Celebrate Twenty, Twenty-Two with Louis Knight’s new EP.
For Louis Knight, it’s all about the journey. His latest collection of work — his new EP ‘Twenty, Twenty-Two’ — is an insight into his life over the past 2 years. The 5-tracks explore everything from falling in love to struggling with depression and anxiety, and grappling with what it’s like to come off of national television.
1883 Magazine chats with Louis Knight about his new EP, his single ‘Never Enough’ and more.
What was it about music that made you want to pursue it as a career?
Music’s all I’ve ever known how to do. It allows me to process the ups and downs of life and is therapy for me.
What have you learned and how have you grown as an artist since competing on American Idol?
American Idol opened some of the first doors to my career as a singer-songwriter. Since then, I’ve been working on further crafting my sound, learning what I need to bring out the best in me in a studio session. Also, just as a songwriter. I’m working towards a publishing deal at the moment!
What was the inspiration and creative process behind ‘Never Enough’?
It’s about feeling you’re never enough for someone. I think a lot of people can fall into feeling this way in an imbalanced relationship. I moved across the country to LA with my ex-girlfriend. Living together started to cause many cracks in our relationship and one day in an argument, she said no matter what she did, it never felt like enough for me. I also never felt enough in the relationship. I wrote that line down on my phone immediately and took it to my writing session the next day. As soon as I touched the piano, I instantly sang the line “it’s never enough for you” and we knew that was the hook!
What did you learn about yourself while writing and recording it?
I had been having trouble seeing through what was going on in my relationship at the time, It sort of made a lot of things clear and apparent to me as to the state of that relationship.
Tell us about your new EP, ‘Twenty, Twenty-Two’?
This EP is the last two years of my life; the highest highs: a jump start in my career (coming off national television), falling in love – and then the moments where hope feels hard to find: falling into a pandemic, dealing with depression, severe anxiety, and relationships falling apart. 2022 is the year I would have graduated from college, and I’ve always told myself that I would have some sort of footing in the music industry by then. I really hope that that is the case.
Are there specific themes or stories that tie all of the tracks on the EP together?
I’d say everything someone in their young adult years experiences: Love, Loss, and the ups and downs of life.
Your music is constantly referred to as music that sounds like your heart is on your sleeve. Is being open and honest through your songwriting ever scary for you?
It’s all I know how to do, quite frankly. As of lately, it’s been hard at times because coming off American Idol I thought my music/writing had to be garnered to that audience. I felt that way for a while, but I realized by doing that I was shutting out some of the truths and parts of myself I’d been living. What makes my music, is the authenticity of it all. So, it was scary, but I just remind myself of that every now and then.
What are some artists and tracks that influenced the song/EP?
I’d say “Futura Free” by Frank Ocean influenced my intro. I was also listening to a lot of Clinton Kane, and Sam Fender at the time I made this!
What 3 songs would you choose to soundtrack your perfect day?
Getting Started – Sam Fender
Part of the Band – The 1975
Paper Cuts (album edit) – Machine Gun Kelly
Lastly, what can we expect next from you?
After this EP I’m going to releasing singles much more frequently. Hopefully, every month!
