Manafest

Manafest
Background information
Birth name Christopher Scott Greenwood
Born (1979-07-19) July 19, 1979
Origin Pickering, Ontario, Canada
Genres Christian hip hop, hard rock, rap rock, alternative rock
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, rapper
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2000–present
Labels BEC
Associated acts Thousand Foot Krutch
Website manafest.ca

Chris Scott Greenwood (born July 19, 1979), better known by his stage name Manafest, is a Canadian Christian rapper and rock artist from Pickering, Ontario. He has been nominated and won multiple awards for the GMA Canada Covenant Awards, GMA Dove Awards, and Juno Awards. Signed for almost a decade with BEC Recordings, Manafest became fully independent as of early 2015 and continues to write and record music.[1]

Biography

Beginnings and early years (2000-2009)

After a skateboarding accident in 1998,[2] Chris Greenwood shifted his focus to musical writing and began to produce music emerging under the stage name Manafest in 2000.[3]

In 2001, Manafest debuted with his EP, Misled Youth. The release garnered "Modern Rock/Alternative Song of the Year" for the song "Freedom" at the GMA Canada Covenant Awards in 2002.[4] The following year, Manafest released his first full-length album My Own Thing and attracted the notice of Trevor McNevan of the Ontario-based rock band Thousand Foot Krutch.[5][6] This led to his signing with an internationally distributed label, BEC Recordings under the Uprok Records label.[6]

After signing on with BEC, Manafest released his second album Epiphany in 2005.[6] The release achieved several nominations and awards.[4]

In 2006, Manafest released his third album Glory. The album received critical success and went on to win Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year at the 2007 GMA Canada Covenant Awards, as well as receiving the artist a nomination for Artist of the Year.[4] The album also marked Manafest's first release to be nominated in the Juno Awards.

In 2008, Manafest's fourth album Citizens Activ was debuted to similar success receiving many nominations, as well as awards.[4] The album boosted Manafest's fame and reputation in Japan immensely.[7][8]

Mainstream breakthrough (2010)

In 2010, Manafest debuted his fifth full-length album The Chase. The album was well-received with the single "Avalanche" charting on the Billboard Christian Songs, as well as selling over 50,000 copies of the track as of September, 2011.[9][10] The album showcased a directional change for Manafest, moving from a more straight hip hop flare to a heavier rock-based rap style.

In 2011, Manafest released his first live album Live in Concert. The album won "Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year" at the 33rd GMA Canada Covenant Awards.[11]

In 2012, Manafest released his sixth studio album of Fighter. The album continued the previous release's heavy rock influence and garnered a nomination for Hip-Hop/Rap Album of the Year in the GMA Dove Awards.[12] Because of this album's release, Manafest fans have since become known officially as "Fighters" amongst themselves, as well as Manafest himself.[13]

In late 2013, Manafest released his first Christmas single "California Christmas", featuring Joel Piper.[14][15] The track was additionally featured BEC's Christmas compilation release Christmastime All Year.[16][17]

In 2014, Manafest released his seventh album The Moment.[18] The genre of the release deviated from his hard rock style and featured a more electronic hip hop sound.

Reborn and present (2015)

In late 2014, Manafest released the single "Let Go", featuring Dave Stovall of Wavorly. The track was a song that didn't make the final cut of The Moment and was later released by itself.[5] The song was recently pulled from iTunes (it is however still available in Manafest's store[19]). Manafest has also hinted it might make his next album's track listing.[5]

On April 24, 2015, Manafest announced a new PledgeMusic campaign for his next full-length, fully independent album, Reborn.[1][20][21] The album released globally on October 2, 2015.

When first announcing Reborn, Manafest also alluded to the fact his next album is already planned to be a rock record.[1][22]

Musical style

Manafest's genre has developed and changed over the entirety of his career. Originally starting with a classic feel of urban hip hop for his first four releases, Manafest then developed a style of alternative rock and rap rock by lightly mixing it into Citizens Activ, and fully integrating it by the time of The Chase. In 2014, with the release of The Moment, Manafest's style then changed to a "hybrid" mixture of rap rock and electronic-based hip-hop.[23][24] Presently, Manafest's latest album Reborn has returned to his roots of straighter hip-hop.[25]

Manafest is typically compared to other Christian rappers of his genre including Andy Mineo, Lecrae, KJ-52, Tedashii, and Shonlock. Musically, Manafest's rock style is often grouped with other Christian hard rock acts such as Thousand Foot Krutch, Skillet, and Red.

Discography

Main article: Manafest discography
Studio albums

Awards and recognition

GMA Canada Covenant Awards
GMA Dove Awards
Juno Awards

Touring band

Though a solo artist himself, Manafest travels with a touring band. Adam Messinger has provided the majority of instrumentation for Manafest's studio releases throughout the years, while the band supplies the music live on tour and at shows:

Current
Former

Other projects

Stories Since Seventy Nine

In late 2012, Manafest independently released a side project EP, Stories Since Seventy Nine,[33] that deviated slightly from his normal style and had a softer, pop sound, as well as more vocal singing (as compared to rapping) than his main work.[34] The release contains Manafest's 2013 single "Overboard".[35]

Fighter book release

In late 2013, Manafest penned and published his first book, Fighter: Five Keys to Conquering Your Fear and Reaching Your Dreams.[3][36][37] He plans to produce another book and do more public speaking in the future, as well as teach special seminars for people aspiring to enter the music industry.[5]

Personal life

In 1984, at the age of five, Chris Greenwood lost his father to suicide, leaving only him, his sister Virginia, and his mother.[3][38] A few years after, at a Bible camp,[39] he accepted Christ and became a Christian.[3] At the same camp, he also met his future wife, Melanie.[39] Around the age of fourteen, Greenwood invested himself into skateboarding and aspired to make it a career.[3] He however experienced an accident in 1998 which crippled his dreams to become a professional skater.[2][3][38] After hearing God telling him to turn his attention to music, Greenwood began songwriting and started his career as a Christian artist.[3][5]

In 2003, Greenwood married his wife Melanie.[5] Besides being a part-time model,[5] she runs the graphic design company Vision City (which designs the concepts for many of Manafest's designs, promotionals, and merchandise).[40] In March 2014, they had their first child and daughter, London Grace Greenwood.[41][42]

In 2012, Greenwood and his wife moved to Los Angeles, California.[5][43] In October 2015, he and his family moved back to Toronto, Canada.[44]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Manafest - New Album Pledge Music Campaign". YouTube. April 24, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Manafest - Skate Accident Story". YouTube. April 26, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Manafest, a "Fighter" in Life - Interview". YouTube. February 26, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Covenant Awards Archives". GMACanada.ca. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Manafest Listening Party Live Q&A". YouTube. August 19, 2014. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 "Epiphany review on Jesus Freak Hideout". Jesus Freak Hideout. August 1, 2005. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Manafest: Canadian gospel rapper with a surprising Japanese following". Cross Rhythms. October 15, 2008. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  8. ↑ "The Chase review by Cross Rhythms". Cross Rhythms. June 26, 2010. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  9. ↑ "The Chase Award History on AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Manafest Celebrates First Career No. 1 Single". Rapzilla. August 31, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Covenant Awards Archives". GMACanada.ca. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Dove Awards Announce "Hip-Hop/Rap Album of the Year" Nominations". Rapzilla. August 21, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  13. ↑ "PledgeMusic: Manafest Reborn Logo". PledgeMusic. July 10, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  14. ↑ ""California Christmas" single on iTunes". iTunes. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Manafest "California Christmas" Music Video". YouTube. December 9, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Christmastime All Year on iTunes". iTunes. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Manafest "California Christmas" Lyric Video". YouTube. December 2, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  18. ↑ Jase Spiegel (2012-12-24). "INTERVIEW: MANAFEST'". RockRevolt Magazine.
  19. ↑ ""Let Go" Single on Manafest's official store". Shopify. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Manafest PledgeMusic Reborn Campaign". PledgeMusic. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Manafest Going Independent With 9th Studio Album". New Release Today. August 4, 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Manafest Replies to Fan and Confirms His Future Rock Record". Facebook. September 14, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Manafest Prepares to Release Reborn Oct. 2". New Release Today. August 7, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Manafest Returns To Indie Roots, Release Reborn Oct. 2". Jesus Freak Hideout. August 7, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Manafest X PledgeMusic Interview Reborn". YouTube. May 22, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  26. ↑ In 2007 Manafest also received GMAC nominations for: Artist of the Year, Album of the Year: Glory, and Recorded Song of the Year: "Bounce". CGMA 2007 Covenant Award Nominees. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
  27. ↑ Manafest was also nominated as GMAC Artist of the Year in 2009. GMAC 2009 Covenant Award Nominees. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
  28. ↑ "Josh Macintosh on LinkedIn". LinkedIn. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Ian Hough on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  30. ↑ "Joe Rickard on Instagram". Instagram. January 6, 2013. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  31. ↑ "Mike Crofts on GHS". GHS. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  32. ↑ "Travis Blackmore tells fan he is no longer with Manafest". Instagram. March 11, 2013. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  33. ↑ "Chris Greenwood (Manafest) Releases Side Project Stories Since Seventy Nine". Indie Vision Music. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  34. ↑ "Manafest on TVU's Most Wanted - Interview". YouTube. October 16, 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  35. ↑ "Manafest – Overboard". Indie Vision Music. July 29, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  36. ↑ "Fighter book Official Website". Fighterbook.net. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  37. ↑ "International Rock Artist Manafest Sets His Story To Pen Releasing His First Book Fighter October 2013". Jesus Freak Hideout. September 16, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  38. 1 2 "Interview: Manafest". Christian Revolt. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  39. 1 2 "Manafest "Reborn" Behind The Scenes Song Explanation". YouTube. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  40. ↑ "Vison City Art Shop on Esty". Esty. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  41. ↑ "Manafest Announces Seventh Album The Moment". BEC Recordings. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
  42. ↑ "Manafest announces his new daughter". Facebook. March 19, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2015. Drum roll please. I am proud to announce the birth of my daughter "London Grace Greenwood"
  43. ↑ Argyrakis, Andy. "Moment at a Time - CCM Magazine Review of The Moment". CCM Magazine. Retrieved March 13, 2015. I'm a very different person than I was a few years ago. Since my move to California and having a daughter, my perspective on life and music has changed.
  44. ↑ "PledgeMusic: Manafest Reborn Bonus Songs!". PledgeMusic. October 5, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2015.

External links

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