Nashville based singer/songwriter Knox has had a whirlwind start to his musical career, and his debut EP, How To Lose A Girl in 7 Songs is proof that all of his hard work over the past few years has paid off. After making the leap to kickstart his music career in Nashville in 2019, Knox was afforded the unique experience of getting to hone his craft in the midst of a global pandemic, catching the attention of fellow Nashville artist John Harvie and eventually teaming up with Spencer Jordan, who he has been writing with ever since. He began releasing his own music in 2021, with his massive single, “Sneakers” blowing up thanks to TikTok nearly overnight. Now, he has arrived with his debut EP to prove that he’s capable of just about anything.
Spanning various genres, such as pop-punk, EDM, hip-hop and pop, How To Lose A Girl In 7 Songs marks the start of an incredible career from this bright young artist. Not only is it his first collection of songs, but it is also his first release via Atlantic Records. With plenty to come in the future, we caught up with Knox to talk about his start in music, the new EP and much more. Read more and listen to it now below.
Prelude Press: You’ve had a bit of a whirlwind of a start in the music scene these past couple of years, with your single, “Sneakers” blowing up literally overnight, making the move to Nashville and now, you’re releasing your debut EP on your dream label, Atlantic Records this year. I’m sure it’s hard to summarize it in just a few words, but how have these last few months been?
Knox: The best way I can put it is it’s been nothing short of amazing. A dream come true. I made all of these songs with my best friends, the hardest working group of guys I know in Nashville, and it has been my biggest honor to represent the most talented group I know and this project we made together. I am very grateful.
You spent much of 2022 out on the road, playing a ton of shows with bands like The Band Camino and Boys Like Girls. What was the highlight of those shows?
The best show we played was Asheville, North Carolina; it was the first show where everyone in the crowd knew the songs. We heard that people came just for us, and it was like their 3rd show on the tour. People recognized me in a restaurant there too. Asheville was the first time we looked around and were like “Holy cow this is real.” We weren’t just some random opener anymore. I felt a change in energy, that there was something happening there. Also Atlanta, GA was cool too because that was my first stage dive!
You had the very unique experience of starting your musical career right before and in the midst of lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic. What was that experience like?
Covid was a big help for me in terms of songwriting because I was not a big fan of zoom writes. That year I only wrote with my buddies Zach Smith and Spencer Jordan, or by myself. I really got to hone in on what I wanted my sound to be like and what I wanted to say. Now those 2 guys know more than anyone what I would say in a song and how I would say it. During sessions together I know were going to write a good song because they know me better than anyone. Without that year of doing that, I feel like it wouldn’t be the same.
A lot of artists will flock to music hubs like Los Angeles, New York or Nashville to start their careers, and you definitely found a perfect niche in Nashville, working with Spencer Jordan. How did the two of you connect and begin writing together?
I came down to Nashville in October of 2018 and I played a 2 hour cover set at Alley Taps. After my set there was a writer’s round, and Spencer was running it. He came in a little early and caught part of my set, and he came up to me after said that he loved my stuff and asked if I lived here. I told him that I was moving here in January, and I stayed to watched him play after my set. He’s always been the best of the best. We exchanged info and I didn’t talk to him for months. The day I moved to Nashville, I drove around the city to get to know it, and I put a picture of the Nashville skyline on my story that said “home for good.” Spencer messaged me asking what my address was and that he was going to come over to write a song. We’ve probably written 300 songs together since then.
You just released your debut EP, How to Lose a Girl in 7 Songs! What are you most excited for fans to hear on the EP?
I’m excited for people to listen to it as a whole. I made the track listing the way that it is on purpose, so every song feels like a right hook then another right hook of emotions. I’m excited for people to hear it the way my friends and I purposely made it, in that order. And to hear NYC because that’s going to be sick!
Knowing that it would be the first collection of music that listeners would hear from you, did you have any big goals in mind when you first started working on EP?
My goal was for people to be excited about it, whether that was 300 or a million people, we wanted people to be as excited about it as when we were making it.
It’s clear from the title of How to Lose a Girl in 7 Songs that it is a breakup record. Was it cathartic to work through things on these songs? What was the writing process like?
The writing process was just real. Every time we write were vulnerable, always having our walls down and being 100%. People can pick up on unauthenticity so fast. Whether the song is true or not, they all stem from true feelings or a place I was in. It was good to get the emotions out; all of the venting I did to my friends turned into songs. It was always therapy, it felt good to write and get it off my chest.
The EP has this really exciting blend of sounds, from pop-punk to EDM to hip-hop and pop. Were there any sounds that you were particularly excited to explore on these songs?
Our whole thing was how do we make this different, because everyone in Nashville wants to be The Band Camino, me included. We thought, “What are we going to do to make these stand out so were not just Band Camino pt 2?” I’m a big pop music guy, and I also love Lauv, The Chainsmokers, I grew up on Fall Out Boy and the American Rejects. We wanted to make verses pop focused, and we added live drums and electric guitars when the chorus hits. I think that’s what really made them stick out. Like in “Hate My Guts,” it was full blown acoustic pop then the chorus hits and you’re taken a back in a good way. That was a goal of all of the songs.
Do you have any other big plans for 2023? Could fans expect some more live shows soon?
We have big plans and big ideas for this year. We have songs that are just as good if not better that I am so excited to put out. I’m going to put out this EP, and once it’s time has come we have just as many more songs to release. I’m also so excited to get on the road and see how many people have taken the time to listen to everything and connect to it. It still hasn’t fully hit me how big this has gotten. I’m excited to thank people in person; I want to meet everyone. You allow us to live our dream!
Thanks for taking the time to chat with us! Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Big thank you to everyone who has listened and if you’re a fan now you’re only going to be a bigger fan with the new songs coming after the EP.
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