LONGMEADOW – A little less than two years ago, Jake Manzi started writing original acoustic soft rock songs on his guitar. Now, Manzi is set to release his debut five-song extended play (EP) record, “Singing to the Wall,” at Adolfo’s in Springfield on Oct. 7.

Manzi, 20, told Reminder Publications most songs on the EP were co-written with his cousin, Angelo Manzi, who lives in Boston.

“We started doing it together,” Manzi explained. “One of the songs on [the EP] I wrote myself and three of them I wrote with Angelo.”

He added when he attended Longmeadow High School, he was more interested in playing basketball than writing songs. It wasn’t until he started college that it became something he was passionate about.

“The idea of the song is something I’m always chasing and trying to fulfill,” he explained. “Writing is definitely the hardest part of it and I’m excited for this release. Playing live is kind of like the vacation … Playing live is where you can expand the ideas of your songs.”

One of the songs featured on the record is called “Pocket Twos,” which Manzi said was written about his cousin, who was “trying to juggle two girlfriends in one night.”

“The whole situation didn’t end well,” he noted.

Another song, “Time,” is about his perspective on the passage of time.

“It's my perspective on time, or lack there of, at this point in my life,” he added. “But, it's hard to tell if that’ll stay the same forever. It’s the kind of thing where I'm not sure if my thoughts about time will change as years go by. If they do, I guess I’ll have another song idea.”

Manzi said the opening line of the song is, “Time’s got a funny way about it. It doesn’t last that long.”

The EP was recorded at Spirithouse Recording Studio in Northampton and features a full band accompaniment from a trio of performers – Caleb Rosazza on guitar, bassist Jacob Rosazza, and Jake Edwards on drums – who make up the core group of musicians in prominent Northampton-based rock band Lux Deluxe, Manzi said.

When asked about his musical influences, Manzi stated he’s a fan of artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, and Canadian folk musician Afie Jurvanen, who goes by the stage name Bahamas.

One of Manzi’s biggest influences is his father, Frank Manzi, who has recorded at least four albums of his own in the past and who performed on MTV with his band, The Breakdown, in the late 1980s.

Manzi said “Singing to the Wall” was created under the guidance of his father and producer Danny Bernini at Spirithouse.

“They were all a big help in making this happen,” he added. “Not only their playing, but their experience in recording. Danny Bernini’s creativity and knowledge of the recording process was invaluable for someone like me who was going through it for the first time.”

The release show at Adolfo’s will feature Manzi performing alongside a full band, he said. He will be playing all the songs off his record as well as other original and cover tunes.

Doors open at 5 p.m. and the performance is set to begin at 6 p.m. Admission is free and copies of “Singing to the Wall” will be available for purchase at the show.

Manzi said he considers the EP a “blueprint” of “where I want to go with my music.”

He will also be opening for local band Look Park at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton on Oct. 30.

Manzi has performed at the Iron Horse before and as a headliner for White Lion Brewery’s White Lion Wednesdays music series in the past.

For more information about Manzi visit www.jakemanzi.com.