“Pure Heartbreak” Offers First Look at Peter Manning Robinson’s Upcoming Album “Excursions”
Classical pianist Peter Manning Robinson is a breath of fresh air in the overcrowded music scene. With other genres dominating the landscape, classical music is often overlooked, but what people seem to forget is that it remains the root of many modern compositions. Robinson is here to remind listeners of the power the genre still holds.
He is delivering not only an impressive new single titled “Pure Heartbreak” but also an engaging mini short film to accompany it. Let’s first focus on the music. The piano has always had a way of capturing attention. Its delicacy, paired with its ability to deliver soothing melodies, is what makes it such a powerful instrument, especially in the hands of a master like Robinson. However, just as the piano can convey calm, it can also be used with urgency, proving its versatility without a doubt. Manning makes use of that range.
The melody is mostly calming, yet it carries clear hints of sorrow and sadness. As you listen, you may find yourself reflecting on moments from your own life, both joyful and difficult, gradually drifting into a state of calm. “Pure Heartbreak” may feel somber, but its gentle melody can guide listeners through different emotional states.
The video was produced alongside Klaus Hoch and tells the story of two lovers who part ways in a striking narrative set against the backdrop of the California desert. The story unfolds as the video progresses, visually reinforcing the message behind the song. It captures that pure heartbreak, undiluted and full of emotion. Love can be beautiful, but it can also be painful when it ends this way. Still, the message is clear. Do not close your heart. Allow it to heal and be willing to try again.
An Emmy winner and multiple BMI Award recipient, Robinson has built a reputation for work that blends classical discipline with improvisational freedom. Born in Chicago and raised between Vancouver and Los Angeles, he began playing piano at age three and was performing professionally before his teenage years. His musical development was shaped by formal studies at the University of Southern California and Berklee College of Music, as well as collaborations with respected jazz figures such as Ernie Watts, Phil Woods, and Freddie Hubbard.
In his early twenties, Robinson’s path took an unexpected turn when severe tendonitis threatened to end his ability to perform. Rather than stepping away from music, he retrained physically and musically under Phil Cohen of Concordia University’s Leonardo Project, reworking his relationship with the instrument and abandoning conventional technique.
That period of reinvention eventually led to the creation of the Refractor Piano, a redesigned acoustic instrument that allows him to perform what he calls “Refracted Music” entirely live, without digital assistance or pre-recorded elements. Since unveiling the instrument in 2016 at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica, Robinson has presented performances at venues including the Vortex Dome and the Museum of Modern Art DTLA. In 2021, he also co-founded Owl Walk Records with longtime collaborator and video director Klaus Hoch.
Peter Manning Robinson’s upcoming album, “Excursions,” marks a return to the directness of solo acoustic piano after several years focused on the Refractor Piano. The record was assembled over a three-year period shaped by personal loss and global uncertainty, drawing from hundreds of recorded sketches that Robinson and longtime collaborator Klaus Hoch carefully curated and refined into a cohesive set of compositions. Each piece reflects a distinct emotional passage, forming an arc that moves from despair and reflection through struggle, renewal, and joy.
Get to know more about Peter Manning Robinson and his upcoming album on his social media: Instagram - Facebook - Website