Just over a year since departure from Hellions, singer-songwriter and guitarist Matt Gravolin has returned with his new solo project, Agnes Manners.
Kicking off the new musical endeavour with the release of debut ‘As Long As You’re Mine’, the romantic pop ballad features vocals from Dream State’s Charlotte Gilpin to compliment Gravolin’s new, softer sound.
“The chorus of ‘As Long As You’re Mine’ was inspired by and written for Charlotte,” Gravolin explained of the track. “I built the verses around the feeling that the chorus melody gave me. Her singing during the bridge and final chorus breathes romance into the song’s apex.”
Gilpin isn’t the only artist to appear on the forthcoming collection of songs – Trophy Eyes frontman John Floreani is also set to feature in an upcoming track.
Speaking of the process in choosing the unusual moniker of Agnes Manners, Gravolin said he wanted to embrace the androgynous nature of the music and dismantle “the archaic blueprint of masculinity” while championing vulnerability and empathy in men.
“Although it means ‘pure’ or ‘holy’, I’ve always found there to be something phonetically creepy about the name ‘Agnes’ – a hooded old woman springs to mind. I saw a duality of wisdom and innocence in the name,” he explained.
He added: “When it came time to choose a name for this project, Agnes Manners was stuck in my head.”
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Gravolin made the decision to amicably part ways with Hellions in April last year following a major life event which changed his perspective, saying, “It wasn’t until my father passed suddenly in 2018 that I felt the need to focus on the new sound I felt building within me. A sound that dad would have liked,” he explained.
At the time, Hellions posted a statement to social media announcing Gravolin’s exit, saying:
Today, we share some news with mixed emotions of sorrow and excitement,” it said. “Our life-long friend and absolute integral member of the spirit of everything Hellions, Matt aka ‘Wob’, has decided that it is time for him to step away from Hellions. The upcoming Rue Album Tour across Australia will be the last time you will see Hellions in its current form. Following these shows, we will be taking a break to re-group and reset.”
Check out ‘As Long As You’re Mine’ by Agnes Manners:
