Gary Dranow‘s journey from a professional skier and successful businessman in the outdoor sports world to a prolific musician is a truly heartwarming example of the power of music and arts. With a musical output that flows from rock, blues and metal to electronic dance music through the Astralix project, Dranow showcases an impressive range that reflects his diverse experiences and influences.
Leading Gary Dranow and The Manic Emotions, his band delivers a dynamic, guitar-driven sound. Their music not only reflects Dranow’s personal triumph over significant challenges, including bipolar disorder and stroke recovery, but also embodies a spirit of resilience and determination.
Collaborating with talented musicians from around the globe, including Chris Zoupa, Jason Jones, Roman Burda, Klim Apalkov and Roman Kuznetsov, Dranow brings his sonic vision to life with passion and authenticity. Already dropping over twenty singles this year alone, Dranow’s prolific output demonstrates his endless creativity and work ethic.
His latest offering with The Manic Emotions, the single “Black Coal Lung,” is a poignant anthem that sheds light on the harsh realities faced by communities grappling with environmental injustice. The song paints a vivid portrait of a small town in Ohio plagued by the toxic emissions of a nearby coal power plant, resulting in devastating health consequences for its residents.
Turning their sights on a country-inflected rock sound, the band serves up a smokey blend of guitars, drums, harmonica and rich vocals to deliver a powerful listening experience with an important message. Flowing from a hazy arrangement of strummed guitars, the laid back snap of drums and mournful harmonica leads, the lead vocals thread deep, picture painting lyricism that captures the story of those who’ve been affected from pollution from a coal station.
Snaking melancholic melodies backed by classic Americana instrumentation, with “Black Coal Lung” Gary Dranow and his band serve up a compelling slice of meaningful songwriting that’s at once enjoyable and important. “Black Coal Lung” is a compelling and thought-provoking addition to Gary Dranow’s body of work, reaffirming his status as a versatile and socially conscious musician.
Listen to Black Coal Lung below
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