systems.
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“What’s so amazing about dance floors is bringing together all of these people that are different, but you have this one shared interest, which is that you want to be in this moment in time together.”
“When I go party, one thing that bothers me is that performance is often seen as something just to spice up the night. I always imagine what if performance is an integral part of the party.”
"Clubbing has undergone enormous commercialisation and standardisation. It’s important to stage these works in a way that rethinks or reactivates clubbing as an important cultural experience."
“It’s really nice if a club night can be different things. It can be dancing, it can be talking, it can be resistance, getting out of your comfort zone. It’s almost like a Gesamtkunstwerk”.
“The idea was to find a language throughout space or some kind of movement that can give the club a feeling of passing of time. It’s not as static as a place."
"I think one of the first things we decided to do is to come dancing here and to feel what's going on, what works very well, what could be better, what have we learned from it, but how can it also be different?"
"Party spaces can be overwhelming. I’ve often experienced being at a club and sitting on the cold concrete floor with everyone else."
"The perfect club is when you have the best people inside, a diverse dance floor where people feel represented.”
“Care is the most important expression of community: making sure everyone feels comfortable, trusted and supported among like-minded people.”
"It's seven in the morning, you have all of these people around you that you've never met before, yet they feel like your best friends. Then you realise you still have another twelve hours to party. I live for those magical moments!"
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"Coming here is like coming home to my extended family, but then for like 24 hours. It really feels like home away from home to me."
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"In my 3 years of working here, I have seen so many things change. It's been amazing to see this ongoing experiment that Horst Club has become."
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"Coming here is like coming home to my extended family, but then for like 24 hours. It reallly feels like home away from home. to me."
"Clubbing has undergone enormous commercialisation and standardisation. It’s important to stage these works in a way that rethinks or reactivates clubbing as an important cultural experience."
