The latest release from River Knight is a full-length album that gives off a lush and think layered folk rock sound that touches on psychedelic and classic rock with swirling synths and emotional and full bodies vocals.
The Grow album is loaded with heart and soul and the performances beckon these, sort of live performances and they feel personal and cinematic with a massive drive that seems built from pure emotion.
It's extremely easy to fall into these songs and automatically attach yourself to them as if they were written for you.
This is a heavily acoustic guitar-based record, and the songs are beautifully woven and performed with passion and it all gets you engulfed in the music so fast you don't know what happened.
The other cool thing about this is that the songs really feel like they all come from different decades or at least there are all these elements and choruses that give off these different rock styles.
Some feel like 80's rock acoustic ballads, others feel like straight rustic folk tracks, and others genuine classic rock.
You can feel all of these great influences in the music and most importantly, you can hear that intensity of what the songs mean.
The vocals have a release to them that shows character and presence as they make the songs impactful.
With such a great album, we wanted to have a talk with the band and see where this all could have come from.
here's what happened.
RAG: Okay so let's start with Grow album. This record has a bright classic rock feel to it! Where did this album come from?
[RIVER] This album came about through a combination of years of experience, passionate goals and a love of music.
[KNIGHT] It did, but I will also say it grew (see what I did there?) from a dark place. My wife sadly passed away from Cancer. She was far too young, and it still hurts today, and at that point in my life I was in a bad way. I was self-medicating a lot and I had started writing a couple of songs as a form of therapy, Heaven’s Door and Sense Out Of Crisis.
[RIVER] We’ve known each other a long time, so naturally I was there to support my mate. I couldn’t let him self-medicate on his own, nor too much if you know what I mean? We gotta look out for each other.
[KNIGHT] Yeah, writing songs with my bro, playing covers and jamming generally. Many late nights. It got me through the dark times, but it also resulted in Grow, which I’m very proud of. That, in a nutshell, is where the album came from.
RAG: I'm hearing some great styles on this release. Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
[KNIGHT] I hate these questions… there are just so many…
[RIVER] I’ll jump in then. I think it may be my fault you can hear a classic rock feel.
[KNIGHT] Yeah, that’d definitely be your fault HAHAHA
[RIVER] I started off with heavy metal; Iron Maiden were a biggie. Moved onto other forms of rock; GnR, Skid Row, Motley Crue. Then grunge was a major influence; Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Mother Love Bone, AIC, Soundgarden. But I always had a thing for acoustic stuff. Sap? Jar of Flies? Awesome!!
[KNIGHT] I didn’t like the really heavy stuff. I was more The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Joan Armatrading. Wham! were my guilty pleasure.
[RIVER] Oh, if you’re mentioning Wham! I can’t forget Hot Chocolate!
RAG: So how did this all begin for you really? When did you fall in love with making music?
[RIVER] I fell in love with music around the age of 13, began writing lyrics a short while later, and started playing music around the age of 16. Originally, I didn’t want to be a singer, I wanted to be a bass player. Steve Harris was my hero!
[KNIGHT] It was listening to my dad’s Beatles records. They just captivated me, inspired me to start playing and really gave me an appreciation of song writing and melodies.
RAG: What's next for you as a band?
[KNIGHT] Next for us is a new collaboration and a new release in the coming months. But we can’t really talk about that right now.
[RIVER] All will become apparent to anyone that follows us. But in the meantime, we will continue to play shows and write songs.
RAG: What inspires you guys to write a song?
[RIVER] Personal experiences. Personal opinions. Secondhand experiences.
[KNIGHT] Yeah, he said it man. It’s just life in general really, whether that be what we’re going through, what someone else is going through, or what we perceive around us.
RAG: What are you all doing when you're NOT working on music?
[KNIGHT] Standard sort of shit really. Just getting through life the best we can.
[RIVER] Bit of a cliche, but basically, I’m kind of always working on it somehow - networking, promoting, writing, playing. I have a very understanding family and a strong drive when I’m passionate about something.
[KNIGHT] Spending time with my family. I’m a big family man. Family is very important.
RAG: Who are you all listening to right now?
[KNIGHT] Loving HAiM at the minute. Band of Skulls. Whatever my Spotify radio plays me, so I’m still getting older classics like Oasis and Elbow.
[RIVER] I’m listening to a lot of unsigned and smaller acts. Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard are ticking some boxes right now. Asgard Raven are worth checking out.
[KNIGHT] Just watched Glastonbury on the Beeb. Shout out to Sir Paul McCartney.
RAG: Are you doing live performances?
[RIVER] We are. We have a couple of festival slots, and some smaller, more intimate gigs lined up.
[KNIGHT] All in the UK at the moment. But we have our passports ready!!
RAG: This album seems like a big undertaking. What kind of advice might you have for other up and coming bands out there?
[RIVER] Jeebus yeah, it was a big undertaking. What year was it we had lockdown?
[KNIGHT] 2020. The album was mostly recorded remotely through the pandemic, with a month or 2 of guest recordings when it was over.
[RIVER] Bands have to stick to their guns, do what they do and stay true to themselves. The moment you start trying to appease people is the moment the enjoyment will start running dry.
RAG: Before we go, what would you like to say to fans of the music?
[KNIGHT] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[RIVER] Oh yes, a big thank you and I’m gonna say the usual about following us on all the socials or signing up to our newsletter through our website.
[KNIGHT] It is a massive help when people interact online, follow being the main one, but the likes and comments are a very close second when it comes to getting eyes and ears on us.
[RIVER] Thank you to all fans of our music, and thank you for having us in today, it’s been a most pleasurable experience.