Zimbabwe-born, Scotland-based producer Mani S, known for working with icons like Bootsy Collins, DJ Pierre, Tony Humphries, and Steely & Clevie, has returned under his new alias MERITTOCRACY with his third single, ‘Desire’, which landed on the 26th of September 2025 via his own imprint Black Sugar Music. Featuring the unmistakable voice of soul and dance legend Jocelyn Brown, best known for timeless anthems like ‘Someone Else’s Guy’ and her work with Incognito on ‘Always There’, this release marks a deep dive into a richer, club-ready sound. ‘Desire’ is a reimagined version of a track originally written and produced by Mani S and Brown during their time in electro-soul collective YOYOHONEY, now revived with a house-driven pulse ready for the club.
A multi-talented songwriter, producer, and bass guitarist, Mani S began his musical career at age fourteen. His early love for dub, hip-hop, and soul led to the formation of YOYOHONEY, a genre-bending UK outfit that blended electronica, ambient textures, and acid jazz influences. Releases like Groove On (1991) and Voodoo Soul (1992) helped establish Mani’s reputation for innovation, while his passion for deep house simmered in the background. In 2024, he launched MERITTOCRACY as a dedicated platform for elevating house and electronic sounds, free from algorithmic pressures and rooted in artistic integrity.
With ‘Desire’, MERITTOCRACY leans into the raw groove of classic Chicago House, blending it with celestial electronic textures and Brown’s soaring, soulful delivery, soaked in dreamy reverb. Anchored by a weighty bassline, propulsive percussion and emotive chord progressions, the track pays homage to its vintage imprints in a crisply modern package.
“Her timeless vocals and energy got me really excited and I decided to redo and produce it on a different vibe for MERITTOCRACY,” says Mani S. “‘Desire’ draws from the roots of house but adds an infectious edge that reflects where my sound is heading.”
Stream the single below:
Follow MERITTOCRACY:
Bandcamp – Instagram
