Pleasure and Pride – 3-track Demo Release

16 Sep 2014 Leave a comment

by Debra Manskey in Biography, Downloads, Music, Recording Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Hey everyone,

I realised today I haven’t posted anything here for such a long time! My life is incredibly busy with study, teaching and creating, but today I really want to stop and share a moment to take a whole heap of pleasure – and a lot of pride – in Straddlepuss‘ latest achievement.

Sara (Drums) Kirsty (Guitar/Vocals) & me (Bass)

Sara (Drums) Kirsty (Guitar/Vocals) & me (Bass)

Today we lauched our three-track demo on SoundCloud and so far, people seem to like it 😀 We recorded it down at The Belfry Studio, with the amazing Malcolm Battersby and we’re so pleased with the results.

On a personal note, I have to share how proud I am of my fellow band members, Sara Stevens on drums and Kirsty Leaf on guitar and lead vocals. About a year ago, Kirsty came to me for some singing lessons and she was just about to give up. I don’t know if I’ve ever had anyone come to me who was so unsure of themselves. Then she played me this incredible song that she’d written and I was completely sold on her, her voice and above all, her songwriting. She is an truly unique talent in the making and I feel incredibly privileged to be on this mad ride with her and Sara ❤

Have a listen and see what you think, I’d love to hear your feedback!

Meanwhile, it’s back to study for me, stay well everyone!

Debra ❤

Back on the Line! Playing Catch-up with a Virtual Life

03 Apr 2014 Leave a comment

by Debra Manskey in Biography, Business, Composition, Downloads, Inspiration, Inspiration, Inspiration, Merchandise, Music, Performance, Recording, Singing, Teaching, Writing Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

After six months with just my trusty mobile phone, I’m extremely happy to announce that I’ve got a home broadband connection again. Despite having the WordPress app on my phone, it’s just not the same as this interface on my laptop.

It’s good to be back – but now the big job of catching up begins! So much has been happening this southern summer, and as always, some of it’s been good and some of it’s been really bad.

On the “utterly brilliant” end of the spectrum, I’ve finished my first fully online unit through Griffith University. Despite only having my mobile for connection, I managed a surprising high distinction and I have to thank some beautiful friends in Hobart for letting me leach their net regularly to stay on top of things. Thank you Lauren and Patsi ❤ you two are wonderful! I’m well into my second unit now and starting to really enjoy the challenge of study again.

In the next few weeks, I’ll be finalising digital stuff for my most recent recording and playing catch up with getting cd’s out and about. And for those of you in southern Tasmania, I’m playing at the next ASA show on Wednesday, 9th April. Once again, we’re at The Night Owl in Liverpool Street, Hobart.

ASA 9th April poster

I’ll also have details to reveal soon about a new songwriting/recording/documentary project, plus a live, all-girl punk band I’m playing with called Straddlepuss.

And finally, being back online with a fibre connection means I can at long last offer Skype music lessons to you all. I can’t believe it was October last year when I first wrote about this and it’s taken until now to get it off the ground! If you’re interested, fill out the contact form – and the first lesson is free 😉

There’s been sadness too but I’m not dwelling on that today.

Today is a day for cheering!

Take care friends,

Debra ❤

Seasons Greetings – A Wonderful Christmas Present!

27 Dec 2013 Leave a comment

by Debra Manskey in Business, Composition, Downloads, Inspiration, Lyrics, Music, Recording, Singing, Teaching, Writing Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Gorgeous Jax

The Gorgeous Jax

To begin with, irrespective of what you believe (or don’t believe) I wish you all a peaceful, relaxed holiday season. I’ve been having a great time, taking some time off with family and friends. But I’ve been pretty lax with keeping up with my blog – sorry!

Probably one of the best presents I’ve ever had was dumped in my lap recently. As a mentor and music teacher, you always wish the best for your charges but this is just outstanding 🙂

I’m very proud and pleased that JAX has made it to Number 6 on the Triple J Unearthed Pop charts.

For those of you outside of Australia, this is something to truly celebrate, I really can’t begin to describe how proud I am of this up and coming artist! The song she’s uploaded “Swallow” is a really excellent pop song with quite a mature, dark lyric. This young woman is an inspiration to us all, to stick at it and follow your dreams!

I encourage you all to go to the site and have a listen – “Swallow” is available for free download.

Meanwhile, play nicely, stay safe and have a great end to 2013!

Debra xx

Looking Forward to 2014!

01 Dec 2013 Leave a comment

by Debra Manskey in Biography, Business, Composition, Downloads, Merchandise, Music, Recording, Singing, Teaching, Writing Tags: , , , , , , ,

It’s been an exciting year for me but I’m really looking forward to 2014.

For starters, I’m on track to have The Lucky Six ready for release as a digital download early in the new year. If there’s enough interest, I’ll consider a CD release later in the year 😉

And, my previous digital release,The Woman on the Edge of the World has been so warmly received, that plans are well underway for a limited CD version. Each copy will contain full liner notes, my original artwork and photography and will be numbered and signed by me.

We’re planning this to be 100 copies only available through me. So if you’re interested, get in touch to pre-order!

Also, next year I’ll still be teaching privately in Hobart and taking some distance students via Skype. Plus, I have a wonderful session I run each week, writing and making music with a group of disabled people.

Life is full – and I love it that way 😀

And Now – Back to the Music!

08 Nov 2013 2 Comments

by Debra Manskey in Biography, Business, Downloads, Inspiration, Inspiration, Lyrics, Merchandise, Music, Performance, Recording, Singing Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

After a little sojourn into urban farming and environmental concerns, today it’s back to the driving force in my life – music!

At the moment, I’m preparing to finish recording my next project, and it’s something completely foreign to me. After years of writing and playing my own songs, I’m recording an EP of other people’s songs. I started recording a couple of months ago and I now have five songs that I’m pretty pleased with as studio roughs. But I’d like to record one more and then start the mixing process.

Bertha & Blondie, ready for action!

Bertha & Blondie, ready for action

The concept is to record songs that have influenced my own songwriting and/or singing and believe me, the hardest thing has been narrowing it down to just six! In conversation with my musical partner-in-crime and studio whiz, Malcolm Battersby, “The Lucky Six” came up as a title. And I love it!

Also, it’s been my first opportunity to record in Mal’s new facility, The Belfry Studio, and what a delight that has been! The space is lovely and the equipment is excellent but I always love recording with Mal for a multitude of other reasons. We play together in The Fringe Dwellers so musically, we know each other very well. Everytime we get together, whether it’s for rehearsals, gigs or just a cuppa, we have a great time – we both have a similar mad sense of humour – but it’s his professionalism that shines through when I’m recording and he’s engineering.

We have a plan and generally, stick to it. He gives me space in the recording studio to get on with what I’m good at and doesn’t get in my way when I need time to consider my next move. He’ll make suggestions but not demands and knows exactly when to call a tea break. And his recording gear and microphones are good!

I anticipate “The Lucky Six” will be available as a digital download early in 2014. I’ll have links through this blog when we get it finished 😀

Some of the neighbours are a bit too cute but the view and the vibe is relaxed and lovely.

The Next Door Neighbour

The Next Door Neighbour

Personally, I think the Daleks in the control room are what really drives it and makes it perfection 😉

Cheers everyone,

Debra

Daleks keeping Jax in line in the control room

Daleks keeping an eye on Jax in the control room

The Woman On The Edge Of The World – A Review

14 Jun 2012 1 Comment

by Debra Manskey in Downloads, Merchandise, Music, Recording Tags: , , , , , , , ,

TWOTEOTW Front Cover

Below is a review of my latest album, which I released earlier this year. Reading it still gives me goosebumps – Matt’s review is extraordinarily generous!

If you’re interested in having a listen, “The Woman On The Edge Of The World” is available on my SoundCloud page. Individual tracks as well as the full album are available for purchase.

Sales have been very good but I’m currently looking at potential crowd-funding methods of releasing a physical CD & vinyl version, with posters and possibly art & lyric book.

I welcome your feedback 🙂

March 2012 Sauce Magazine Review

“The Woman on The Edge of The World”

Many would know Deb as the female vocalist from ARIA award winning Wild Pumpkins at Midnight or more recently as one half of the blues/roots Fringe Dwellers. Like her contemporaries, Deb had always enjoyed more recognition inEurope. Angie Hart and Monique Brumby have publicly acknowledged the importance of Manskey’s influence.

I won’t go into why it took 13 years to make this album but in many ways the songs tell so many beautiful stories of sadness and sorrow, perhaps it’s better to let the music tell the story.

This is a stripped back acoustic album, just vocal and guitar. “Drowning On Dry Land” is perhaps the most intense song on this album, far more intimidating than anything PJ Harvey, Sinead O’Connor or Patti Smith have ever committed to tape.
”Sandy Bay” is an un-mistakenly Tasmanian song, capturing feel of the suburb and referencing the landmarks, as John Lennon did when he sang the Rubber Soul era, “In My Life”. But it’s not an entirely miserable experience. “Mr Invincible” is a wonderful up-tempo slice of pop, as is “Beautiful Life”. This album has been a long time in the making, it might be more accurately described as a greatest hits album, no doubt the toughest decision was deciding which of the hundreds of great songs she wrote in its preparation to banish to the orphanage.

Manskey possesses one of the finest voices imaginable and if you buy this album you will discover, she is also one of the finest songwriters.

Matt Sertori