LISTEN: Josh Knowles Blurs the Line Between Classical and Electronic Music on “Chairs”

Josh Knowles is kicking off a new chapter with “Chairs,” a dark and gritty electronic single that pulls from industrial house, classical composition and the visceral energy of the dancefloor. The track wastes no time getting weird, opening with a jarring, heavily compressed vocal sample before gradually unfolding into driving percussion, distorted textures and a seriously satisfying release. Knowles’ classical background also finds its way into the production, with violin woven throughout the record as both subtle texture and a more recognizable melodic element.

“Chairs” originally began as music Knowles composed for a dance-film collaboration, where dancers interacted with theater chairs – hence the appropriately straightforward title. Years later, that connection between movement and sound remains at the heart of the finished record, with Knowles using tension and release to create something that feels as physical as it does cinematic. The single also serves as the first taste of an upcoming instrumental EP and represents Knowles’ increasingly genre-less approach to his music. A classical violinist, songwriter, producer, composer and performer, he’s less interested in separating those different worlds than seeing what happens when they naturally collide.

Stream Josh Knowles’ “Chairs” below and stay tuned for more from his forthcoming EP.

Josh Knowles – Chairs | Stream