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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK”, Peter Manning Robinson channels personal and global resilience into his latest neo-classical project, Excursions, anchored by the whimsical and uplifting new single, Bent Out Of Shape.
In a world often defined by uncertainty and personal challenge, music serves as a profound vehicle for healing and transformation. Los Angeles-based pianist and multi-award-winning composer Peter Manning Robinson is once again demonstrating the power of artistic expression with his latest release, “Bent Out of Shape.” A lively, whimsical, and ultimately uplifting composition, the single arrives as a testament to the composer’s ability to process global and personal hardships through the keys of a piano.
A New Chapter of Resilience
“Bent Out of Shape” was born from a period of significant reflection. Following several months of navigating both personal struggles and the weight of wider world events, Robinson found himself in need of an antidote—a search for positivity. By channeling his experiences into his craft, he highlights the restorative nature of art, viewing it as an essential tool for working through complex emotions and emerging with a renewed sense of clarity.
The accompanying music video, directed by longtime collaborator Klaus Hoch, mirrors this sentiment of restoration. Filmed in a stunning mansion overlooking the sea, the video serves as a surreal visual tour of a shared history, detailing the journey of a couple working toward reconciliation.
From Classical Roots to Inventive Frontiers
Peter Manning Robinson’s career is defined by a unique blend of cinematic scope and deep emotional resonance. Raised between Vancouver and Chicago, his musical foundation was built on a rigorous blend of jazz improvisation and classical structure, fostered by studies at USC and Berklee College of Music. His professional journey has seen him perform alongside jazz luminaries such as Phil Woods and Freddie Hubbard, while his scores for film and television have earned him an Emmy Award and multiple BMI Music Awards.
Perhaps his most transformative moment came in his twenties when he faced severe tendonitis. Told he might never perform again, Robinson embarked on a radical process of physical and artistic “unlearning.” This journey led him to develop an entirely new musical language and, eventually, to the invention of the Refractor Piano™. This innovative instrument allows for fully acoustic, live performances that eschew pre-recorded tracks or MIDI, further establishing Robinson as a pioneer in modern sound.
The Journey of ‘Excursions’
“Bent Out of Shape” serves as a bright highlight from Robinson’s upcoming neo-classical album, Excursions. Compiled over three years, this collection marks a poignant return to the solo acoustic piano. The project acts as an emotional map, navigating the listener through the landscapes of grief, heartbreak, resilience, and eventually, luminous hope.
The album, which was developed alongside director Klaus Hoch, was curated from hundreds of musical sketches. Each track serves as a brief “excursion”—a departure from the expected path that invites the listener on a personal voyage. This is perhaps most evident in the album’s leading single, “Pure Heartbreak.” A stark contrast to the playfulness of “Bent Out of Shape,” the piece is a raw, melancholic meditation on loss, accompanied by a cinematic music video set against the backdrop of the California desert.
Music Without Boundaries
With over 1.2 million streams to his name and an ever-evolving creative output, Peter Manning Robinson continues to push the boundaries of instrumental music. Through his work, he asserts that melody can transcend language, capturing the nuances of the human experience that words often fail to express.
As he prepares for the full release of Excursions, Robinson remains focused on his core belief: that music is an immersive tapestry designed to be felt. Whether through the whimsical notes of a hopeful new single or the deep, reflective melodies of a soul-searching album, he invites his audience to experience a journey of profound emotional depth.
Find more from Peter Manning Robinson now:
https://www.petermanningrobinson.com
https://www.facebook.com/PeterManningRobinson
https://www.instagram.com/petermanningrobinson
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