Manu Fights Himself In “Dirty Laundry”
PHOTOGRAPHER: Rui Jorge | Instagram
MODEL: Manuel Kornisiuk | Instagram
If you have been watching the current season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, you have likely noticed a new face joining the Pit Crew. Meet Manu, the Sydney-based pop and R&B artist who is grabbing attention with his music, acting and modelling. He recently spoke about his new single, the toxic relationship that inspired it, and what really happens behind the scenes of the main stage.
He’s airing out the messy side of love.
His latest track, Dirty Laundry, gets into the specifics of a messy breakup, exploring a theme he felt was important to address. “I wanted to explore that darker part of a relationship, the stuff that sticks to you,” he told Gayety in a recent interview. “It’s about letting it go and owning your part of the mess.”
While he has always wanted to create pop music, Manu finds that incorporating other elements adds more substance to his work. “I lean into R&B a lot because it gives room for nuance and emotion,” he said. According to Manu, this is just the beginning. “Dirty Laundry is actually the chillest track,” he teased. “The rest is full-on pop.”
The music video puts the fight on display…
To match the song’s raw emotion, the music video is set in a boxing ring. The concept came together when his videographer, Taj, posed a simple question. “He said, ‘What if you fight yourself?’ And that was it. It clicked,” Manu shared. The visuals focus on a sweaty and sleek solo performance, perfectly capturing the feeling of working through pain.
So what is it like on the Drag Race set?
Appearing on All Stars was something Manu actively pursued. “I totally manifested it,” he said, explaining that he had previously tried out for the Pit Crew on the New Zealand version of the show but did not get it. When the opportunity for All Stars appeared, he was ready. He described the on-set energy as incredibly positive. “It was beautiful. The energy on set was so warm and welcoming,” he shared. “Backstage, we’d play trivia with the queens.”
As a longtime fan, he found the experience of meeting the show’s legendary host to be a genuine pleasure. “RuPaul is a dream,” he said. “Just a beautiful person, on and off camera.” A full video for Dirty Laundry is out now (see below), with the EP scheduled for later this year. Watch this space.
