After an injury left the Canadian MMA fighter searching for a new skill, Manny Blu brought his fighting persona to Nashville only to find nothing but success.
Blu reflected on a vivid memory of when he first expressed his interest in music to his friends explaining, “My buddies came over and everybody’s having a beer, having some fun and they had me play a couple country songs. When someone asked me what I play, (I said) I lean more towards country songs than anything else so I kind of became a country singer on accident.”
From the age of 16, the singer was deeply involved in the MMA scene, spending his days in the gym to prepare for a career in the ring. Upon turning 21, Blu suffered from an injury that forbid him from fighting, forcing him to find a new way to release his energy. He explained, “Instead of sitting around and doing nothing I (found) guitar was it.”
“While I was sidelined, I was on Youtube and found a video of B.B. King playing, “The Thrill Is Gone“. I didn’t really understand the rhythm because you think someone is just strumming a guitar and for whatever reason he wasn’t. He was singing and playing his guitar and I didn’t understand what that was and what he was doing but I thought it sounded so cool. I wanted to learn what that is and how to do that and thats what got me to pick up the guitar. My first guitar was an electric guitar because thats what BB King had and thats what I wanted to be,” Blu explained.
Not missing a beat, the artist quickly developed incredible guitar skills and crafted his fierce country-rock image. Influenced by Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Cadillac Three and Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blu expresses the strong, soulful roots he grew up on in his music. With more freedom to bring in a mix of genres into his music, Blu has found American country music to be the place for him. “I think coming from Canada and from what I was listening to and playing, there is a lot more of that country-pop and that is where I thought country was going. Then moving down to Nashville, there is so much more going on, even outside of country. Knowing that I am allowed to bring different aspects of things that I like, really made it a difference for me and my album.”
Speaking of that album, Blu explained that he believes New Ink reflects himself, his direction, and his growth in a greater way than previously done before. He said, “I was able to add more things that I wanted to do and push the band a little bit between styles and sonically things that I want to have in my album.”
The title stems from the Mötley Crüe‘s 2000’s album, New Tattoo. “I thought it was a cool name so I sat with New Ink. It worked out really well and I like that there is a double meaning that there are new songs, new styles, a new direction as well that I think the album is.”
Currently, “Born to Ride” is a song off of New Ink that is out and available for listeners. “Born to Ride” was written by country music legends Rhett Atkins, Josh Osborne, and Ross Copperman. The singer explained that the title track was released because he found it to be “the perfect way to show what’s coming”. Overall, the track is the sound of the album, mixing in the rock, country and soul styles that the singer mirrors.
Additionally, the music video captures the versatile and passionate personality of the singer which can be viewed here. As for the album, fans can expect a few tracks to revolve more around the classic country-twang and a few tracks to showcase Blu’s rock’n roll style.
New Ink is to be released November 13 containing five tracks that ultimately prove the singer’s talent and unique style. In the mean time, fans can have a taste of the EP by checking out “Born to Ride” here.