Noting a sultry backdrop of wave-like bass and soulful Americana guitar fragments, Nick Knotty, Backwoods Spaceship, and Katrina Hayward join forces, for the launch of the former’s latest single, the intoxicating In My Dreams.
From the upcoming album Arm Your Mind, due for release in the Spring, In My Dreams follows a smooth groove of organic keys, guitars and rhythms, through a back and forth vocal dynamic that effectively injects two alluring leading characters, to confidently guide us into a personal but accessible alternative story.
Nick Knotty is a long-time songwriter and performer, an artist with an expansive library of original works. This year will see the release of perhaps his most established collection yet, but prior to this were the multi-genre projects Yell at the Wall and Tonic for Sheep, and the uniquely grunge-driven album CliMATe change. Despite his inherent versatility, always there’s a sense of personality and expressive freedom to the music and writing, and this new album looks set to shine light on precisely those qualities.
Eclecticism is unquestionable, and the switch to the distorted scratch-DJ presence and pace of Keep Trying makes this clear from the outset – an inspiring and motivational rock-rap fusion, leaning towards heavy metal during its build and crescendo, but otherwise dreamy and electronic in its central design.
Then things get fearlessly gritty, scornful and confronting, for the topical post-punk outpouring that is Taken Women.
Creatively there’s a limitless sense of freedom to the new album. Drip showcases the immersive trip-hop escapism of Nick Knotty’s production approach, while There still doubles down on the purity of a mellow guitar ballad, and simultaneously devotes its lyricism to vulnerability – complete with the raw vocal edge of an artist authentically connected to their ideas.
Occasionally Nick lets the guitar do the talking, throughout the likes of Spaced Out (Featuring Backwoods Spaceship). Then there are the collaborative hip-hop gems that balance the organic and the programmed, such as the naturally catchy and thoughtful, self-reflective highlight The Show.
There’s also the sudden colourful arrangement and juxtaposed lyrical uncertainty of Don’t Stare, another compelling highlight, and the stunning production and guitar ambiance of Edge of Knife – a track that unexpected veers back towards classic hip hop, as we’re presented with a contemplative story that attempts to bridge the gap between artist and audience.
Outside of this album, highlights from the all-time catalogue of Nick Knotty include the vastly streamed Lost Souls, from Tonic for Sheep, Culture Dr. (from CliMATe change), as well as the singles Statistic, Choices, and Jabor jaws. Knotty was also a part of the progressive metal act Curse of Captain Eddie, with the song miasma theory being a clear highlight from his career so far.
For the latest album, Arm Your Mind, Nick enlisted the help of a small army of musicians and sound engineers, including lyricist, rapper and guitarist Nathan McGannon, and Curse of Captain Eddie bandmate Yago Lintz, and thus the realism and creative freedom of the project came to life in a whole new way.
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