Knox, an incredibly talented singer/songwriter from Nashville, has accomplished remarkable feats in his career. His passion and dedication have led him to collaborate with Charlotte Sands, creating the captivating track "We're Not In Love Anymore," which immerses the listener in a mesmerizing musical experience. Knox has also performed at some of the most prestigious venues across different cities, alongside Nightly, where his unique style and impressive vocal range have left audiences spellbound. Knox is eagerly preparing to release his highly anticipated single and EP, which promises to showcase his musical prowess and ability to create soulful, emotive tracks that speak to the heart.
Moving forward to his college years, Knox started playing the guitar, performing at open mic nights, and making big decisions. One of his most significant decisions was to move to Nashville, one of the biggest music cities in the world, in January 2019 to pursue music full-time. Knox was fully committed to his passion for music. During the Covid lockdowns, he used the time to develop his skills, which led to the release of his debut EP, "How to Lose a Girl in 7 Songs". With millions of views on his tracks on TikTok, Knox has opened for popular bands such as The Band Camino and Boys Like Girls. Knox's accomplishments have already earned him a place in the music industry, and he is determined to make his mark in the world of music. We are all eager to witness his journey.
RIVAL: What was it like growing up in Ohio?
KNOX: “Growing up in Ohio was awesome. I had the life of the movie The Sandlot — my friends and I would ride our bikes around and play basketball. I wouldn’t be a musician if I didn’t live there because nothing was left to do, haha.”
RIVAL: How did music influence your life as a basketball player? Who were you a fan of at that time?
KNOX “Back then, I was in a rapper phase; I listened to a lot of Drake and Eminem. When Recovery came out, I was on that wave; before games, that was my pregame jam.”
RIVAL: What is your earliest memory of music?
KNOX: “My first favorite song was “Kryptonite” by 3 Doors Down. “Enter Sandman” was another one. My dad used to call it the chicken song for some reason, so every time we would get in the car, I would say, “Play the chicken song!”
RIVAL: Before your musical aspirations, what was your dream job?
KNOX: “I wanted to work in basketball and be the head sportscaster for Kentucky basketball.”
RIVAL: Can you describe the day you first picked up a guitar? What drew you to that instrument and inspired you to pick it up?
KNOX “I grew up watching Drake & Josh, so picking up a guitar made me feel like Drake, and I thought he was so cool. I also played Guitar Hero religiously.”
RIVAL: What was your learning process for getting comfortable with the guitar? Can you describe your feelings along the way?
KNOX: “It was something that I knew would take a long time and was strenuous at some points, but it was a challenge I enjoyed. Seeing it click and all come together was fantastic.”
RIVAL: What was it like to play open mics while in school?
KNOX: “Those were some of the best nights of my life. Back then, I enjoyed the challenge of winning people over who weren’t paying attention to me.”
RIVAL: When did you realize that music was your passion and something you wanted to pursue professionally?
KNOX: “I hated everything that I was doing in school. I was there for education and wasn’t passionate about it; I was always doing music. It became the only thing I thought about for years and just took over.”
RIVAL: Can you walk us through the decision to drop out of school and move in with your grandma to save money for a Nashville move? What was it like when you finally leaped in January 2019? What were your early experiences in Nashville like?
KNOX: “At that time, I remember telling myself that if I didn’t do it now and try, I would regret it, even if I failed.”
RIVAL: Was there a moment when you first felt like you had made it or that you would make it?
KNOX: “It’s weird because “making it” means you can’t even go out in public without being bombarded. There was a time when I was writing songs where I knew I could have a career out of it and earn enough money to support myself. I realized it was doable when I wrote 500-600 songs and met people with a pub deal.”
RIVAL: What was the inspiration and musical influence behind your debut EP, How To Lose A Girl in 7 Songs?
KNOX: “All of the songs were random songs that I made, and once I asked what the through line was between them, I saw they were all stories about relationships going wrong. I wanted to do something with a rom-com title, and How To Lose A Girl in 7 Songs rolled off the tongue.”
RIVAL: You had quite the exciting fall — releasing “We’re Not In Love Anymore” ft Charlotte Sands and “Not 1975,” what were the creative and collaborative processes like for those tracks?
KNOX: “With WNILA, it was cool to work with Charlotte because I’ve known her forever. Having a song with her was a big deal to me because she’s Nashville royalty. Jackson Foote (of Loote), Spencer Jordan, and I wrote “Not The 1975.” I’ve been listening to Loote since 2016. They’ve influenced my sound a lot, so being able to write with Jackson was a pretty cool experience for me as a fan.”
RIVAL: What was it like to open for Nightly on their fall tour? What do you enjoy most about touring and getting the chance to perform for new audiences every night?
KNOX: “It’s so cool to see how many people across the country the music reaches. I also like how, as an opener, I have the challenge of getting people to listen. It’s like the same feeling I had at open mic nights.”
RIVAL: With your song “Sneakers” having well over 30 million streams and initially accumulating nearly 2 million views overnight, it is beyond clear that your music resonates with people. What does it mean when people respond to your music in such a way? How does it feel that your music is resonating with fans?
KNOX: “I think it’s fantastic because it’s very validating. As someone who made songs that no one listened to at one point, it’s a total confidence boost. It’s so special to impact people’s lives — like when people listen to me on their drive to work or when this guy who came to one of my shows told me he only listened to my songs when he ran his first half marathon.”
RIVAL: What does writing and creating music mean to you?
KNOX: “For me, making music gives me the most fantastic job in the entire world. I wake up happier than I’ve ever been in my whole life. And I get to call that work — it’s mind-blowing. I feel so lucky and grateful.”
RIVAL: What is your creative process like at every step in song making — from first getting an idea for a song to recording and mixing it?
KNOX: “It's all over the place. Inspiration comes from all over. It can start with a lyric, a melody, or someone else’s song I like. For “Not the 1975,” I wanted it to have the same vibe as “Shut Up and Dance.” It’s so cool getting a song across the finish line and bringing something new to the world that didn’t exist the day before.”
RIVAL: Who would you cite as your biggest inspirations, personally and professionally?
KNOX: “Professionally, it would be Ed Sheeran and LeBron James. I want to carry myself like LeBron, and I love and respect Ed for reasons far beyond music. He works so hard, and I would say my dad and Wes are my managers. They believe in me so much but will not let me do anything stupid. They both work so hard, and they’ve taught me that if you work hard, things will work out.”
RIVAL: How would you define the power of music?
KNOX: “Music is the one thing people have in common; in a world that feels probably the most divided in my lifetime, it can really bring people together. When you’re at a show with your friends, it feels like nothing else matters except that moment. We can all enjoy it together.
RIVAL: What would it be if you could tell your younger self something?
KNOX: “It would be to keep going. You’re going to do a lot of dumb shit and fail again and again and do things that you never thought you were capable of doing. Just keep following your heart.”
RIVAL: Can you tease anything upcoming for fans to keep an eye out for?
KNOX: “2024 is going to be absolutely bonkers. There is so much new music and astonishing surprises that I’m really excited to share. You should stick around this year and see what happens if you're a fan.”
And stick around, we will. Knox has everything one needs to succeed: a stellar sound, enviable talent, and a perfect attitude. A list of ingredients that, when combined, yields the most promising and steadfast X-factor. Indeed, that all too elusive quality synonymous with stardom is far from something that can be taught; you either have it or you don’t, and for the highly gifted Knox, this much is clear: he certainly has it.
