ALEX MANHIRE
HAILS FROM: Kaurna/Adelaide, SA
PLAYS IN: The Beautiful Monument
SOUNDS LIKE: Synth-soaked melodicore
LATEST DROP: I’m The Reaper (LP out now via Greyscale)
How did you initially fall in love with the instrument?
The first reason I started playing guitar was because my friend had one when I was really young. He taught me ‘Smoke On The Water’ and I wanted one for myself. It wasn’t until later on, when I was in my teens, that I really picked it up. I was obsessed with Paramore – shocker, I know – and started teaching myself their songs by watching YouTube play-throughs. I still have the off-brand electric guitar I learnt everything on; it’s an obnoxious red Strat covered in band stickers and the stickers I’d pull off the albums I’d buy at JB Hi-Fi when I was like 16.
What inspires you as a player?
I think coming from more of a metal and hardcore background, I love a good groovy, heavy riff, and I love to add a bit of bounce to some of our “straighter” riffs when I play them live. I just try to play hard and with as much energy as possible live, but I’m a serial soft noodler when I’m just jamming.
Are you much of a gear nerd?
I run a purely digital rig live now, but I am a sucker for pedals. I own very few now but I still have a note saved in my phone full of all the pedals I would love to own – I think the list is like 20 long. I know it’s probably super basic but I love a good delay pedal. I still rock the Strymon blueSky from time to time, and I’m still after a JAM Pedals Delay Llama that I will one day pull the pin on.
Do you have any ‘white whales’?
A few years ago I was in a random music shop in Melbourne and I came across a run of Fenders that were made from reclaimed wood. There was a Jazzmaster that caught my eye. I even went back later that day and played it through my rig, and it was amazing, however it really didn’t suit the tones I use for The Beautiful Monument so I tried to make the “responsible” adult decision and didn’t purchase it... I think about that guitar all the time.
What would your signature model look like?
It would probably be an offset shape, shell pink with a maple neck, alder body with just a humbucker, depending on when you catch me. I’m really digging the DiMarzio Crunch Labs, so maybe I’d put that in there – and an EverTune bridge.
If you could jam with any guitarist, dead or alive...
That’s a tough one, but honestly after all of the COVID setbacks from the last few years, and being stuck in different states to each other, I honestly would take jamming with The Beautiful Monument’s other guitarist, Andy, and our bassist Amy. It’s a bit of a gooey response, but they are both very different guitarists and people that give me the most joy and inspiration when I play with them.
