OnTour Talks: Manukahunney
Manukahunney, our very own NI soul superstars have released a new single, Watershed.
We recently chatted to Siobhan Brown, the band leader and singer/songwriter, about their high energy gigs, the new single, and we found out a bit about what Siobhan is up to during lockdown.
Manukahunney Blue has grown out of the outfit called “Manukahunney” which has been playing live, high energy soul and has grown to become synonymous with quality soul music in NI since 2012. Siobhan Brown is leader of the band and is a singer songwriter who’s musical influences hail from the 60’s/70’s and 80’s encompassing everything from James brown and Sam Cooke to Joni Mitchell , Jill Scott & Roy Ayers . She sang in numerous gospel groups before starting the band Manukahunney in 2012 as a conduit for her love of soul music, particularly the raw, loud energetic and funky sounds of Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin et al.
“I wanted to branch out and develop the Manukahunney Brand and explore other areas of this genre that I love, hence the birth of the band with the tag BLUE to differentiate between the high energy soul of the larger band and the laid back neo soul, blues, jazz & gospelesque vibes that Manukahunney Blue plays, along with its own original music.”
Siobhan has been a great advocate for soul music in Ireland and has not only been playing but also promoting soul music, as presenter of BBC Radio Ulster’s first dedicated soul show namely “ The Siobhan Brown Soul Show” which completed its first series earlier this year. A second series has been commissioned for later in 2020.
Whats the story behind Watershed and is it the beginnings of an album?
Watershed was a song that I wrote 10 years ago and parked because the time wasn’t right and the song wasn’t quite what I knew it could be, But I knew it was a song of great potential. You know that when you listen to it after 10 years and still think its a great song!! The creativity within the Manukahunney Blue band provided the perfect platform to begin focussing on original material, something I had wanted to do for a long time. The release of our first EP LET GO in 2018 was the start of that journey and has put me on the path to songwriting again. So now has been the right time to go back to some of my old material. My experience and maturity as a musician and singer songwriter has been able to develop the tune into a much better song that is ready to be released to the world. It’s all about timing, making those life changing decisions at the right time, and taking time out to think and having the strength and courage to follow what we know needs to be done, which is what the song is about. It’s a song of hope to encourage us through our life journey. Yes – This is one of the songs that will be on an album that I’m currently working on, which I hope to have complete by the end of this year or early next year .
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What are you doing during lockdown?
I’m working on my new material for my new album and working hard to promote the new Watershed single and music video. I also run a community choir of my own (Clanmil commnity choir) and do virtual vocal workshops for school groups & community projects, as well as individuals, so I’m busy with preparation for those sessions. I am also working from home in my day job as a conservation architect and director within a new organisation. I try to keep fit at home (unsuccessfully at the moment lol) with my sons who are all sporty, they try and keep me motivated to keep active. I dance a lot around the house whilst listening to music and doing lots of cooking, and I’m chipping away at all the things that need to be done around the home. I’ve taken up the playing the bodhran as well during lockdown. I’ve forgotten how much I love playing that instrument. As well as that I’m just trying to get lots of rest too and doing what I can to help others by keeping their spirts up over social media.
You have amazing energy in your live gigs and a dedicated fan base. What’s your most memorable live gig?
Ooh I’ve had so many, they are all memorable actually I have to say, that’s not a cop out it’s really true. The Manukahunney experience is really unique – that response and energy with everyone on our soul nights and the music is truly amazing. But one of my most memorable was when Manukahunney did support act for Martha Reeves and the Vandellas as part of the Cathedral Quarter Festival . Also memorable was our Manukahunney Blue gigs in 2018 & 2019 at the Open House Festival, these will forever have a special place in my heart, because of the huge love to our original music and just the love in the room from the audience was super special.
What’s are you looking forward to most after this current situation ends?
Interacting with my loved ones and people again – I love connecting with people and sharing experiences together. I can’t wait to play with the band again and getting into the studio together to record and to perform together. And I could do with one of our Manukahunney gigs after all this and just let it all out on the dance floor. Looking forward to being free to travel again and travel to cool places with my hubby and experience new things and go on holiday with my hubby & my boys.
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