Will Knox was born and raised in London, then moved to the US to hone his songwriting craft, graduating from Berklee College of Music (Boston) and now resides in the Netherlands. Will Knox’s fourth, full-length album is earmarked for release in the autumn this year. This collection of songs will include a collaboration with rising female artist Néomí (PIAS) and co-writes with Emma Bale (Warner Benelux), Fin Greenall (a.k.a Fink) and Celine Cairo.
He has recently released a five track EP `Growing Pains`
Title track `Growing Pains` leads us into this extended play and I read is a conversation between the singer and his younger self, or inner child. A song about learning how to reparent himself, while becoming a parent at the same time.
A gentle number with vocals shared over a strummed acoustic guitar with a string arrangement joining two thirds of the way through and double tracked harmonies towards the end. A soft percussive beat leads us into `Instant Coffee` which is a lyrical exploration of Knox’s journey during lockdown, a period marked by self-discovery, impending fatherhood, and a resolve to confront and heal past wounds. A redemptive kind of reflection.
`Leave the Light On` has an underlying percussive beat and vocals that share an almost stream of consciousness with a slight sense of heartache or loss shared in the vocal delivery. A reminiscence for a lost love maybe revealed on `Twenty Something` with some intricate rhythmic acoustic chords which has a kind of sense of regret or a touch of maybe “what could have been,” if only about it.
This five tracker closes out with `Christmas Song` which features néomí, Dutch folk-pop singer-songwriter Neomi Speelman. A tender musing on love and all it entails.
The `Growing Pains` EP was a delightful introduction or taster for me to this singer songwriter and what he has to offer, and it will be interesting to discover what will be on the forthcoming long player now my appetite has been awakened.
Rating 8 / 10
