Gary Dranow‘s journey from the outdoor sports industry to a celebrated artist in the music scene reveals not just a shift in career but a triumph over life’s adversities. As the driving force behind Gary Dranow and The Manic Emotions, a Salt Lake City-based band rooted in classic rock traditions, Dranow has emerged as a beacon of resilience, channeling personal struggles into compelling musical expressions.
His personal story tracks the discovery of a profound means of communication and creative output through music, becoming a vessel for channeling personal battles, notably his journey with bipolar disorder and recovery from a stroke. Leading his band, featuring a diverse lineup of international artists like Chris Zoupa, Jason Jones, Roman Burda, Klim Apalkov and Roman Kuznetsov, Dranow’s collaborative endeavour stitches rock, blues and metal influences into a unique sonic offering.
As anticipation builds for their upcoming full-length record, Never Give Up, 2024 has seen Gary Dranow embark on a prolific creative spree, dropping multiple singles with his band, while also unveiling a heavier metal-tinged side to their sound, as well as venturing into the EDM sphere with his electronic music project Astralix. Now he brings us the moving and poignant track titled “Floating Away” brought to life with his sonic partner Chris Zoupa.
“Floating Away” transports listeners straight into an emotionally charged scene set in a bagel shop. The song recounts a reunion between Gary Dranow and Harold Deblanc after a decade apart with the heartwarming context adding a moving feel to the music which dives into the profound impact of this reunion, particularly for Harold, who had experienced the devastating loss of his fiancée to suicide just a year earlier.
The indie rock stylings of the track provide the perfect backdrop for the bittersweet nature of their meeting. Started off with bright strums of acoustic guitar, the strike of drums brings in a laid back groove as shimmering lead guitar flourishes add colour to the arrangement.
The lead vocals glide in with rich timbre and smooth delivery to thread catchy melodies and storytelling lyricism as a female singer joins to craft a heartwarming duet. With a memorable chorus and vibrant indie instrumentation peppered with intricate lead guitar flutters, “Floating Away” serves up Gary and Chris’ stunning songwriting, presented via the stellar talents of the full band.
Commenting on the single, Gary Dranow shares, “Music is more than just notes and lyrics; it’s a medium to express the depth of human emotions and experiences. Floating Away is our tribute to the enduring power of friendship and the healing that can come from reconnecting with someone you care about deeply.”
Listen to Floating Away below
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