Over the past few years, the entire world has gone through so many challenges and negative situations, to the point where it’s often hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. “Healing” is a buzzword on everyone’s minds, but how many of us take those actions to heal ourselves and truly step into who we’re meant to be?

For many, music can be a healing outlet and a way to connect with others dealing with the same things, and Willie Manic is a prime example of how music can serve as the ultimate form of healing. His latest project, how to heal, is an awe-inspiring reflection on how we combat hard times while also letting them shape us into who we’re supposed to become.

“It’s honestly been a fun ass joyride and a weight off my shoulders to finally release my art to the world,” Willie tells TREMG. “Particularly with this project, it was really refreshing and inspiring to see the reaction and see people connect with the music and the message of healing.”

What makes how to heal such a special project is how raw and thoughtful each song is, diving into uncomfortable emotions while still feeling like a safe haven for listeners to escape into. Songs like the introspective “coasting” offer some of Willie’s most vulnerable work to date while celebrating perseverance and self-improvement, touching on the darker aspects of life without letting that darkness become the main focus.

“‘coasting’ is probably the song that means the most to me out of all the tracks on the album,” Willie shares. “And that’s really hard to say because all of them mean so much to me. It means a lot to me because that song is basically a realization of all the negative self-talk and mental anguish that comes with feeling that you’re not good enough for what you want to accomplish in life.”

It’s rare for an album to feel like it touches on the exact thoughts and emotions you’re experiencing, but no matter where you are in life, how to heal will hit on at least one of those emotions and reel you right in. It feels like a late-night conversation between friends, offering the perfect balance of venting and comforting while reminding you to never give up on your dreams or yourself.

“To close up, really give this album a listen – preferably with a friend, over a nice beverage with a warm blanket,” Willie says. “And really listen. I put my soul into this and hopefully it comes through beautifully.”

You can find how to heal on your favorite streaming services now, and get to know Willie Manic on Instagram and Twitter! Keep reading for more from our conversation with this fast-rising artist you need on your radar.

Congratulations on your debut album, how to heal! How has it felt to finally share the project with the world and see how fans are reacting?

Thank you! It’s honestly been a fun ass joyride and a weight off my shoulders to finally release my art to the world. Particularly with this project, it was really refreshing and inspiring to see the reaction and see people connect with the music and the message of healing. 

How did you know that it was the right time to drop your debut album?

Honestly, there’s not really anything that gave me an indicator as to when I should or shouldn’t drop the project finally. I conceptualized it about half a year ago and began putting it together since then. Then I sat on it a bit to understand how I wanted to present this project to the world.

Is there a certain lyric on the how to heal album that you’re particularly proud of?

On “rising,” I said, “and i ain’t caring bout offenses, I’m feelin like Carlin / Trust me, I been in high demand, yeah, I’m feeling like Harden / I had to take a step back just to put all my heart in (Harden).” And I just felt like that’s some of the hardest combinations of bars ever! 

Who were some of your influences on the sound of how to heal?

The biggest influence sonically on how to heal was honestly Ravyn Lenae. Her harmonies and her ways of filling up a track inspired me a ton. Brent Faiyaz and Smino are great at this too, and they’ve inspired this as well. 

What made you choose “how to heal” as the title track? Which came first, the album name or the concept for that song?

“how to heal” being the title track came after most of the album was already done, and when I was freestyling the idea for the song, the line “how to heal, I ain’t knowing” came super naturally. And yeah, the rest is history. 

Which song on how to heal means the most to you and why?

“coasting” is probably the song that means the most to me out of all the tracks on the album. And that’s really hard to say because all of them mean so much to me. It means a lot to me because that song is basically a realization of all the negative self-talk and mental anguish that comes with feeling that you’re not good enough for what you want to accomplish in life. “she said” is another important one to me, one of the only times I pour my heart out on a song in a romantic way. 

Which songs on how to heal took the longest and shortest amount of time to make?

Honestly, all of the songs on how to heal probably took me 2 hours max recording time. It took longer to sequence the project and plan out how I wanted everything to play out.

how to heal includes two collaborations: “conscience” with Malo and “she said” with Marion IV. How did those collabs come about, and what was it like working with Malo and Marion IV?

So for the song with Malo, I actually woke up randomly in the night, called him and basically was like, “Bro, I’m tryna record! Let’s make a song, make it fire, and then I’mma throw it on the album.” And he was like, “Bet.” For “she said,” I was showing Marion this new style I was developing. And he fell in love and wanted to drop a verse instantly. Malo has a verse on the song too, but I wanted to keep it concise. 

For anyone who isn’t familiar with your music already, which of the songs on how to heal would you recommend to them to get a feel for who you are as an artist?

If you aren’t familiar with my music, I’d say “molasses” and “she said” are great places to start. 

We at TREMG love getting to know new artists who haven’t gotten the success or attention they deserve. Who are some of your favorite underrated artists at the moment?

In terms of the underground I really like Chow Lee, I think his melodies and his consistency are unmatched. I really also like Smino, Amindi, Ravyn, Brent, Dreamer, Foushee, and so many other artists I’d keep my eye on. My brother Malo also has a ton of cool shit out that’s not getting enough attention.

What can your fans look forward to in 2023?

In 2023, my fans can look forward to more expansion, more love, more gratitude, and more me.

Is there anything else you’d like to mention that the questions didn’t touch on?

To close up, really give this album a listen – preferably with a friend, over a nice beverage with a warm blanket. And really listen. I put my soul into this and hopefully it comes through beautifully.