Today we’d like to introduce you to Manny Blu.
Alright, thank you for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us how you got started?
My story to Nashville is very nontraditional. I was an MMA fighter originally in Canada, but after I tore my quadricep in a fight, I picked up a guitar and found a renewed passion for music. All my friends were living in other towns, playing hockey while I was recovering. They’d return to Montreal during the summer, once hockey season was over, and they’d ask me to play the country songs they’d been listening to. I learned all the hits and discovered there’s a culture and a vibe to country music that’s unlike anything else. Being from Montreal, a big city, it seemed natural to take a trip to Nashville to record my 1st project once I decided to pursue music full-time. I traveled down here in 2019 and was blessed to meet people in the industry and the Nashville community in general who made it an easy decision to make a move to Music City officially. I fell in love with Nashville and am proud to now call it home!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’d have to say I’ve been blessed to have experienced a relatively smooth road thus far. There have been some experiences I’ve had to learn from, whether it’s taking risks or who to trust with my craft. Having said that, I’ve been given incredible opportunities to join tours and be on stage. I have been able to develop as a performer and singer and discover who I am and what music I want to create and perform.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What sets me apart from everyone is that I’m a city boy singing country music. I’ve always loved the storyteller aspect in Country. I have a different upbringing than most in the genre, and I’ve been exposed to different aspects of life, and it shows in my work. I by no means live the ‘country’ way nor sing about it, but my music allows me to be outside the box and do things differently, my way!
With that being said, I think I’m most known for working to create the vibe/sound of Country Punk. People are now starting to understand that Country Punk isn’t 90’s Country, and it’s not punk rock. It’s an extension of country music with a little more edge and is produced differently. It has country music storytelling paired with the fun nostalgia of 2000s pop-punk. Not every song I create will follow a formula or sound the same – certain songs might lean more to one side or the other depending on what I feel the song needs or feels. I’m most proud of all the hard work my team and I put in last year after making it through COVID. As an indie artist who wasn’t touring much in 2021, we put 2 EPs and 3 volumes out of a live performance series last year. My team worked extremely hard, and we ended up having something come out every 6 weeks of 24 months, and to me, that’s an accomplishment.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role you feel it’s played for you?
I’ve been fortunate in my music career so far. Early in my career in Nashville, I was exposed to many things I never knew. However, to me, being lucky means making the most of all the opportunities I’ve had. In my career, I’ve had to be able to adapt in a certain way and seek out chances to “get lucky.” I believe if you stay idle, you may get opportunities to do great things, but if you don’t capitalize on those chances and continue to put in the work that brought you that chance, your luck won’t be sustainable. Luck is created.
Pricing:
- Devil / Country Punk Vinyl Pre-Sale – $25.00
- New Ink Vinyl – $15.00
- “Doin’ Fine” Hat – $20.00
- Blu Cru Tee – $30.00
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mannyblumusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mannyblumusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mannyblumusic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/mannyblumusic
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mannyblumusic?lang=en
Image Credits
1st Photo – Jason Myers Concert Photos Provided from Springwater Supper Club Performance
