Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Knox is a talented singer-songwriter rapidly ascending within the music industry. Within the last year and a half, he has signed to Atlantic Records and built a strong fanbase via TikTok, with one of his videos featuring his hit track “Sneakers” reaching nearly 2 million views overnight. “Sneakers” now has over 23 million streams across streaming platforms.
The Knockturnal had a chance to interview Knox, where we delved into his creative process for his latest single, “Not The 1975”, an upcoming support tour, and his latest projects.
The Dayton, Ohio native recently released his latest single, “Not The 1975“, a concept based on an interaction he had at a bar. Knox mentioned how he and his team had written three versions of the original track. Within the chorus, the line “I like your confidence, but you’re not The 1975” inspired Knox to pay homage to and intertwine popular songs from the alternative and infamous band, The 1975’s discography, such as “Chocolate” and “Oh Caroline.” “Not The 1975” is enriched with clever references from The 1975’s music, adding intrigue for fans of both artists. Without a doubt, the track carries various guitar riffs and instrumentals, emulating a mix between The 1975’s music and a personal touch of Knox’s distinct pop-punk-rock sound.
Inspired by favorite artists and songwriters, including big pop names such as Ed Sheeran, Julia Michaels, and Lauv, Knox also grew up to a compilation of pop-punk-rock “scene” influences, a list including Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, and All-American Rejects. “Not the 1975” is the perfect in-between of that rock music, but also straight down the middle, pop-radio.” He noted.
Knox teamed up alongside viral pop-singer songwriter and former contestant from The Voice season 14, Alexa Cappelli, for their mesmerizing duet “Backwards.” In our interview, Knox talks about the collaborative experience with Alexa and the creative process behind the song that brought it to life in their music video.
The Nashville-based singer-songwriter carries an impressive track record of supporting multiple artists on tour, such as The Band Camino, Boys Like Girls, and Bilmuri. This fall, Knox will perform at some of the country’s most iconic and intimate music venues to support the alternative-pop band, Nightly, for their Wear Your Heart Out tour—venues such as the Fonda Theatre in LA, the 930 Club in DC, and more.
Knox – Courtesy of Acacia Evans
In February, the 25-year-old released his debut EP How to Lose a Girl in 7 Songs. Knox expressed his excitement for being able to bring the EP to life on tour later this year. “I haven’t seen how the project has affected people. I haven’t been able to see it in person. I had one headline show that was amazing. We sold it out in 10 minutes. Everyone knew every word when they showed up.”
Knox elaborated on songs such as “NYC,” “Porch Lights,” and “Hate My Guts.” He expressed his eagerness to shine a light on the tracks on tour and to resonate with audiences in person. “I get to wake up and live my dream that I’ve thought about since I was seventeen. My dream as a child is literally (now) a reality, and it is nothing without the people that wake up every day and turn these songs on.”
Knox stands as one of the most authentic and genuine rising artists in the music scene and is immensely grateful for his platform, supporters, and career as a musician. Knox mentions how grateful he is for his supporters and how he can make music in his favorite city as his career. “I want to meet everybody. I want to stay after the shows and take pictures with everybody. I wanna hug these people and tell them thank you.” Knox tells us. His passion for his craft and authenticity reflects throughout the interview.
Check out the full interview with Knox here!
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