Denver, CO – Denver-based producer Manic Focus is an artist of many talents. As a magician, he uses sleight of hand to pull objects out of thin air. As an electronic artist, he executes similarly impossible sonic acts with his vibrant, genre-defying music. But his strengths lie not only in the musical and magical: what also makes Manic Focus stand apart is his mental triumphs.
“This album is very special to me. It will take you on a journey through many of the emotions I experience in a manic episode – from the confidence, through the chaos, to the euphoric states, but ultimately ending on a positive note.”
– Manic Focus
Diagnosed with Bipolar 1 in 2007, Manic Focus has experienced several manic and depressive episodes – experiences that directly inspired his artist name. Instead of preventing him from working, his Bipolar diagnosis became a driving factor in his creative processes, an obstacle he’s had to navigate towards a product of endless musical ingenuity. Never Not Blue takes the listener through the different emotional states of a manic episode where the interludes outline the stages of mania.
Manic Focus’ unique style – defined by a hybrid of electronic, funk, soul, and hip-hop – has helped the producer cultivate a fervent fanbase captivated by his immersive studio trickery and vibrant creative spirit – a combination that has led him to performances at festivals such as Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Hulaween, North Coast Music Festival, High Sierra Music Festival, Camp Bisco, Wakaan Festival, Summer Camp Music Festival, and multiple opening slots at Red Rocks in support of Zhu, Emancipator, Pretty Lights, and more.
Now, Manic Focus releases his 7th studio album, Never Not Blue, a new full-length project that showcases the producer’s vast growth as a multi-genre artist, including songs with the blues-infected electronic style of his earlier work as well as a wide range of modern bass music influences. Having consistently evolved over the past decade, fleshing out his sound to incorporate new approaches to genre, songwriting, and composition, Manic Focus’ new album is an amalgamation of the various styles and sounds he’s explored over the years. In many ways, Never Not Blue is a career retrospective – a look back at where Manic Focus began, and just how far he’s come.
Thematically, Never Not Blue conveys what a manic episode feels like, putting listeners on an exclusive journey through Manic Focus’ interior world. Bombastic, dancey, heavy, and chaotic – this new LP is a holistic representation of Manic Focus’ artistry and mental health journey. To tie together the album’s narrative, Manic Focus wrote interlude tracks that represent various stages of a manic episode – “Acute Mania,” “Delirious Mania,” and “Healing Stage.” These tracks give context to the LP’s thematic content and provide a cohesive thread across the tracklist – they also give an unprecedented glimpse into what it’s like to struggle with Bipolar 1, breaking up the album into chapters that sonically align with each stage.
Never Not Blue is a grand musical statement that cements Manic Focus as a defining voice in electronic music. It’s also an inspiring testament to the producer’s work ethic and ability to persevere through – as the title suggests – life’s daily struggles
Fans can check out Manic Focus on tour, where he’ll be playing Never Not Blue tracks at stops such as Red Rocks and Summer Camp Music Festival.
Manic Focus tour dates
3/30/23: Headliner Music Hall w/ Jaenga | Louisville, KY
3/31/23: BLVD Nights | Kansas City, MO
4/8/23: Red Rocks Amphitheatre w/ Vincent Antone | Morrison, CO
4/14/23: El Club w/ Boogie T | Detroit, MI
4/15/23: Asheville Music Hall w/ Meduso | Asheville, NC
4/21/23: The Get Down w/ Kaptain | Portland, OR
4/22/23: Public Works w/ Kaipora & Kaptain | San Francisco, CA
4/28/23: Fine Line | Minneapolis, MN
4/29/23: Elevation | Grand Rapids, MI
5/7/23: Sol Fest | New Brockton, AL
5/13/23: Black Box | Charlotte, NC
5/20/23: Believe | Atlanta, GA
5/25 – 5/28/23: Summer Camp Music Festival | Chillicothe, IL