Canadian country rising star MANNY BLU today (July 10) announced the release of his upcoming EP NEW INK, available on November 13. Giving fans a sneak peek of what to expect from this new collection of tracks, BLU today also released the first single off the sophomore EP. Titled "Born To Ride," it perfectly lays the groundwork for what is to come. Listen to the single here and watch the lyric video here.
Bringing to life a completely different side of the Montreal native, NEW INK speaks directly to what BLU 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 definitely brings his own rebellious outlaw vibe to country music, creating an original sound that makes room for his blues and rock upbringing. While influenced by the likes of Brantley Gilbert, The Cadillac Three and Jason Aldean, each of the five tracks heard on NEW INK live in an edgy new space with rock-based instrumentals at the forefront. Recorded at OmniSound Studios in Nashville and produced by Aaron Eshuis, its rock-forward approach is fitting since the title stems from one of BLU's favorite bands, Mötley Crüe, and their album New Tattoo.One look at BLU and it's no secret that he's a fan of tattoos-but to him NEW INK means more than just thinking about the next one, for him it's the release of his inner creative expression and his new sound to the world.
NEW INK's first single, "Born To Ride," is a track about finding that 'ride or die' person who will have your back as much as you have theirs. Written by top songwriters Rhett Akins, Ross Copperman and Josh Osborne, the track debuts today with a lyric video that provides a snapshot of BLU's acclaimed live shows.
Consisting of four additional tracks telling the stories of real-life through love and heartbreak, BLU's upcoming EP displays substantial growth. Not only has 2020 already been a landmark year when it comes to streaming for the up-and-coming artist, it has also led to the development of global expansion with the addition of teams in the US, Canada and the UK.
"Music is one of the most powerful elements to someone's life," said BLU when talking of the story behind the EP. "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
TRACKLIST:
Burnout Town
Sink
Born To Ride
Ain't Got You
Old Money
MANNY continues to bring his own 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 BLU spent two months crossing Canada while opening for George Canyon's "Hit After Hit Tour" and then headlined his own Canadian tour to close out the year. Earlier this spring, BLU crossed the US and Canada on another headlining tour. Fans can expect new show announcements in the coming months.
Fans can stay up to date on news and announcements from MANNY BLU by checking out his website or following along on Instagram and Facebook.
