#ArtistAtHome is a series of portraits and profiles of local artists by Christopher Edmonstone. Read all about it and see the archive HERE.
This is Neuman Mannas, who sings, rocks the keys and guitar in Vancouver's Head of the Herd. Their blues-influenced alternative rock sound found them touring with the likes of Guns n’ Roses, Alice in Chains, Theory of a Deadman and more.
Neuman grew up playing piano, but he says it was the bass that really flipped the switch in his brain and told him he would be a musician and always a bass player at heart.
I have had the pleasure of photographing him play live on a few occasions, and he always delivers a high energy set. He says that when it comes to playing live, there is no feeling in the world quite like when the crowd sings along with words you've written.
#artistathome Neuman Mannas
In high school, a band he was playing in got booked at an amateur event as the entertainment between the fights. One the of the fights actually featured a childhood acquaintance that he hadn't seen in a decade (wearing a dog collar and getting beat up by two women in the ring!). Contrary to the clean-cut version of himself he presents today, Neuman mentioned he used to have 'long, terribly filthy, died black hair' that the promoters were not too keen on. Despite most of the crowd being friends with and wanting to see the band, the promoters tried to unplug them during their set. Thankfully, the mother of his girlfriend at the time was a 'bit of a pitbull' and she scared them enough to let them finish. Neuman said that "on the way out, a now country music star, who shall remain nameless, may have tried to flood the building..."
Out of all of #ArtistAtHome sessions I have done, his was the first one to have a sound isolation booth in his home studio. It certainly serves as good inspiration for those who have their own home studio aspirations. I arrived at Neuman's apartment in Kitsilano after finishing with another long shoot and I was pretty tired. It is a good thing he is such a handsome dude which made my job easier!
With Head of the Heard no longer together as a band, he is currently in the studio working on a brand new project. He says "It's a big departure from what you're used to from me". Neuman is keeping tight-lipped about the details, but says to keep an eye on The Head Of The Herd social media channels, as he will make an announcement from there.
Many thanks to him for having me over and for the ride home!
