Watch the music video for Jack Manley’s “Grow Up” here:
Artist, songwriter, and guitarist Jack Manley releases his powerful new single “Grow Up” today, October 18, 2024. The deeply personal track reflects on the death of his father and his own life struggles, combining hard-hitting lyrics with a bold, dark alt-rock sound. Available on Spotify and all streaming platforms, “Grow Up” is accompanied by the official music video on YouTube. Notably, both the audio and video were recorded live in a single take. The audio was captured at Utopia Studios in Woodstock, NY, and the video was shot on a 90s-era handheld camera in one continuous take. The video opens with poignant footage of a framed photo of Jack’s father as well as the bathroom where Jack overdosed, ultimately leading to him finding the sobriety he always strived for.
The song’s lyrics were first jotted down as a note on Jack’s phone during a mentally challenging subway ride to work in Manhattan some years ago.
“like no matter how hard I worked I felt I couldn’t gain traction in music, or in life. I couldn’t save money, I couldn’t put food on the table. I remember thinking, wow, at this age my father had already left his family, moved to England, sailed the world on ships boxing near the boilers for extra money. Compared to my father, I felt like a scared little boy.”
Jack Manley
Musically, the track takes inspiration from the 90s alt-rock radio hits that shaped Jack’s formative years, sounding something like elements of Nirvana’s “Something in the Way” mixed with Radiohead’s “Karma Police.” Though Jack wasn’t an avid listener of either band during that time, the influence of such iconic albums as well as Weezer’s “The Blue Album” and The Pixies shine through and serve as a purposeful nod to his earliest conception of what a song could and should be.
Jack was interviewed on the Comeback Kid podcast about his struggles with sobriety, watch the interview here:
If you or a loved one need help, find out about treatment near you. Please visit https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov or call SAMHSA’s 24/7 National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or 1-800-487-4889 (TDD).
