Raised in a musical home – her father was a music teacher – Manning took to the form at a young age. Set to self-produce her first album at the age of 16, she was discovered by Honeymoon Suite keyboardist Ray Coburn at a showcase at Lee’s Palace in Toronto; after two live performances for EMI executives, the label signed Manning to a record deal. Volume 1, her debut album, was released by EMI in Canada and Nettwerk in the United States in 1997. Manning and Coburn produced and performed; other featured musicians included Melanie Doane, Sean Lennon, and Manning’s parents, Darlene and David Manning, on clarinet and trumpet respectively. Stephen Drake, of Canadian rock band the Odds, mixed the album. Her first single and video, “Half the Man,” was downcast, mournful and heavily folk-inflected; nonetheless it became a strong hit on Canadian radio and MuchMusic, and the follow-up track, the uptempo pop number “My Addiction”, matched or exceeded its success. Manning toured for more than two years, performing on the first season of Lilith Fair and with Radiohead, Lisa Loeb, Spirit of the West, Burton Cummings and others. She was nominated for the 1998 Juno Award for Best New Artist. Shades, her second album with EMI, was released in late 2002. Recorded in Los Angeles with Red Hot Chili Peppers producer Jim Scott, the album was criticized in some reviews for a production-heavy, adult contemporary sound that took away from Manning’s own voice and potential. Other reviews were far more favorable, praising the album’s aural ambience and Manning’s talent for introspective lyrics. A single and a video were released for the song “Miracle”. After eight years, Manning parted ways with EMI. Her third album, Folkyo, was released on August 22, 2006, and saw Manning write, co-produce and perform. She released the album on her own label, LeParc Records, and even raised funds to finish production by working on an oil and gas camp in Northern British Columbia for the Winter of 2006. Her recent collaborators include Gavin Brown and Danny Michel. Folkyo has received positive reviews, praising the album’s musical intricacy and Manning’s voice and writing, as well as its complex tones and clever lyrics. |
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