MANNA- FINNISH-ALGERIAN SOLO ARTIST AND PART OF THE NORDIC MUSIC PRIZE 2012 NOMINEE KERKKO KOSKINEN KOLLEKTIIVI

MOJO MAGAZINE LIVE REVIEW:

"Striking is Manna, looking like a cross between Charlotte Gainsbourg and Patti Smith. Blending PJ Harvey's stomp with CSS's dance moves is audacious, and it's clear she's ready to cross borders."

SUNDAY TIMES CULTURE:
Dreamy doomy music from Algerian/Finnish newcomer.

THEFADER.COM LIVE REVIEW:
Her stage presence makes her shine, in the way that two years from now when she’s headlining a show at a stadium the size of a small city, I’ll be like…well at least I called the stage presence thing. She’s got the kind of star power that makes me feel like a sleazy record executive that actually says things like “star power.”

CLASSIC ROCK MAGAZINE:
There's a lot of New York in there, given the terrific, narcotic sound. But that's only part of the story. Her magpie instincts make room for 60s girl-group pop, highly atmospheric ballads, and the kind of hoodoo vamp rock that's been bubbling up from basements since kids first learned to plug a guitar. She's a genuine talent all right, capable of both Ronettes dreaminess and riffs that Royal Trux last rode in on. There's a killer attitude, too. Watch this space. "

all contact: manna.press@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/mannamariam

Following the UK/Finnish release of Manna’s critically acclaimed album: Songs Of Hope And Desire in 2010, Manna released her sophomore album Shackles co-producing it with guitarist Mikko Joensuu and Alain Johannes (Arctic Monkeys, Desert Sessions) in 2012. 

2013 Manna has been seen as a singer for the Nordic Music Prize nominated Kerkko Koskinen Kollektiivi.

Mixing influences that pass decades, Manna effortlessly combines musical elements from dreamy experimental rock to post punk, blues and folk creating a unique and powerful sound. She has already been picked up by the likes of Mojo, Record of The Day, MTV UK and Classic Rock Magazine.

MUSE selected Manna to support the band in Finland in the summer of 2010, and in 2011, she was personally chosen by Melissa auf der Maur to be her main support on her Scandinavian tour.

Under her belt higly reviewed appearances at the biggest showcase festivals in Europe: Eurosonic and By:Larm and a UK tour with shows at Club NME, and performances at The Great Escape and Secret Garden Party Festivals.

In Manna's own words: " I am not interested in creating anything except heartfelt music, it can be either beautiful or just plain aggressive - often both.  Anyway, there should be no rules when making music, it's when you let go of them and follow your intuition that it starts getting interesting. Sound is god and I love music."

Manna is now in the process of recording new music for her upcoming solo album, to be released fall 2014.

Anders Hanses is a Swedish singer/songwriter born 1982 in Djura, Dalarna. Previously he performed solo for a long time, accompanied by his acoustic guitar. Back in 2003-2006 he was the lead singer of Public Service.

Since 2013 Hanses is accompanied by Patrik Fackt (drums), Tomas Klinta (bass) and Henning Winnberg (keyboard), they've all been touring "3000 miles of blues" before meeting Anders. Together they now meet in a free forum with Anders lyrics. By the time, their music has been compared to artists and bands within the alternative rock scene, including Band of Horses, Ryan Adams and Christian Kjellvander. On record as well as live, they create a tapestry of melodies and their music gives a suggestive, cinematic ambience.

Before the release of their first single the band decided to engage producer Ronald Bood, the producer of Mando Diao, Christian Kjellvander and Shout Out Louds. The song "Hell Suburbia" was recorded using the full band and the single and music video was released in January 2013. Through the music video and lyrics Hanses wanted to highlight the strength and free spirit of children. 

Following a year of touring the band started to record the EP "Reverberation” which was released in October 2015, where the lyrics to the EP are based on fragments of journals, found at auctions by Hanses. Together with the lyrics, Hanses voice encourages faith, quest and a feeling that anything is possible. The first single of the EP, "Where’re you going this time”, was released March 31 2015. The single has received great success a number of music blogs and reviews.

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