Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: I’m a 23 year old indie singer-songwriter and pianist from Southport. I started writing songs in 2020 in lockdown because I’d been having something recurrently happen to me where I would dream up a song and wake up and think “that’s a great song!”, but then I’d have forgotten about it by the morning. I said this to one of my friends in passing and she looked at me like I was crazy and said I should record them, and so I did! Luckily, lockdown then provided me with the time to start working with this new found skill, as I’m normally at uni doing medicine. Before this and throughout my childhood I trained as a classical pianist, working towards my grades, but had never sung or composed anything. My childhood was still very musical though; my family are hugely into music, and a wide variety, but particularly rock and pop and I think that shows in my music now!
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Cora Manchester”?
A: I try in every way possible to grow my fanbase to be honest! I’m constantly sending emails to promoters, venues, other artists, management, radio, magazines, blogs – you name it! – to try and get my music as far as possible. But I don’t think I realised when I released my first EP the extent to which marketing like this can help.
I think I’d just say prepare for a unique indie pop-rock sound, some very overly dramatic storytelling, and the occasional political standpoint thrown in there haha.
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: That’s a really tough question! I think I struggle to narrow down my musical inspirations a lot of the time and that’s why my music is so varied but right now I think Rival Sons are having a huge influence on my music, they are so talented and a bit more rocky. In terms of where else I find inspiration; I find that naturally I seem to always return to making my music dramatic, and I think I have been exposed to a lot of musical theatre soundtracks growing up and that is where it comes from. When I started writing music I thought I wanted to write a musical after I’d watched “Phantom of the Opera” for the first time, but then my entire plot fit into one song and it was back to the drawing board
I was also raised on a mix of pop and 70s rock artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Meat Loaf, Bowie and Patti Smith so I think they are a huge influence but I also find a lot of the smaller local artists around me very inspiring, probably more so on how they perform or manage themselves career wise. Then I find myself taking inspiration from films, art or photography some of the time, so pretty much from anywhere haha.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “Forbidden Love.”?
A: Yes so I think that “Forbidden Love” comes across as though I’m talking about infidelity, but I am in fact, not! It’s a song that basically portrays a relationship fizzling out, and being an over-thinker throughout the process making it a way bigger internal conflict than is necessary. It’s all about feelings of doubt and starting to wonder whether other people might be better for you, and the feelings of guilt and uncertainty around that. The “Forbidden Love” isn’t an actual love, just theoretical.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: Epic!
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “Forbidden Love”?
A: I think several! “Forbidden Love” is a bit different to my previous songs – it’s more progressive and alternative in its style and particularly in it’s structure, and I was hyper-aware of that whilst writing it. I altered the structure several times until reaching the finished version but I still find it a pitfall of the song that it is lengthier, as I think an audience can be overfaced by that. The words in this song are hugely different for me, they are quite like a poem’s lines; very different to my previous style which was still storytelling but much less clear in the meaning and much more conversational. The vulnerability in itself was a challenge but the rhythm of the lines being so poetic was also difficult at times to fit with the music. Recording wise, I attempted to do most of it in the shed in my garden so I won’t even go there haha.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: The message of my music is a mixed bag. I think majority of my music stems from personal experience in some way and I think I’m getting better at being vulnerable with this and that enables people to connect more. Sometimes I create a narrative loosely based on my experience and then make it way more dramatic or alter it slightly. Other times it’s political, but I don’t pretend to be a political expert, just speak from my experience of what I find frustrating and occasionally call myself and others out on where we could be better. My goals are to write about topics that are important. I don’t think I always do, but even if it’s about an emotional experience that then helps people to connect I feel that’s important. I wouldn’t like for my work to be making no real impact or failing to reflect the times.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: Oooo another tough question! I think it’d have to be Fleetwood Mac. Cliché I know but they’re iconic. The music and the performances are just unmatched, and little childhood me would be in awe! I always think it’s impressive that you’d hear something and know it was them, whereas I think my sound is too eclectic for that, I could definitely learn from them.
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: I think my advice would be it’s tough but worth it! It’s hard not getting caught up in streams or numbers being important, especially when that is what determines whether you get gigs and income, but I think remembering that as long as you’re able to make music that’s what it’s all about! I think everyone starts out thinking that their music will instantly take off, and for some people it does but for the majority it doesn’t. Equally, I’d also say don’t be afraid to be persistent, I think it’s all about not giving up! It’s a huge amount of fun so worth persevering with.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: I’d probably say to have a bit more confidence! I’m still not great at backing myself but I’ve come a hugely long way. I used to be super shy and I don’t think I could’ve ever got on a stage, but then again I thought that just over a year ago when I first sang on stage! Ye, I’d say have a bit more confidence and care less what people think, it’s a lot more relaxing haha.
