With the release of three successful singles and reaching the 1M worldwide streams milestone, Manny Blu continues strong into the 2020 year with the release of his highly anticipated sophomore EP, New Ink, out today.
With the help of a popular outdoor Nashville venue, 6th & Peabody, Blu celebrated the release of New Ink with a socially distanced show and livestream on Nov 13th. Exclusive highlights from the performance will be streamed on American Songwriter‘s Facebook page on Tues Nov 17th at 2pm CST / 8pm GMT
New Ink speaks directly to what Manny himself calls the “true heart” of the band’s live shows: “There’s more rock, more soul, and more volume this time around. It’s bigger and louder, but it’s still me. And more importantly, it’s still fun.” With his amplified mix of country twang and heavy rock & roll attitude, Manny brings his rebellious outlaw vibe to country music, creating an original sound that makes room for his blues and rock upbringing. Recorded at OmniSound Studios in Nashville and produced by Aaron Eshuis (Rascal Flatts, Cole Swindell, Kid Rock) and immersed with esteemed songwriters like Ross Copperman, Josh Osborne, and Rhett Akins, New Inklives in an edgy new space with rock-based instrumentals at the forefront.
New Ink consists of five storytelling tracks of real-life through love and heartbreak.
"Music is one of the most powerful elements to someone's life . I think it can make what someone is going through ok, it can motivate, and empower people–so I tried to add a little piece of each of those things into New Ink."
New Ink – Track List:
Burnout Town (Josh Osborne, Chris DeStefano, and JT Harding)
Sink (Josh Osborne, Ryan Tyndell, Matt Jenkins)
Born To Ride (Rhett Akins, Ross Copperman, and Josh Osborne)
Ain’t Got You (Mark Nesler and Adam Sanders)
Old Money (B. Lay, Aaron Eshius, and Neil Medley)
Manny Blu
'New Ink'
Manny continues to bring his vibe to country music–a sound he introduced with Leave It Like It Is, his debut record (2019) that earned him thousands of new fans and presented him with the opportunity to hit the road across Canada and the US. Last spring, Manny spent two months crossing Canada while opening for George Canyon’s “Hit After Hit Tour” and then headlined his Canadian tour to close out the year. Earlier this spring, Manny crossed the US and Canada on another headlining tour. Fans can expect new show announcements in the coming months.
New Ink is now available on all streaming platforms, listen to the new EP HERE.
Manny Blu has always been a fighter. Years before he criss-crossed North America as an acclaimed country singer and a true road warrior—playing nightly shows in support of his 2019 debut album Leave It Like It Is, while also sharpening the larger-than-life sound that would fill his 2020 follow-up EP New Ink—Manny spent his days in the gym, training for a career as an MMA fighter.
Traveling often to Nashville from his hometown of Montreal, he began piecing together a new record—one that showcased the lessons he learned on the road. Working with producer Aaron Eshuis and hit songwriters like Josh Osborne, Rhett Atkins, and Ross Copperman, Manny Blu emerged from Nashville’s OmniSound Studios with New Ink. From “Born To Ride” to “Sink,” these new songs tell relatable stories about love, loss, breakups, and everything in between, rooted in an amplified mix of country twang and heavy rock & roll attitude.
Raised as a versatile athlete who played hockey, soccer, and football before kickstarting his MMA training at 16-years-old, Manny Blu hasn’t lost that fighting spirit. If anything, he’s gotten stronger, learning to roll with the punches and knock down any obstacles in his path. New Ink, with its hard-hitting hooks and country-rock edge, is the soundtrack to a career on the rise–and Manny Blu is ready to deliver a knockout blow. New Ink is out now.
Stay up to date on news and announcements from Manny Blu by checking out his website or following along on Instagram and Facebook.