Some artists blend different styles of music in ways that defy expectations.
Do you normally fuse metal with hip-hop? Blues and electronic? Gerry Mancuso is all about turning things on their heads, drawing and fusing musical styles that encompass rock, blues, metal, electronic, shred, and hip-hop to make a sound that is both unique and unmistakably his.
It takes skill to blend genres that can seem contradictory and even opposite to each other, but all indicators imply that Mancuso is more than up to the challenge.
Having performed at the world-famous Apollo Theater in New York for three years, Gerry Mancuso is no stranger to bright lights and the stage either. Having honed his craft for years, Mancuso’s work and musical drive have earned him respect for his peers, having worked with the world-renowned keyboardist Derek Sherinian (of Dream Theater/Planet X) and vocalist Gene Anderson (of the legendary Parliament and Funkadelic), among others. Although undoubtedly extremely talented, Mancuso’s stellar body of work belies someone who is not afraid to do the work.
"Rebirth" is one of the latest results of Mancuso’s talent and drive. An epic, seven-minute musical adventure of grand proportions, whereas a lesser musician would struggle to keep your attention, Mancuso takes you on an enthralling musical journey instead. In typical Mancuso style, it’s full of contradictions; winding yet straightforward, slow yet fast, and free but at other times subdued. As we’ve come to expect, Mancuso fuses all of these elements to do a cohesive project in the way he can. One thing is for sure; he’s definitely one to keep an eye on for the future.
Gerry Mancuso’s “Rebirth” is an epic musical journey of grand proportions. If you're in need of some banging new rock tunes, tap in and stream “Rebirth,” available now on all major streaming platforms.
We loved “Rebirth." It honestly felt like we were being taken on an epic musical journey. We have to ask, what was the inspiration behind "Rebirth?"
"Rebirth" was written after a four-month-long hiatus I took from playing guitar due to a severe back injury. I couldn’t walk, sit, or stand for months due to this painful, debilitating condition. Once I fully recovered, I couldn’t wait to put together a track that encompassed the pain I went through, combined with the gratitude of fully healing. The song was written with relative ease; I would imagine that due to the pent-up frustration of not being able to play for so long, "Rebirth" was born.
So you’re no stranger to the stage, having toured and played at numerous venues across America, so we wanted to ask: do any performances you’ve done stand out as your favorite? If so, why?
My favorite venue had to be the Apollo Theater due to its sheer magnitude. 1700 people watching you play is no walk in the park, especially with how ruthless that crowd can be.
What is the Gerry Mancuso origin story? How did you get started in music, and was it always something you knew you wanted to do?
I started playing Alto Sax at eight years old. I thought it was the coolest instrument ever. I was fascinated with how seductive it sounded. It wasn’t until the age of 15 that I picked up the electric guitar. At that point, I quit playing sax and fell in love with the guitar. I imagine learning how to read music and how rhythm/melody worked at a young age gave me a leg up to learn how to play guitar. As a teenager, I always knew this was my calling, and I haven’t put it down since.
So you’ve obviously collaborated with some big names out there, but we were curious if you had a favorite collaboration, and if so, what was it?
My favorite collaboration was working with Derek Sherinian. I listened to Dream Theater as a kid and never would’ve imagined having the opportunity to work with their mastermind keyboardist. It was an honor to learn from his manager that he dug my tunes and wanted to work with me on a project. The song is entitled “Final Frontiers” from the Prophesy record. Go give it a listen!
What’s next for Gerry Mancuso? Do you have any major goals for 2023?
I’m working on my next studio album and hoping to release it by the 4th quarter of 2023.