Manu Low Bio

Springs to creeks, creeks to rivers, rivers to ocean, so flows the music of Manu Low. Born under the low clouds of Belgium and growing up in the vibrancy of 70’s USA musical revolution, Manu has developed his own melodic & groovy brand of pop/folk. 

Manu’s work combines Latin roots with a Western melodic sensibility creating multi-faceted, original and recognisable music.  He writes and sings in both English and French, sometimes both in the same song.  Paul Simon, James Taylor, Bob Dylan and Serge Gainsbourg amongst countless others clearly left their mark on the young Manu whilst growing up in 70’s Washington DC.  

In his late teens, Manu arrived on the Belgian music scene as a bass player and lyricist, and his band SOS made a blasting debut, headlining ‘Festival 44’ in the heart of Brussels back in the summer of 1990. Manu re-emerged in the late 90’s on the Brussels pop & jazz scene as a singer-songwriter. Switching his bass for an acoustic guitar and fronting his new band The Clones with renowned Belgian jazz Peter Vandenberghe (Flat Earth Society), Kris Duerincks and Sanderson Poe (Ghinzu). Manu Low released his debut album ‘3 Days at Le Belloy’ in 1999. Following its release of this first album, Manu Low and his band performed extensively all year. The act was programmed for a 3-month summer residency at the Brussels Summer Festival 2000, where Manu found himself performing week after week alongside heavyweight Belgian acts such as Ghinzu, Kris Dane and Bai Kamara Jr.

Ever restless and in search of musical and spiritual inspiration Manu, turned his back on a beckoning career in political diplomacy and  started a Journey through Central and South America, Eastern Europe, India and Asia. This provided an injection of influences on his emerging musical style.  Followed a period of creativity that saw Manu pen and perform hundreds of songs, write a documentary score, feature in ‘Sangam’, a film by artist Charley Case filmed on the Ganges from its source to the ocean. 

Manu arrived in Sydney at the dawn of the new millennium with his Australian partner. This change heralded a shift, musically and emotionally from darker introspective material to a brighter outward looking music.  Everything started falling into place when in 2008, Manu moved from the hustle and bustle of Sydney to a small village on the southern edge of the city.  There, nestled in his studio surrounded by tropical gardens, he teamed up with ex-Air Supply bass player David Green and Kiwi funk sensation Peter Morgan to produce his 2017 Australian debut album "Harbour' which contains some classic examples of Manu Low's versatility as a writer: energy, groove and a deep sensitivity well expressed by his warm baritone voice. you just need to hear the intro of such classic songs like "When Peace Comes" or "Samba" to be instantly hooked.

Manu Low released his second Australian album, titled 'Atmosphere' in 2021 and is available right now on MP3 digital format exclusively here on this site.

Manu Low is also a founding member and co-producer of the Individual Friends.