Manila Luzon, the dazzling runner-up on season three of Logo TV’s RuPaul's Drag Race, released her first EP entitled, "Eternal Queen," on Wednesday, October 1. Known for her campy singles "Hot Couture," "The Chop," and "Helen Keller," Manila infuses her latest work with creative energy and entertains her fans with five new songs.
Manila teamed up with Miami-based producer Michael Angelo Cosculluela, a talent who wrote and produced with Latrice Royale and Jessica Wild at Lomlplex Records. "Manila’s new EP is a concept album full of pop hooks and interludes to place the listener in a world of sensory immersion," Cosculluela says. "Working with Manila is an effortless experience, and I’m sure her fans will enjoy this work because it is truly from the heart."
However, Manila wanted to give her fans a musical experience, so in the fashion of Janet Jackson, she has sprinkled her EP with several humorous "interludes" between the songs.
"I never wanted to do a full album," Manila explains. "I am a drag queen, and in order to fully get my music, it must also be set to a visually delightful music video, and a whole album of ten songs seems like way too many music videos to self-produce. And what’s the point of a drag queen like me releasing music if there isn’t something glamorous and sparkly to look at?"
This time around Manila takes a personal approach by exploring her real-life heartbreak after losing her longtime boyfriend, Sahara Davenport, from season two of Drag Race. Manila wrote the lead single and title track, "Eternal Queen," as a torch song to forever remember Sahara’s legacy. With the help of Irish fashion photographer and filmmaker, Tony Webster of BigBad Llama, Manila filmed a touching music video that takes a look into her life after such an extreme loss.
"Music was Sahara’s life," Manila says. "She was always singing. Music is what gave her that incredible dance ability. Music was her soul. After her death, I wanted to build a musical monument to always remember our love. Making the song and video, "Eternal Queen," became a personal healing process and makes me want to enjoy life to its fullest like she always did."
"Eternal Queen" is not just a collection of ballads and sentimental love songs. In true Manila style this EP includes fun, outrageous songs like "Glamasaurus" and "Buy My T-Shirt," tunes to get stuck in your head just like "Hot Couture."
This is a musical work that reflects Manila Luzon’s way of doing the art of drag—full of laughter and heart. The EP debuts on the two-year anniversary of Sahara Davenport’s untimely death as a tribute to loves lost.
iTunes Link: Manila Luzon - Eternal Queen LP
Amazon Link: Manila Luzon - Eternal Queen LP
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