Jack Manley attempts to rescue himself with track "Save Your Own" out now
INGER-SONGWRITER JACK MANLEY ATTEMPTS TO RESCUE HIMSELF WITH LOVESICK PLEA "SAVE YOUR OWN" OUT NOW
LISTEN HERE
INTIMATE DEBUT EP UNMEASURABLE TERMS DUE OUT MAY 10
PRE-ORDER THE EP HERE
JACK MANLEY WILL CELEBRATE THE EP RELEASE LIVE AT BIGCAT IN KINGSTON, NY ON MAY 10
Today, Hudson Valley-based singer-songwriter Jack Manley prioritizes himself with candid love song "Save Your Own" out everywhere now. Manley's tender, contemplative debut solo EP Unmeasurable Terms is due out May 10 and available for pre-order now. The latest track details Manley's fight against addiction and falling victim to codependency, where he reminds himself to put on his own oxygen mask first. Jack Manley will celebrate the EP release with a live show at BIGCAT in Kingston, NY on May 10.
An honest appraisal and a lovesick plea, "Save Your Own" emerged amidst Manley's battle with addiction as he learned to navigate the relationships that matter most to him. Building around a melody that is threaded together with a hint of hopefulness, the new offering sees the artist present a love song about codependency and that, Manley says, "in the chaos of addiction and treatment, sometimes the best you can do is take care of yourself first–put on your own oxygen mask first. It's a plea to my partner Anna to take care of herself and let me go." Manley took an unconventional approach to crafting the track by recording live vocals and guitar in the same single take to get the rawest, most emotionally resonant result possible.
Sonically, Manley says it mimics his real state of being, "Once the rhythm guitar, bass, and vocals come in, there is a major dynamic shift in energy and excitement, almost mimicking the manic state of mind I was in when writing it." On his sonic inspirations, Manley continues, "The downstroke, inverted chords that make up the verse take cues from my love of The Strokes, whereas the lead guitar takes cues from post punk and shoegaze." Producer Jeff Berener elevates the track with a closing melodic, noisy solo that evokes the unease of the tumultuous experience of navigating love, addiction and recovery.
Last month, Manley shared "Tightrope Life," an intimate look at the pain that addiction can inflict on users and their loved ones as Manley attempts to salvage his cherished relationships after repeated lapses. Fragile and sleep deprived, the track illustrates the moments Manley realizes he must make a change. Over sparse production and glittering electric guitar riffs, Manley yearns for connection and stability to ground him, singing, “This time I can’t stop spinning/Round and round and round/The tightrope life I’m living/Always looking for the ground/I’ve been longing, waiting, hoping for your love.” Manley says the achingly honest track is about, "finally admitting I’m in too deep and can't stop." With his shortcomings on full display, Manley admits, "it's a recognition of the toll it has taken on my partner and how it hurts to see me hurt her–which is incredibly selfish–but hey, progress not perfection." The single art features text that describes Naloxone–the drug that ultimately saved Manley's life.
Switch Bitch Noise Magazine raved about the release, writing, "Jack’s vocals are undeniably superb, complemented by guitars that strike a perfect balance, never overshadowing. The song’s dynamic songwriting keeps listeners captivated throughout its concise 2 minutes and 39 seconds, leaving them eager for more. Short, sweet, and irresistibly engaging."
Written entirely by Jack Manley, the EP chronicles his journey towards sobriety using confessional songwriting that poured out of him in the throes of a tortuous time. After a lifelong struggle with addiction, an overdose in 2023 landed the musician in the hospital where he picked up a guitar and found healing within the music that emerged. Manley shares, "Writing music has always been how I process and release my emotions. The songs that came out of me then were deeply personal as I reflected on my failures, regrets, sickness, and love." On the project as a whole, Manley says "Each track on 'Unmeasurable Terms' represents a different stage within the process of using or rehabilitation. For example, 'Save Your Own' is a love song with a nod to codependency, reminding myself and the listener to put on your own oxygen mask before trying to save anyone else." A self-taught musician, Manley approaches songwriting by feel, playing around until it sounds right and the words flow naturally out of him. He works with his bandmates, including Josh Eppard (Coheed and Cambria) and guitar player Billy Pearson, to compose the accompanying parts until they land on melodic, moving music that examines all of humanity, never straying from even the most agonizing parts. The project marks Manley's first solo venture–one that confronts difficult truths and wrestles with addiction, failures, regrets and love, bringing some of the artist's darkest moments into light.
In February, Manley shared the first taste of the project with "Smack Water," a track that lays bare his most troubling, life-altering experience of an overdose. With a steady build, the track unfolds with smoldering electric guitar riffs. Manley says of the track, "This is a surreal journey through the actual events of my overdose." Manley's goal sonically was to capture the life and death stakes that come with addiction and the intensity of all of its highs and lows. Manley says there is a "relaxed yet aggressive vibe—I wanted this song to have a lot of space and attitude with moments of distortion, swells and feedback, so that it raises the stakes as the tune progresses." Throughout the song, Manley wrestles with his mortality and comes face-to-face with the consequences of his almost deadly actions–including nods to old friends of his past and what recovery might mean.
Its accompanying animated video directed by Andrew Colin Beck and produced by The Wild Honey Pie is a stop-motion abstract visualization of the harrowing experience. The visual uses anatomical imagery of humans, animals, chemical compounds and medical equipment that spill across each frame to illustrate the aching lyrics. Beck says he channeled his own darkness and pain with Manley's ideas and guidance to create a fitting visual and using a collage felt most appropriate. Beck says, "A collage can help describe the jumbled and inconsistent nature of the things bouncing around in our heads."
Originally from Kingston, NY, Jack Manley has been writing and performing music for over a decade. When attending Fordham University, he formed a band called Cosmonaut, a local favorite of prominent NYC blog Pancakes and Whiskey, and after graduating, toured with the group as well as with New York indie outfit Spires who caught the attention of NPR. Caring for his sick father and dealing with substance abuse issues in 2019 brought Manley back home to Kingston where he began a new band, The Jennifer Shop, praised by Hudson Valley One as "stellar and melodic indie rock," who recalled the group's live performance, stating, "The songs just swirled with life and enthusiasm, reminding listeners of heartfelt moments or the excitement of tackling new frontiers," but it fell apart when COVID hit. With live music at a halt, Manley fell into a deep depression, leading to a near-fatal overdose and a month-long stint at a hospital. Here, Manley found a broken guitar with four strings that ultimately reignited his love of music, bringing him to write about his life amid deep hardship and begin to heal.
The current iteration of the band took shape in Spring 2023 when Manley shared his new work with classical guitar player Billy Pearson, and they began playing open mic nights at Woodstock's Colony Cafe. Bassist Addy Idol approached the pair to join live, forming a solid trio, lacking a drummer. The group recruited drummer Josh Eppard to record drums on the EP, and friend of the band Noah Sonenstein joined to play drums live. Today, the group consistently plays shows around the Hudson Valley and is primed to formally introduce themselves with the forthcoming collection. Most recently, Manley performed live last month at The Avalon Lounge in Catskill, NY, with support from Setting Sun and Xadir Yucel.
"Save Your Own," out everywhere now sees Jack Manley reflect on his own destructive tendencies as he attempts to save himself before anyone else. Next month, on May 10, Manley will share his forthcoming vivid, hopeful EP Unmeasurable Terms available for pre-order now and perform live in Kingston, NY.. Connect with Jack Manley on Instagram and YouTube and stay tuned for much more to come from the indie singer-songwriter.
Jack Manley Bio
Jack Manley is the new solo project of singer/songwriter Jack Manley, whose former projects include Cosmonaut, The Jennifer Shop, and Spires. Jack grew up in Kingston, NY, and left to attend Fordham in the city, where he got deep into the indie rock scene and started his band Cosmonaut. After college, he toured with Cosmonaut and Spires, playing many NYC beloved venues from Glasslands to Music Hall of Williamsburg and Brooklyn Bowl.
A desire to work on his substance abuse issues and be near family and his aging sick father brought Jack home to Kingston in 2019. He started The Jennifer Shop then, which sadly fell apart once COVID hit. In the years that followed, deep in depression and addiction, he basically stopped playing music. After the overdose that almost killed him, he started writing songs again in the hospital in Poughkeepsie, on a broken guitar they happened to have there, which only had 4 strings. That month-long hospital stay helped save his life, and writing songs about his life helped heal him.
The band began to take shape in spring 2023 when Jack shared the songs he wrote in the hospital with his childhood friend classical guitar-player Billy Pierson, and the two of them started playing together at Colony Cafe in Woodstock’s weekly open mic nights. At one of those open mic nights, bass-player Addy Idol approached Jack and demanded in a way only he could to play with them, and then there were three. The band spent months playing and performing without a drummer and recorded their debut EP with drummer Josh Eppard (of Coheed and Cambria) In fall 2023 drummer Noah Sonenstein, a music student at Bard college and friend of Addy’s, finally made the band complete.
The band has played many local shows around Kingston and the Hudson Valley in the last few months, including Avalon, Big Cat, Graveside Variety, and Terrapin Kitchen. The band plans to go back into the studio in winter 2024 to record a full length album, and hopes to tour in the future.
Jack currently lives in Hurley, NY with his soon-to-be wife, cookbook author Anna Stockwell, and their two cats, Francis and Felix.
