“Well, there was always a guitar at my house…”

It’s a captivating introduction to Manuela, a musician with a suitcase full of songs and a yearning to share them with the world. Her story begins in Mombasa, Kenya where she was born twenty-three years ago. From there she moved to Switzerland, the Bahamas, a cattle ranch in the interior BC, Calgary, Alberta, and is now settled in Vancouver, at least for the moment. A nomad at heart, Manuela’s travels have introduced her to a mosaic of life stories that have left a mark on her heart and a message to share.

Strumming away on the guitar and singing in choirs from an early age, it wasn’t until she went off to college that Manuela truly began to find out who she was as a musician, performer, and most importantly, songwriter. It was there that she taught herself to play piano and began penning melodies about the things she knew well. Soon she had notebooks filled with songs about life, love, and a hope that cannot die. Her most recent recording, The Love EP, showcases her upbeat, lighthearted storytelling style with songs that put a smile on your face and make you want to sing along.

“I called it The Love EP because that seemed to be the theme of the whole album, in some way or another,” she says of the simple title. “Love for life, love for each other… I think it’s a good message.”

Without taking away from the beauty of her lyrical themes, it’s the music that really makes Manuela stand out as an emerging artist. Embracing the spirit of Motown and musical mentors like Alicia Keys, John Mayer, and Corinne Bailey Rae, Manuela has the ability to take her influences and effortlessly reinvent them into her own unique style. It’s clear that soul music is alive and well in Manuela, not only in her recordings but also her energetic and engaging live performances. Her purpose for music is just as simple as her message.

“I play because it makes me happy and I hope, somehow, it makes others happy too.”

Although her bags might never be unpacked in one place for too long, there’s a certainty that Manuela’s music will be enjoyed wherever she goes. How do we know this to be true? Because people enjoy being happy and, yes, love is a good message.