Coast 2 Coast Closeup – Manny Blu

Before Manny Blu was known as a Nashville artist with his own genre, three EPs, and 1M+ streams, he was playing tours throughout North America and Canada as an acclaimed M.M.A. fighter turned country singer and a true road warrior. Blu started his music career playing nightly shows supporting his 2019 debut album Leave It Like It Is while also sharpening the larger-than-life sound that would later fill his 2020 EP New Ink and his most recent 2021 EP, DEViL.

Blu has relocated to Nashville full-time and created a genre, Country Punk, which combines the lyrical style of country music with the heavy infused beats and sounds of punk rock. Country Punk brings Blu’s own vibe to country music, creating an original sound that makes room for his blues and rock & roll influences. He introduced that sound in 2019 with Leave It Like It Is, a debut record that earned him thousands of new fans and presented him with the opportunity to hit the road.

Raised as a versatile athlete who played hockey, soccer, and football before kickstarting his M.M.A. training at 16-years-old, Blu hasn’t lost that fighting spirit. If anything, he’s gotten stronger and is learning new ways to roll with the music industry punches. In 2020, despite pandemic restrictions, he had a landmark year as New Ink allowed him the opportunity to be seen in the country music community. Throughout 2021, Blu’s social footprint on TikTok has grown to a record of 2.5M+ and his YouTube series, which includes his Live & Turned Up concert series, has a record of 1M+ views. The promising artist has expanded his team to an international level through added representation in the U.S. and the U.K. He is currently on tour with his new EP, playing shows in both the U.S. and Canada. Ultimately, with his 2021 release, Blu is taking his career to the next level. DEViL, with its hard-hitting hooks and country-rock edge, is the soundtrack to drive his career even further–and Manny Blu is ready to deliver a knockout blow.

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