by martina rexrode
photo by acacia evans
Dayton, Ohio native turned Nashville songwriter Knox released his debut EP How To Lose A Girl in 7 Songs on February 17th, a collection of songs with a 2000s rock sound mixed with modern pop melodies. After dropping out of college to pursue music, and amounting 20 million streams on his first single for this project, Knox is ready to make waves in the industry. Keep up with Knox on social media (@musicbyknox) for updates and important information!
Congratulations on all the success with “Sneakers!” Is there anything specific about that single that you think really resonated with listeners?
Knox: “I think it’s the melodies and feel of the song that connected with people most. When I made the TikTok for it people were like, ‘I don’t know what this guy is taking about! I don’t either, but it sounds sick.’ It’s more the feeling the song captures, with early 2000s throwback rock and pop sad boy melodies [laughs].”
I noticed a lot of clever wordplay in your lyrics, specifically with how you use “sneakers” to allude to shoes but also an ex sneaking around or cheating. Is this wordplay something you find yourself doing a lot when writing, or has it become a more subconscious pattern?
Knox: “We’re conceptual writers, very Nashville in a way. Country songs are punny and a little of Nashville’s country side has rubbed off on us. All of my titles for my songs have to be very visual and I feel like that’s such a Nashville thing. I always want the title to make people wonder what the song is about.”
How has your experience as a songwriter for other artists in Nashville shaped your individual style as an artist?
Knox: “Writing for other artists, I found out what I wanted to say and how I wanted the world to look at me. You learn how to write for different people and when you go to write about yourself, you’re like, ‘Oh wait, I know how to do this! If I can write for other people, I can write for me.’ You learn so much from it.”
Your sound is described as a mix between The Band CAMINO, Ed Sheeran, and Jeremy Zucker. Are there any parts of these artists that you find in yourself?
Knox: “I feel like I connect with Ed a lot because I remember watching videos of him growing up and I loved how he carried himself and treated people in his crew and label. Nobody ever has anything bad to say about him ever. With Camino, I want my shows to be like theirs — a rock show with people screaming and having a darn good time.”
Do you think your experience touring with The Band CAMINO has prepared you to embark on your own tour in the future?
Knox: “100%. Those guys are the definition of touring professionals. Sometimes people think rock bands party all the time and are crazy. That’s not how it was for them or for me. They’re just homies playing sold out shows together. I thought, ‘Man, I want to tour like this, with my best friends.’ I’m not a very material or glamorous person, if I have my dudes with me and I can make and play music for people who love it as much as we do, then that’s all I can ask for.”
What can you tell us about your single “NYC” off of your debut EP?
Knox: “I’ve always been drawn to the city itself so just to see the life this song has had so far, as my lead single on my dream record label is the best.”
What are your biggest hopes for the release of How To Lose A Girl in 7 Songs?
Knox: “I hope people listen and connect with it, I hope it means something to them.”
Does the EP follow a certain order from start to finish like the title suggests?
Knox: “Yes! It’s meant to be listened to in the order that its track listed, I recommend not putting it on shuffle, just let it run through.”
Who are some of your dream collaborations?
Knox: “The Band CAMINO, Ed Sheeran, Chelsea Cutler, I absolutely love her. Julia Michaels. She’s a huge inspiration to me. The people that know her music are diehard fans, and that’s all I can ask for.”