Blues Rock Grifters Manaaki Release New Single, Headline Johnny Brenda's Saturday
Manaaki, photo courtesy of the artist
By Emily Herbein
Manaaki, a re-emerging sludgy blues rock project featuring members of Slomo Sapiens, Sixteen Jackies, Grave Bathers, and St. James and the Apostles releases another teaser single off their upcoming EP today, and headline a gig at Johnn Brenda’s with Brian Langan and The Mary Veils this Saturday. Ceallaigh Manaaki, Ian Staley and Davis Shubs come together to bring their respective smooth and sleek rock tones and blend them into something rough and provocative. Following the release of 2021’s single “Sever,” and 2019’s “Effigy” EP, Manaaki is strapping their boots back on following a pandemic-induced lull to prove that they’re a force unquelled by quarantine.
Read an interview with the band below before you stream today’s new single, “Who’s a Big Boy?”
Can you describe this project in 3 words?
Ceallaigh: Raw, heavy, honest.
What do you think each of you contributes to this sound, considering you all come from different projects?
Ceallaigh: Despite individually being in bands of wildly different genres, soul and blues-inspired music has always been at our cores. This EP is definitely coming from an outside perspective, so you won’t hear anything too on the nose, genre-wise.
What’s your writing process like?
Davis: The first record was all Ceallaigh bringing in songs he had already written. The second one was the opposite. We hadn’t seen each other much since the lockdown, so there was a lot of tension and pain released when we were finally able to get back together. We wrote songs without even meaning to. It seemed like all someone had to do was pick up a drumstick or pug in a guitar and you had a song. It’s been pretty exciting and utilized more of a wild, feral energy. I don’t think many people have been in bands that can just whip up new songs every time they jam — it’s a very natural process.
What’s the most exciting thing about this album?
Ceallaigh: It’s very high-energy and raw. We recorded live to tape so it really feels like you’re in the room when you listen. The challenge of things being on the wire, not being able to hit “undo” and committing to major choices on the fly separates the adults from the children.
How does this album compare to previous Manaaki releases?
Ceallaigh: While it sounds like a Manaaki record, the songwriting was much more collaborative and the recording process was completely different from the first one. Davis brought a lot of analog production skills he learned in Memphis. Where “Effigy” was more introspective and moody, this next record looks outward and is packed with a high-energy groove.
What’s one thing that you’ve learned — either about your own practice or about each other — by working through this project?
Ceallaigh: I’ve learned to trust my instincts more.
Ian: I’ve learned to use better ear protection and record rehearsals.
Davis: Writing songs with Ceallaigh and Ian, I really tend to dig into transitions and dynamics. And production-wise, I really wanted certain parts to hit you like a ton of bricks. Ian also gives great massages.
What song are you most excited to play live?
Ceallaigh: I enjoy playing “A Little More” which is a track from the upcoming EP. That’s one of those songs that we didn’t have to tweak or overthink in any way. It made sense the first time we played it.
Ian: I’m excited to perform “Big Heat,” which is also a new one.
Davis: I’m probably the most excited to play “Who’s a Big Boy?”, it really grooves! Really anything swanky, swampy, and perhaps a little sexual is the most satisfying to play on the bass.
You can find tickets to Manaaki’s headlining show at Johnny Brenda’s on March 5th here, and stream “Who’s a Big Boy?” below.