written by Connor Hayes
photo by Connor Hayes
John McCarten never stops expanding the width and breath of his sound. As Manic Focus, along with drummer Jacob Barinholtz, McCarten has been hard at work for the better part of a year with nearly nonstop touring (comprising two national tours), and continuing to release new material and push the limits of the Manic Focus live band project (which includes Marvel Year’s Cory Wythe and Break Science’s Borahm Lee, as well as occasional appearances with Russ Liquid). However, the one release that has alluded fans and admirers of McCarten’s take on electro soul, has been another full-length LP. After almost 3 years, Manic Focus’s next album, Minds Rising, drops on April 21st, and the first single, “Stronger”, really brings the thunder with songstress Jennifer Hartswick, breakbeat artist Late Night Radio, and percussionist Adam Deitch. Hartswick reprises her soulful belting, carrying the entire piece along while Deitch’s trademark unorthodox drumming provides a nice counter. If this is any taste of what is to come from Minds Rising, McCarten is pushing himself, and his production, to new heights. Take a listen to Stronger below!