Manuka Wrote “Antenna” in the Dark. Four Years Later, She Found the Light
Punk Head: “Antenna” began on a dark monsoon day. What did you hear first, the song or the feeling?
Manuka: The song started with the guitar loop. There was a lingering feeling inside, and I was trying to articulate it through a rhythmic progression on the guitar. I found that as soon as the music sunk in, the words, “It’s raining down upon me, I can’t even open my umbrella,” came out instantly with the melody.
Punk Head: You put eerie, almost sci-fi production around something deeply human and vulnerable. Why did that combination feel right?
Manuka: Well, when I first wrote the song, it was just after I had watched Stranger Things on Netflix, and the atmosphere and visuals really stuck with me. This was one of the influences when I was writing the song. I told my producer, Alvin Presley, about this inspiration, and we played with some concepts together. He went ahead with this feel! I loved it instantly — it’s like he could hear exactly what was in my mind.
Punk Head: Antenna” was written in 2022 but arrives in 2026. What changed in the song, and what changed in you?
Manuka: A lot had changed! At the time, I was in the middle of many obstacles and at a state of burnout with work, the loneliness that comes with being misunderstood, and the lack of motivation or connection with my voice and singing. Sometimes, as artists, we are pushed to the deepest point of our experiences and emotions when we create and articulate what is actually going on. Personally, this is not something I feel I can control, and it’s not always my choice when it comes to songwriting. Hence, now whilst recording and releasing, being at a different point in my life, with growth and gained insight and perspective of my inner world, I can sing and create with lightness and hope, which gives the song a balanced vibe — not too dreary and deep, but not peppy either.
Punk Head: What does a Malayalam song like “Cherathukal” unlock for you musically that a more obvious Western influence might not?
Manuka: Gosh. You have to listen to that song and watch the music video. Actually, watch the movie Kumbalangi Nights. I lived in Kerala for a year, and whilst I was there, I found a slowness and simplicity to life that inspired awe and wonder. That’s what that song brings to me whenever I listen to it. The production and style of the song offers so much with a body of warmth, emotion and storytelling that aligns with the way I create and write my music. Finding art that exists in parallel or alignment with your own fuels and inspires.
Punk Head: There is a beautiful contradiction in making a song about navigating the mind while also leaving so much room for the listener to find their own meaning. Do you see songwriting as a form of self-understanding first, or communication first?
Manuka: Definitely self-understanding, because when I write songs, I have to do some self-discovery or inner work to be able to communicate something across to someone else. My process is never to sit down and think, “What type of song would this audience like to hear, or what would I like to say or share?” It’s more like… “Oh wow, what is happening right now? Let me figure it out…” and then think about communicating it with others. We learn and discover, then we create, and then communicate. I have around 80 unreleased songs just sitting in my little notebook! Some examples of what I have been doing at the moment is my day to day life at The Learning Centre, where I work. I wrote a song for the older children based on the conversations we were having around feeling misunderstood, and another for the younger group about mindfully greeting the day. Alongside this, I have been working on releasing a spiritual album, drawing from a few philosophies and faiths to create an experience that encourages the listener to reflect more about the self, to guide and to anchor, and to empower. My life and work have shown me a range of different life stories, which keeps maintaining the self-discovery and expression.
