Music is a part of every aspect of Mark Manto’s life. It’s in the rhythm his feet make when he goes out to run, it’s in the soft sound of the waves at the beach, it’s in the old records he digs up for new inspiration. With years of experience from various bands and musical endeavors, Manto is proud to announce his first all-original album, The Rocky Hill.
The album, expected in late 2025-early 2026, is the result of decades of passion and exploration. Manto’s musical journey began with his fascination for drums at a young age.
“I became infatuated with percussion early on, at around 10 years old I found a record in my parent's album box, called Drum and Percussion, and I would listen to this album constantly,” Manto said.
Eventually, Manto started formal training and lessons, going on to perform in various bands, and ultimately pursuing formal education at DeVry University while continuing his music career on the weekends.
Manto’s expertise and involvement in numerous musical undertakings make him one of the leaders in the local music scene. He’s a percussionist for the New Jersey-based cover band Seven Stone (www.sevenstoneband.com). He’s also one of the founders of the popular indie and alternative band TunaBalloon. However, his most recent pursuit is the most exciting yet: His solo project, theeGroovement (www.reverbnation.com/theegroovement), and its debut album, The Rocky Hill.
The album will be around twelve songs in length and incorporate a wide range of genres and themes. Manto wants to showcase his extreme versatility, so when listening to the songs, you’ll find elements of jazz, blues, country, rock, alternative, industrial, and even hip-hop.
The songs are short, catchy, and packed with layers. They always include Manto’s incredible openings and signature outros, to kick off and close the songs in tight, thunderous sounds.
