Chris Knight Addresses Delay in New Music
There is nothing like a Chris Knight album and a Chris Knight song. The consummate songwriter’s songwriter, Chris Knight is one of the most revered in the craft, and all you have to do is look at the list of artists who’ve covered his songs over the years, from Randy Travis to Lee Ann Womack.
Ever since his first self-titled release in 1998, it’s been a steady diet of solid releases every couple of years or so from Knight. But his last record Little Victories was released going on four years ago now. It’s not as if a four-year hiatus in album output is unheard of, it’s just that there’s something about a Chris Knight album that can’t be satiated or substituted by anything else.
Chris Knight has also been decidedly mum on the subject of new music, but in a recent discussion with The Tennessean‘s Juli Thanki ahead of an appearance at Nashville’s City Winery, Knight opened up about his new album prospects, and his frustrations at writing new material.
“It’s hard for me to just write a song that ain’t going to be really interesting to me, just a nice little ditty,” Knight said. “If I could write a real good ditty, I’d do it all the time, but I’ve never been able to do that. I’ve always had to have some kind of story that interested … (Songs are) coming slower than they used to for some reason.”
It’s not unnatural for songwriters to slow down as they get older, and the now 56-year-old Knight has written more quality songs than most in his profession. But Knight did offer a glimmer of hope to hungry fans that he may try to get started on a new album soon.
“I need to get in the studio, record what I got, and see where I go from there.”
November 29, 2016 @ 7:40 pm
Thanks for the update. One of the best songwriters there is for sure – and I love his vocal delivery as well. His cover of Undone is amazing… Now, how about an update on Hank3? I go to his page everyday hoping for a tour…
November 29, 2016 @ 8:53 pm
I would love to give you an update on Hank3 if there was one to give.
November 30, 2016 @ 1:56 am
Funny. This morning a timehop pic of Knight and me from 2012 showed up on my FB feed. I have seen him since – this past summer.
The field has really gotten crowded since Knight and 3 went on hiatus – Sturgill, Isbell, Stapleton, Cody Jinks….
December 2, 2016 @ 7:31 am
I know it’s a little late, but an update on Leroy Virgil and Hellbound Glory would also be great.
December 2, 2016 @ 11:12 am
At the beginning of every year I usually post a roundup of the upcoming albums for the next year, as well as rumors, etc. If I have any news to report about Hellbound, it might be included there if not in an autonomous article. It seems Leroy is somewhat content just releasing singles at the moment.
December 2, 2016 @ 12:33 pm
Good thing I asked! I didn’t even realize he had new singles since the black mass ep!
Thanks!!!
November 29, 2016 @ 8:39 pm
I’d wait ten years for an album he thought was good enough.
Plus, life has probably been alright for him the last 5 years so maybe he hasn’t had the inspiration he had before with most if his material.
November 29, 2016 @ 9:12 pm
Chris’ is a sentiment I and many longtime songwriting friends and co-writers share ..many of us having been quite prolific at times .
If I understand CK , he’s saying he wants to write substance, not fluff . Fluff IS easy to write and , unfortunately , is what mainstream has been asking and settling for for too long . And there’s no shortage of it , as most serious listeners can attest .That does not exactly spell ” inspiration’ for a writer . Formulaic fluff-writing becomes too job-like and clock-punchingly repetitive ( boring ) in short order . There is nothing more frustrating for an inventive , talented and understanding writer than to have an original, substance -driven ” A” idea and know that finding a good home for it where it will be shared and appreciated has become progressively harder to do….even for writers with solid track records .
Yes …good writers write because they love it , they need to write and they do . But if you’re a painter and people are only buying paintings with three colours , you’ll run out of inspiringly artistic possibilities pretty quickly. It is challenging and frustrating enough finding a way to generate consistent income and , in many cases , support a family in a finicky profession . It is only exacerbated by the lack of inspiration in the music we hear .
November 29, 2016 @ 9:35 pm
Chris Knights last album “little victories” was a masterpiece… really thought he hit it out of the park. Gonna be tough to follow, but I’m patient.
What about the next Boomswagglers release??
November 30, 2016 @ 7:28 am
Been a Chris Knight fan for a while. His song writing as always been second to none. He can makes you feel like you are right there living the song with him.
November 30, 2016 @ 9:08 am
Maybe that is why it’s been 4 years — quality control. Love Knight. I think he’s only played one show ever in Portland. There were 5 people there — and one was the bartender. But it was magic.
December 1, 2016 @ 11:50 am
Good for Chris that he plans to write when he has something artistic to convey.
He is one of my favorite singer-songwriters.
He’s been both prolific and excellent thus far.
I would hate to see his career end with a lot of forced, marginal work.
December 1, 2016 @ 4:30 pm
Would love to see him live. “North Dakota” is one of the best story songs ever written, imo. “It Ain’t Easy Being Me” is a song that I can relate to much more than I’d like! I’ve lost touch since his first two albums, so thanks for reminding me I’ve got some catching up to do. Very glad to hear he’s got the respect he deserves, from his peers if not from the public at large.