Knox Interviews 

Making 'Music for Pleasure' with Knox:  by Matt Worthington. (August 2005)

Music for Pleasure, the long-awaited debut release from Knox, finds him shifting gears in his life.  Knox has long been involved in music, and this record is set to establish him in a new terrain.  I first met Knox last winter (2005) when he played the headlining set of his music at Tacoma’s legendary club, Jazzbones.  It was very compelling and he was clearly having a lot of fun.  Every time I have seen him since, I have asked him the same question apparently everyone who knows him asks: ‘Is it finished yet?’   It is.  When we met over coffee this past week, I did this interview.

Matt W.:  How did you get started with ‘Music for Pleasure’?

Knox:  I began this project about eight years ago.  I was still in college.  It’s been one of the only things that endured and its day has finally come.  I almost don’t know how to feel about it.  I am still in shock.

Matt W.:  How so?

Knox:  Well, that it’s really finished.  It’s finished and I really like it.  It’s been a lot of work and that hasn’t been without a price.  I have given up a lot to compete it, in terms of money, time and I suppose relationships too.  There were times when I actually believed I wouldn’t finish it.  Maybe only a handful of people had faith that this day would come and apparently it has.  Eight and a half years is a really long time.  It took perseverance.

Matt W.:  Why do you think it took so long?

Knox:  There were a number of different factors.  I went through several different studios and worked with several different mix engineers before I found someone who was able to hear what I heard in the songs.  Trevor Johnson was a godsend.  I owe him a lot because he was the only person skilled enough to get the right sound for this record. He went the extra mile and a half.  That has really paid off.  It should also be noted that I worked with Kevin Veatch of Trillium Lane on Bainbridge Island.  I benefited greatly from the time spent with him as well.  My sessions with him forced me to be disciplined enough to put the project together in terms of material.  His dog Myles was a great support as well.  I also learned so much in the process of mixing and recording from both Kevin and Trevor.  I wanted to make something I liked listening to and though patience and perseverance it arrived.  This is the most obvious answer and that’s only part of it.  The other part is harder to define, the mental and spiritual part, I guess.   I have been on a real journey with these songs and I had to get back to a place of truth to finish it.  That might simply be asserting a genuine self, which for a good portion of the eight plus years I wasn’t fully committed to doing, and as a result there were a few years I produced very little fruit.

Matt W.:  So this record is genuine fruit?

Knox:  It’s actually ‘Music for Pleasure’. But, yes, it can be described that way. 

Matt W.:  Clever.  How did you arrive at the sound for ‘Music for Pleasure’?

Knox:  It started with drummer Jeffery McCormack.  He had a big impact.  He is an incredible talent.  I think every song we recorded was his first take.   He played in Alice in Chains, Nightshade, and is actively still at it, in fact I think he is currently working on an instructional DVD for drummers.  Anyhow, he simply rocked, he has great chops.  He probably knew better what I wanted to do than I did at the time. This was back in September 2000.  So then David Watkins and I worked out bass parts.  David is a highly creative person and a longtime friend. It was a lot of fun.  At this point I think I switched studios and some material was lost and I also switched taping methods to Pro Tools.  I then spent a long period of time studio shopping until I ended up building a home studio of sorts.  This allowed me the time I needed to play though things and sharpen my vision.  About August of 2003, I began work with Kevin Veatch and that is where I really began to learn how to use the tools well.  So I did most of the guitars, keys, and organ sounds, oh yes, I also had ‘The Greatest’, Brian Moss play on ‘Shall I Drive’, which really rocks.  He knows the piano and is an outstanding songwriter too.  He’s a real blessing.  Brian of the ‘famous’ Brians.

Matt W.:  The ‘famous’ Brians?

Knox:  Yeah, I know not everyone knows them yet but they will.  Brian Moss and Brian Oaks, two of the most talented musicians I know.  When I am lucky they play shows with me. They are amazing.  Moss played some piano on the record and Oaks, well he lent me a really nice Gretsch.  I should also mention another famous friend of mine whose name is Mark Pendolino.  I hope to make a record someday with Mark, who is very talented drummer, as well as the Brian’s at their studio, The Madison House.

Matt W.:  Will there be a next record?

Knox:  Oh yes, I love doing this.  I have probably four other records written at this point, and I have a few interesting things in the works too.  I may take on some investors, and I have been talking with a label I know though a friend.  Anything could happen, so we’ll see.

End of Part 1.