THE GOLDEN STORY
It’s not every day you meet someone who has lived in eight different cities within four different countries on three different continents. Not to mention, all before the age of 23. MANUELA, a soulful singer-songwriter, who was born in Kenya to Kenyan and Swiss parents, has now settled down just outside of Edmonton, Alberta in Sherwood Park.
Now 26, her sweet fusion of pop, jazz, soul and indie fervor soars on the wings of her wander-lust. MANUELA pulls her sound from influences such as, the UK’s Corinne Bailey Rae and her pop-jazz acoustic guitar sounds to a melding of John Mayer, India.Arie, and, in her opinion, the “BIG 3” Alanis Morissette, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. Her songs are full of messages of love and hope. telling the tales of real-life experiences and gospel convictions. MANUELA can confidently play in any room. Be it with just her acoustic guitar or with her band, MANUELA will always deliver an intimate and powerful performance, displaying both her exceptional vocal talent and control and her ability to, musically, accompany herself.
With multiple self-released EP’s, MANUELA, took the leap and went into DIY overdrive when in February 2010 she released her first full-length album A Different Kind of Fire, on her own Independent label, Golden Recordings. Not only did she take on the Executive Producer role for this album and was able to secure thousands in private funding but MANUELA self- booked and promoted her Western Canadian tour to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics for which she also received valuable sponsorship from Budget Car Rentals and Accent Inns in British Columbia.
In June 2011 MANUELA released her new EP “The Golden Story” which features a newly produced radio version of “Circling Numbers” as well as two never before heard songs, “More Than a Friend” and “Golden.” With a national radio campaign in place, MANUELA headed out on the road for a national solo promotional tour for six weeks.
After multiple Western Canadian tours and a national tour, MANUELA’s moment came with the release of her 2011 single, “Circling Numbers.” This single was serviced to Christian commercial radio stations across Canada and was in the Top 30 on the Canadian Christian Radio Charts (CCRC) for 10 weeks. It hit a high of #6, among US major label artists and gained MANUELA the 2011 Gospel Music Association (GMA) Covenant Award for Urban/R&B/Soul Single of the Year.
MANUELA also received her first TV licensing synch this year on “Degrassi” with her song “Summer,” off of her first album, which received a nomination for a 2011 Western Canadian Music Award for Urban Recording of the Year. In addition to her GMA Covenant win, she also received two (2) other nominations for Best Female Artist and Best New Artist.
It’s no wonder UMAC president, Will Strickland has identified her as “an emerging talent whom they plan to nurture and assist in any way possible.”
For more information: info@themanuela.com
DISCOGRAPHY:
The Golden Story EP (June 2011)
A Different Kind of Fire (February 2010)
The Love EP (March 2008)
MAJOR OPENING ACT LISTING
Rick Ross (Maybach/Def Jam) | Jan. 13, 2011
Edmonton Events Center Edmonton, AB | w/ Politic Live
Raekwon (Wu-Tang) | Apr. 21, 2011
Starlite Room Edmonton, AB | w/ Politic Live
MAJOR PERFORMANCE LISTING
YouthQuake | Feb. 19, 2011
Briercrest College, Caronport, SK | *+1000 in attendance
CFL National Anthem | Aug. 9, 2010
Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, AB | *EDM. vs. TOR +30,000 in attendance
OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Nominations:
2011 Western Canadian Music Award: Urban Category for “A Different Kind of Fire”
2011 GMA Canada Covenant Awards: Urban/R&B Single: Circling Numbers – WON
2011 GMA Canada Covenant Awards: Best New Artist
2011 GMA Canada Covenant Awards: Female Vocalist of the Year
