By Shanece Brent, Staff Writer

Published in print Aug. 20, 2014

Harden has established an expansive home studio in which he records and combines each individual instrument for his completed albums. (above)

Stacy Harden is the mastermind behind the Chapel Hill based Americana band Manna Frost Trio. The bassist, drummer, guitarist, pianist and vocalist of the one man band is the creator of three albums and is planning to play statewide during the fall and winter in support of his latest release, Overgrowth.

SB: How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?

SH: The sound of Manna Frost Trio relies on doubled and harmonized vocals, layered with multiple guitars and a driving rhythm section. And don’t forget the reverb.

SB: What inspires you?

SH: My family has always inspired and motivated me to continue making art, which is something I’m very grateful for.  It’s also inspiring to see live music and be around other artists. I think it helps keep you humble.

SB: What is your educational background, and how has that helped you with projects outside of school (such as MFT)?

SH: I briefly attended Berklee College of Music in Boston after high school and my roommate there turned out to be Max Jury, whose band I now play bass in. I also played bass and percussion in school jazz bands and wind ensembles, and played string bass in the NC Governor’s School Orchestra in 2008. All of that greatly contributed to my understanding of music, and gave me the opportunity to play pieces that were very interesting and truly challenging.

SB: Why have you decided to work as a solo act? Are there certain advantages and disadvantages to going it alone?

SH: Working solo grants me a certain degree of freedom in the studio which is sometimes unavailable when working with a larger group. Particularly, I’m able to put a lot of focus into instrumentations and structures, and having the extra private time to flesh out what are sometimes very personal lyrics never hurts. It does, however, take me slightly longer to finish a project while doing everything myself, and running back and forth between the drum set and work desk for takes can be a pretty good workout.

SB: How do you handle live performances as a one-man band?

SH: For live performances I enlist the help of talented local musicians, and try to have at least two guitars, bass and drums. Since the studio recordings are typically swimming in instruments, it’s always interesting to rearrange the songs to play them live. I’ve also considered solo performances, but having a full band just brings a different kind of energy to the stage.

SB: Can you describe the process of creating a complete song, from start to finish?

SH: Most of the time, my songs will start out as either a little riff on the guitar or a lyric I can’t get out of my head. From there, I’ll try to get a structure set up so I can start laying down the skeleton tracks that everything is eventually recorded on top of. Guitar usually goes first, followed by drums, then more guitars and bass. Typically, the last things to be recorded are the vocals and extra percussion or keyboards.

SB: What has been the most rewarding experience with MFT?

SH: It’s very rewarding to produce something in your living room and then see others enjoying it from thousands of miles away, and possibly in a country where English is not the primary language. It can be easy to get into a slump while writing, but it’s inspiring to know that there are supportive listeners around the world.

SB: What’s in the future for Manna Frost Trio?

SH: I plan on getting some shows together in support of Overgrowth throughout the fall and winter, and then it’s on to the next album!

Parody has managed to combine new educational and musical opportunities since moving to N.C. (above)

Clifford Parody has only been a Greensboro resident for a short time, but he’s quickly found footing in the Greensboro art community with his tape label Swan City Sounds. Founded in Lakeland, Florida with his long-time friend Brandon, Swan City Sounds has currently worked with 26 different solo musicians, 9 bands and 20 visual artists.

SB: Have you always been interested in the idea of creating a label?

CP: I hadn’t thought too much about it until I started buying a lot of new cassettes. Brandon and I started Swan City Sounds as a way to provide a platform for all of those friends – a way to get all their music and all their art in one place that we could then turn out to the world. If we could bring attention to one artist on the label, that would in turn bring attention to the other artists on the label, and bring attention to Lakeland as well. Everyone lifts everyone else up.

SB: What prompted the decision to bring Swan City Sounds to Greensboro?

CP: I got into the MFA Program here at UNCG and brought the label up with me. I’ve been here a little over a year now.

SB: What local artists are you currently working with?

CP: This summer I put out a Dreaded/Alignak split tape, Space Bear, and most recently Dante CK’s beat tape YaYaDoIt! I am also working with The Old One Two on release of their latest album and collection submissions for a big Greensboro/Lakeland compilation.

SB: What attracts you to certain artists?

CP: That’s hard to say. My taste in music is all across the spectrum (which I think is reflected in the label) so it’s definitely not any specific sound that draws me in. I mean, I can say that I am attracted to excitement. When I pitch the idea about a tape release to someone and they get stoked, then I know I found someone I want on board. When a band or artist pitches an idea to me and is stoked about it, again, hell yeah. I want to work with people who are enthusiastic about what they do.

SB: What are some of your favorite things about Greensboro?

CP: The creative writing program and writing community as a whole here is stellar. Also the house show scene here is also really rad. I’ve seen a lot of great bands since I have been here and most of them have been at TYP Haus.

SB: What is your educational background, and how has that helped you?

CP: I have a BA in English and am working on my MFA in Poetry. I think both of those things make me a much better person both spiritually and mentally, especially my work in poetry, which I think transcends every facet of my life.