Live Review of MaanuSony Hall, New York, NY

Web: yain.coContact: sikki@sylaforever.comPlayers: Maanu, vocals; Asfandyar Ali, instrumental accompaniment

New Yorkers braved the cold at the end of January to see Maanu at Sony Hall. They arrived in droves, packing the theater wall to wall with a buzzing energy.

From Lahore, Maanu’s music blends pop, R&B, ballads, and hip-hop with his local culture to create something new and enthralling. Primarily in Urdu or Punjabi, his music leaves its hooks in the audience, making it impossible to forget. Maanu sprang on stage with high energy, amplified by hip-hop beats and bright lights. A slight tinge of melancholy from the vocal melody bubbled below, adding a deeper color than that of the high hats and fast beats. From the first note, the audience was dancing and singing along, utterly enamored.

Maanu’s stage set up was simple—he was joined only by Asfandyar Ali. Ali opened the show with his own set, playing stripped back tracks to warm up the crowd. He remained on stage playing live guitar and beats from a laptop. Together they created an intimate yet impactful dynamic. Throughout the show, beats ranged from mallets to sizzling high hats to dark bass drum. After a few minutes, Maanu chatted with the crowd, welcoming them in and announcing his recent marriage. Serving as a segue, Maanu shifted from upbeat anthems to tender ballads. Sweet guitar riffs from Ali and lilting melodies paired with pink lights to fill the room with an endearing atmosphere. Maanu’s ballad melodies swelled with emotion, filled with impressive vocal runs and gentle reverb in the guitar. Maanu and Ali rounded out the ballads with a pivot to R&B before bringing back some of the energy.

After this tender and earnest section, bright guitar and 2010’s hip-hop beats returned. The audience reacted immediately. These tracks were accompanied by enthusiastic singing, shouting, and clapping from the crowd. Grittier vibes in the guitar, deeper colors in the beat, and quicker lyrics had everyone on their feet dancing along. It felt like a party instead of a concert. Maanu’s connection with his audience is palpable, and they fed off each other’s energy all night long.

 Maanu does not tour in the United States often but embarked on a North American tour following the release of his album thikaana in 2025. There’s no news yet of any future projects, but I’m sure Maanu will be back with something new before long.The post Live Review of Maanu first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.