Favorite Voices Friday
Today we're looking at Nicholas McManus of There Will Be Fireworks
I’ve mentioned Threads and its incredible music community a few time (maybe more than a few). Not sorry about it. It’s a great place for avid listeners and new listeners alike. If you haven’t yet checked it out, I highly recommend you do so.
But, back on topic … I launched a new “challenge” last month. I called on the community to share their favorite voices.
Share your favorite vocalists, whether pure and polished or emotional and raw.
I set the challenge for thirty days, but I often extend my own challenge submissions, because I just love so many artists, songs, albums, etc. I’m not sure how long I’ll extend this one. Maybe 100 voices? Maybe 365 voices. We’ll just have to see.
However long I run my own list of favorite voices, I’m planning to share them here on Fridays (not necessarily every Friday … I’ll still do Friday finds, so don’t fret if you look to me to introduce new listens).
I’m starting the ball rolling with Nicholas McManus, the lead singer for There Will be Fireworks.
It should surprise no one that Nicholas is Scottish. My love of Scottish voices has never been hidden! Whether softly delivered, or swelling above the music, this man’s gorgeous vocals are emotionally charged. Even when he’s talk-singing, as on “Foreign Thoughts,” there’s so much feeling present.
The Playlists
I’ll let you listen and allow you to form your own opinion, rather than continuing to wax rhapsodic!
Listen with Apple Music:
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/favorite-voices-nicholas-mcmanus/pl.u-DdANXJBu0Ver3pR
There you go. Ten songs, across several releases over the last 10+ years. Now I leave you to listen and let me know what you think? Is this voice worthy of a favorite nod? I certainly think so. How about you?
I love this idea! And I really enjoyed listening to these songs. This isn’t a band I’m really familiar with other than when you’ve shared them in the past, and it comes as no surprise to me that this is a voice you would love. It’s made me think about my own favourite voices and I found it surprisingly hard to separate voice from music.
Top of my own list (unsurprisingly for anyone who knows me) is Keith Murray of We Are Scientists. I would happily listen to this man sing the phone book, but happily I don’t have to. The band’s music is always a showcase for his voice but they’ve also shared a number of acoustic covers on substack which I absolutely love. I don’t know what it is exactly, but there is no one I want to listen to more.
I'll echo Lou that this is a great concept for a recurring series type of thing. So many ways to go with it, different genres, eras, etc.
I was not at all familiar with this artist previously. That first song was a little "much" IMHO . . . I wasn't sure I was going to like this but the rest of it was really good. He's got that great melodramatic, movie soundtrack sort of vibe. Great name for the group too . . . so fitting for their sound. Every song had such big dramatic flourishes. Dare I say Springsteen-ian ? Yes, I dare :)