Dr Flamer Goes Global: From Dublin’s Underground Pulse to the Jungles of Sri Lanka

Born Mauro Quinto, Italian by origin and Dublin-based by reputation, he has spent years grafting through the underground with the kind of long-haul commitment that never makes for flashy headlines but always makes for real culture. His profile stretches from early rave roots in Italy to a base in Ireland, with releases and activity tied to Elementum V and a reputation as a seasoned underground operator rather than a tourist in the music.

That matters here, because what comes through in this conversation is not just a DJ celebrating a successful booking, but an artist talking about trust, patience, relationships, and the slow burn of building something across borders. With Deep Jungle Festival in Sigiriya now positioning itself as a major electronic and cultural event in Sri Lanka, and Dr Flamer stepping into that story as part of its growing international face, this interview catches him in that sweet spot between disbelief and ambition: still buzzing from what happened, already thinking three moves ahead.

Mike Mannix: Man, those few months have flown since you got back man.

Dr Flamer: Hi, good to see you again, nice one.  I can’t believe it’s been five months already since coming back from Sri Lanka, and now I’m getting ready to go back over there again in a few weeks.

That first response already sets the tone. He’s not slipping into polished PR mode. He’s reliving it as he speaks. You can feel him mentally stepping back into the heat, the movement, the rush of it all. When Mike Mannix asks for his overall thoughts on the festival, the answer lands immediately and emotionally.

Dr Flamer: Yes, oh my God, it was amazing. Like, you know, my first time in South Asia. So, for me

He doesn’t frame the trip as just another stamp in the passport. He frames it as a milestone. Four years of work had gone into this project before he actually touched down there, and that gives the whole exchange a sense of payoff. This wasn’t luck. It was delayed momentum finally arriving on time.

He talks about the people behind the event with genuine affection, stressing how hard they’ve worked and how patient they’ve been. There’s a real sense that what impressed him wasn’t just the festival itself, but the collective family effort behind it.

One of the key themes of the interview is access: how a scene evolves, how a country opens up culturally, and how festivals become part of that shift.

Dr Flamer: These people are working hard, and have been very patient… to see people ten years invested in this project, and now finally the government has given it their backing,

That line is one of the anchors of the interview. He isn’t talking only about music. He’s talking about timing, policy, tradition, and a broader willingness to welcome outside artists. He speaks with real excitement about the Sigiriya region and the beauty surrounding the festival location, describing it as a place with huge potential that is only just beginning to open itself to the international electronic music community. From there the conversation shifts toward the connection that made the whole trip possible.

Mike Mannix: And that connection started with Alessandro, didn’t it?

Dr Flamer: Yes, Alessandro… I’m friends with him, I met him in Dublin.

According to Dr Flamer, Alessandro had been involved with the Sri Lanka festival network for years and began talking to him about it four or five years ago. He explains that Alessandro saw him as someone who could help connect European DJs with the event.

Dr Flamer: I will cooperate with him as a booking DJ for Europe… the European ambassador. So,

That ambition frames the interview as something much bigger than one DJ playing one festival. The discussion then turns to the artists Dr Flamer brought along for the journey. He explains that Cosmic Brothers — Massimino and Lorenzo — performed live using drum machines and electric guitar.

Dr Flamer: The people over there were shocked, because they were the only artists playing live on drum machines and the electric guitar.

The reaction from the crowd and organisers was strong, and he says the performance left a lasting impression.

He also brought Algorithmix from ADZ, who performed on the inside stage on the first night and received excellent feedback from the audience. Johanna traveled with them as a dancer and vocalist, though the vocal element didn’t fully work due to technical limitations with the sound engineering, she still made a huge positive impression.

One of the most vivid sections of the interview comes when Dr Flamer describes arriving early and seeing the scale of the production. He was impressed by the quality of the stages, the lighting and especially the sound systems.

Dr Flamer: The acoustics were amazing… these people are very organized, and they know what they’re doing.

He even recognises the Montarbo speakers being used on one of the stages, explaining that he once owned the same Italian brand in his studio. He also describes the warm welcome from the surrounding village community, saying the atmosphere felt like a celebration shared between local residents and international artists.

Later in the conversation, Mike Mannix asks if he ended up playing anywhere else after the festival. Dr Flamer laughs before telling the story. While staying in Colombo, he and some friends heard music from a venue nearby and decided to walk in. Inside, several people recognised him from the festival.

Dr Flamer: After the festival these people recognized me… said, “Oh, you are here, can you play please?”

What was supposed to be a casual visit quickly turned into an unexpected DJ set. Fans began asking for autographs and photos, turning the night into a surreal experience.

Dr Flamer: I autographed T-shirts, like I was a big guy… I was like, oh my God, haha.

A few days later the same people contacted him again. This time they organised a full event so he and the group could perform properly.

Mike Mannix: I’d say that must have felt pretty special.

Dr Flamer: Ye man we started at, 4PM until 11PM in the night, it was an amazing day.

Looking ahead, Dr Flamer explains that Deep Jungle Festival will run again soon this August and that he hopes to return with more DJs from Ireland. He also mentions possible connections forming in Goa.

Mike Mannix: I’d say you’re going to get a lot more gigs this time.

Dr Flamer: Yes, yes… it’s going to be like an Asian tour!

What began as a single booking could evolve into a much bigger international journey. As the interview draws to a close, Dr Flamer emphasises that the opportunity extends far beyond one artist. His vision is to build lasting bridges between Ireland and South Asia, creating international opportunities for emerging DJs and producers.

He also highlights the remarkable talent of Cub Zonic (Hansath Methunija), an 11-year-old Sri Lankan DJ and progressive house producer whose melodic sound and official international releases are already attracting attention beyond his home country. Dr Flamer believes Cub Zonic represents the next generation of electronic music talent emerging from Sri Lanka.

Finally, he acknowledges the role of Iconic Underground Magazine and Mike Mannix in supporting, documenting, and helping share this growing international story.

Dr Flamer: I’m happy because I introduced your magazine to them as well…

What started as a single festival appearance in Sri Lanka may be the beginning of something much larger — a connection between Dublin’s underground scene and a rapidly growing electronic music culture across Asia. And if this conversation proves anything, Dr Flamer is only just getting started.