For the last seven years, California native Manuel Joseph Walker was one of indie music’s best kept secrets. At the tender age of 15, as Foliage, Walker began to craft melodies and arrangements that would spark his unexpected career. Revealing himself as a teenage production prodigy obsessed with 80s jangle pop and hip-hop, his early releases, made entirely from scratch in his San Bernardino bedroom. catapulted him from a local DIY mainstay to favorite among bloggers and fans worldwide.
Performing live, Foliage has opened for Black Marble, Eyedress, Harmless, Dent May, and Seahaven. After garnering acclaim for these performances, and setting records for online streaming of his songs, he then set his sights on making his self-titled debut for Dowd Records in 2020. Following the release of the album and a couple of follow-up tracks, he then took a hiatus in order to pursue a professional education in music. Now in 2022, showcasing his further growth and maturity as an artist, Walker returns with his new single, “Can’t Go Anywhere”.
The lo-fi track carries a sense of melancholy resignation, similar in nature to The Smiths, R.E.M, and even Bob Dylan, with a bright energy still carrying the load with stoicism. Walker’s gentle tenor softens the blow as the scattered drums hammer in the background. A lovely offering from Foliage.
Watch the video for “Can’t Go Anywhere” below:
And find “Can’t Go Anywhere” on Bandcamp here
Follow Foliage: