Music
Press
"Glory Blue's debut CD spotlights a pair of young artists who have joined forces and talents to create a collection of acoustic pop songs that tell stories (and sometimes cautionary tales) of young love and its hurts. Justin Manion's simple, clean guitar work and Stephonne Singleton's soulful and silky vocals create a unique musical blend, and their lyrics reveal a search for something deeper--a spirituality behind the ins and outs of young relationships that speaks of forgiveness, redemption and, at times, prayer. It's a solid first effort of mostly acoustic guitar and vocals, but the several more fully produced tracks perhaps illustrate what lies next for this talented duo. Let's hope Glory Blue's sophomore release follows soon." ---Steve Givens - unofficial
Discography
Melancholy Man (2007)
Over Head EP (2008)
Photos
Bio
Glory Blue is charged and ready to preach their gospel of cloud-with-a-silver-lining pop music across America. Just months after the release of their debut album Melancholy Man, they are now prepping for the release of their first EP, Over Head, which marks a bold, new direction for the Midwestern duo.
“I didn’t see this coming when we sat down to write music over a year and a half ago” reveals vocalist Stephonne. “It’s so empowering to have created an album without the help of a label or producer. We were driven by our belief in our music.”
Glory Blue came together at Benedictine College in Kansas as a musical group without the pretensions that plague most newcomers. Rather, Stephonne and guitarist Justin were determined to create their own meaningful brand of acoustic-rock.
“Creating this EP has been a huge learning experience” says Justin. “We are really starting to get an idea of who we are as song writers and musicians.” Listeners will definitely hear a newfound confidence and style within the songs, thanks in part to the addition of Daniel Dennis on drums.
Over Head sees the duo shifting gears in a variety of ways. The music’s content takes a shift from the debut’s focus on cautionary tales of young love and relationships of the first album to a focus on more personal issues and perceptions of the world at large. “The maturity really comes out in the vocals and subject matter of the songs” says Stephonne.
Justin’s guitar playing sounds richer and smoother and is perfectly complimented throughout by Daniel Dennis’ drumming. Stephonne shows off his improved vocal range throughout, such as on the soulful “Gone.”
“It’s our exorcism song,” he says. “It’s about being tired of all the traps, boxes and pigeon-holes the world sets up for us and wanting to free ourselves from them. We want to be ‘gone’ from all the negative, short-sighted states of mind.” The EP also contains the band-defining “Here I Am.” The song is an unflinching defense for who they are and what they do.
Over Head also includes the group’s first official cover, namely “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word” by Sir Elton John. The song, about unrequited love, was a natural selection for the band.
“Sorry is such a hard word for people to say,” explains Stephonne. “It's hard to swallow your pride and give full commitment and love to another person. It’s a sad, frustrating situation. It represents much of who we are musically and emotionally.”
Although the group is taking a darker turn, their idealism stays the same. “Glory Blue represents the triumphs and glory emerging from the struggles and woes of life,” says Justin. If this is the dark before the dawn, the sunrise looming ahead must be beautiful indeed.
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