It’s unsurprising that Glasgow-based singer songwriter Stephanie Manns takes her props from country and folk stars Patty Griffin and Emmylou Harris.
Stephanie deals in the same strain of classic, timeless songwriting. Her blend of country, blues and folk offers a fine distillation of the Americana sound and has seen her and her music compared to the likes of Karen Carpenter and Chrissie Hynde.
Her debut LP - Come Closer - earned her across the board rave reviews and support slots with some of the greats. She’s toured with blues legend Joan Armatrading, Ultravox’s Midge Ure and Brit award winner Emeli Sandé.
Now Stephanie is on the brink of releasing her second album, Fool Like Me, a confident, more assured collection of songs which should see her winning even more fans and critics. Catch her and her music out on tour to help launch this next stage in what is shaping up to be an ace musical career…
I first started writing music because…
I was so inspired by a particular songwriter I wanted to try and tell some of my own stories. It took me a long time to have the confidence to write anything and it took time to learn how to write anything I'd be proud of sharing with other people.
I have been making music since…
2010 I think. I've always been playing and singing but it took me until my early twenties to have the confidence to play to someone other than the family dog.
My music is…
Americana, a blend of country, blues and folk.
You'll like my music if you listen to...
Hard to say, I get told a lot that I don't really sound like anyone. I listen to Lake Street Dive, Tift Merritt, the Punch Brothers and James Bay and what I love about those artists is the quality of their songwriting and their voices.
My favourite venue is…
Oran Mor in Glasgow. It's just the right size where it's still a big gig, but small enough to be intimate and the sound is amazing.
Music is important because…
It's art and art is hugely important in exploring and determining who we are, who we want to be. It opens our eyes and makes us consider things from a different standpoint.
My biggest inspiration is…
Dolly Parton, she just nails it. Songwriting, singing, musicianship, stage presence, business acumen. If there's someone who really can do it all, it's Dolly.
My dream collaboration would be…
Dolly...
To try me out, listen to my song…
All Over. Watch the video below.
If I wasn’t making music I’d be…
Miserable. Without music as an outlet I'd go crazy. I will always be making music or writing songs in some form or other. The dream is to do it full time and for it to support me and make a living from it.
In 10 years time I want to be...
Touring, writing and recording full time. Think the saying is ‘go big or go home’ from that I mean, if you really want something you work at it 100 percent, can't expect to achieve something if you don't put the effort in.
Stephanie's forthcoming tour dates are below:
21 February 2015 - Album launch party at the Admiral, Glasgow
17 March 2015 - Country2Country Festival at the 02, London
stephaniemanns.com
facebook.com/Stephaniemannsmusic
Stephanie deals in the same strain of classic, timeless songwriting. Her blend of country, blues and folk offers a fine distillation of the Americana sound and has seen her and her music compared to the likes of Karen Carpenter and Chrissie Hynde.
Her debut LP - Come Closer - earned her across the board rave reviews and support slots with some of the greats. She’s toured with blues legend Joan Armatrading, Ultravox’s Midge Ure and Brit award winner Emeli Sandé.
Now Stephanie is on the brink of releasing her second album, Fool Like Me, a confident, more assured collection of songs which should see her winning even more fans and critics. Catch her and her music out on tour to help launch this next stage in what is shaping up to be an ace musical career…
I first started writing music because…
I was so inspired by a particular songwriter I wanted to try and tell some of my own stories. It took me a long time to have the confidence to write anything and it took time to learn how to write anything I'd be proud of sharing with other people.
I have been making music since…
2010 I think. I've always been playing and singing but it took me until my early twenties to have the confidence to play to someone other than the family dog.
My music is…
Americana, a blend of country, blues and folk.
You'll like my music if you listen to...
Hard to say, I get told a lot that I don't really sound like anyone. I listen to Lake Street Dive, Tift Merritt, the Punch Brothers and James Bay and what I love about those artists is the quality of their songwriting and their voices.
My favourite venue is…
Oran Mor in Glasgow. It's just the right size where it's still a big gig, but small enough to be intimate and the sound is amazing.
Music is important because…
It's art and art is hugely important in exploring and determining who we are, who we want to be. It opens our eyes and makes us consider things from a different standpoint.
My biggest inspiration is…
Dolly Parton, she just nails it. Songwriting, singing, musicianship, stage presence, business acumen. If there's someone who really can do it all, it's Dolly.
My dream collaboration would be…
Dolly...
To try me out, listen to my song…
All Over. Watch the video below.
If I wasn’t making music I’d be…
Miserable. Without music as an outlet I'd go crazy. I will always be making music or writing songs in some form or other. The dream is to do it full time and for it to support me and make a living from it.
In 10 years time I want to be...
Touring, writing and recording full time. Think the saying is ‘go big or go home’ from that I mean, if you really want something you work at it 100 percent, can't expect to achieve something if you don't put the effort in.
Stephanie's forthcoming tour dates are below:
21 February 2015 - Album launch party at the Admiral, Glasgow
17 March 2015 - Country2Country Festival at the 02, London
stephaniemanns.com
facebook.com/Stephaniemannsmusic
