FEW GUUD THOUGHTS | Bert Knox | a short story about love, ego, and, death | Interview + Review
Life experiences are essential when it comes to honest writing. Allowing those moments in time to express your thoughts and the current state of the realm to be shared gracefully is a challenge for most but comes easy for Brooklyn artist Bert Knox. Knox recently dropped a 25 min listening experience that serves as a score for a short story about love, ego, and death. Executive produced by his long-time friend and collaborator tookhozy, the production's efficacy creates the perfect haven for Knox to explore his thoughts boundlessly.
Knox's album a short story about love, ego, and death is a thought-provoking and introspective project that delves deep into themes of vulnerability, self-reflection, and mortality. His lyrics are personal and detailed, exploring his feelings and experiences with a raw and honest delivery. One of the standout tracks on the album is "Don't Let the Credits Roll," which explores the topic of suicide. Knox admits that it was challenging to write this song because he was concerned about how people would react to it. Still, he ultimately decided to include it, showing his willingness to explore complex topics through his music.
Bert Knox's a short story about love, ego, and death is a well-crafted and thought-provoking album that showcases Knox's vulnerability, dramatic flair, and introspective lyricism. The album's themes of mortality and self-reflection resonate throughout, making it a powerful and poignant listening experience.
How would you describe your music in two words
“Vulnerable and dramatic”
Why dramatic?
“Well for the sake of art, you have to dramatize things and really visualize your words for the listeners. But I also started with vulnerable, I feel like my music is concerning sometimes because of how detailed I am about my feelings. But I’ve had this conversations with other musicians and understood the music lasts forever, even though the feeling behind the song only lasted for a day, week, month, etc.”
I know you’re from Brooklyn, how has your city influenced your music?
“I have an interesting relationship with like, where I'm from, because I was born in Brooklyn and lived here till I was about 14 and my parents wanted to move and at the time, Long Island, they got more bang for their buck. When you're from New York City, you’re almost tied to hip hop unless you really don't wanna be, but, it's around you. It’s literally everywhere and its hard to miss. The 20 mile difference gave me perspective.”
Unpack that a bit if you don’t mind
“ I think the perspective influenced my way of thinking about life, which I think is prevalent in my writing or in just my thought process.”
I thought we all love music in the same way but, as I gotten older I realized it different for people.
How has your relationship with music evolved after becoming an artist?
“Sometimes it's hard to listen, especially to new artists because I’m always working and thinking what’s next. Whether it's the next bar, song, visual etc. I don’t want to be influenced to the point where it doesn’t let me become my own artist. It’s hard to be a fan of music sometimes.”
What is your typical creative process?
“There's no start to it really… it just kind of happens. Maybe there's a trigger somewhere that I'm not aware of, but it kind of just happens. Sometimes I feel like I need alcohol, sometimes I need to be a friend… or even a hard break. Sometimes its the production I hear first or the idea of the track. I'm not sure what the beginning is, but, um, the middle I feel like is the longest. Like I've sat on stuff for a minute now and it’s funny because I used to not understand why artists did this, but now I'm that artist.”
It sounds like life experiences could be the spark to your writing
“Yeah man, I shouldn’t even say this but fuck it. My ideal creative session is after a fun night with friends, driving around, a lil high, beats loud in the car, my left hand on my steering wheel and my right hand, on my phone, writing! I know it’s bad but it’s the feeling of everything all at once that gets to me.”
Would you say sitting on music works for the betterment of your art?
“Yeah but, it's crazy to even think about doing music for that long. To be fixated on the best version of a song, verse, hook etc and in-between it all, time is flying.”
What was the hardest song to write for this project?
“Probably my favorite song, “don't let the credits roll.” This song really touches on suicide and self deprecation, as you mentioned. While writing this song, I was so focused on that people wouldn’t like this because it’s pretty dark, you know? It’s not an emotional song but it’s on that line.”
Do you consider the feelings of others often when you’re writing?
“It depends on how specific the lyrics are (chuckles,) like I don’t think I’ve said something too crazy. I do have this song on the project called “Leave Me Now,” where I'm very specific about being with a girl and then like having sex with her best friend; so I did reach out to get her thoughts on it and she was fine with it. The situation happened years ago and we’ve been on good terms.”
Has being considerate about the feelings of others hinder your creativity?
“Nah, I think I pretty much have always said whatever I want to be honest.“
What is the meaning behind the project's title? a short story about love, ego, and death
“In shorter words, it’s about ego death… because I see it as a cycle, right? So the last song on the album is supposed to be like, a rebirth or like the beginning of something new, but it's just gonna happen again.
The constant short cycle in life when you’re excited about something new, humbled by that excitement and have to face your ego.”
“Fight back in a way where you're like, I'm not humbled, you know, I'm, I'm the shit. Or you take it to the chin and you're like, damn, I should be humble. Like, all that is all that is your ego. It's just how your ego's reacting to that. And then, um, just death, which, which I think is part of every, every cycle, right?”
Do you mind elaborating more on the ego death concept?
“In life, you’re always faced with something new. Ego death is realizing that you're the problem. Ego death is realizing your own mortality. I’m 27 now and compared to when I was 16, there used to be a sense of immortality, as crazy as it may seems. With age, you start to realize what matters and how all of your actions, decisions weighs on your mind and body. Ego death is taking care of yourself.”
“Best Unsaid”
“Best Unsaid was fun cause it was with KADOLEAF. I feel like it was probably the first song that we really clicked on, which led to us making an EP eventually. We sound really good together. We've done other things before, but the other stuff felt like we kind of just had an idea and added our pieces separately. This was the first time we came together and collaborated on a song. “Best unsaid” is kind of like a movie. The first verse, the character is in a new happy relationship but by the end of the second verse he’s trying to get back in his previous relationship because of the history they’ve shared, but the girl already moved on. Sometimes you have to let history, be history.“
“Back out”
Back out was just supposed to be sexy…something that really pushes the idea of confidence and embracing that ego.
“Say your in love”
“That beat was insane and the producer who made it didn't see a future for that song, but I saw it from the jump, honestly. To me, it feels like that moment when you're with your partner and there's that moment of physical in sync, you know what I mean? Being enthralled by your partner. The kicks on the track resembled a heart beat and Dachelle absolutely killed her feature and help capture that feeling of infatuation.”
What was the song that made you realize you were creating your next album?
“Hmmm, I would have to go with “hello.” It felt like the beginning of something and I think “hello” was like one of the first tracks completed. That song allowed me to start writing more towards projects concept.”
What is one thing you want for listeners to take from your music?
“I think I'm gonna turn this around and also think about what I want or what I've wanted from the artists that I like. I think what's most important is when people listen to my music, I want them to say “he cares about this.” I feel like whenever an artist shows they care, put time and attention in your music, it clear in the music. Ifpeople can perceive me as somebody who cares. I feel a sense of respect too, because as musicians, we struggle with maintaining because unless we're getting paid, there's this, there's this idea that we're just wasting our time.”
If you weren't this talented musician, what what would you be doing?
“I'm not a very good cook, but (chuckles) I’ll probably be a chef. The other day I was making food with a friend, a lil smacked and it was a lot of fun. There’s just something about preparing a meal and dedicating that time somehow helps with my anxiety. I like that there’s so much to think about when you’re cooking…ingredients, temperature, taste etc. “
You're in an intense game of rock, paper, scissors, what’s your automatic go to?
“Probably scissors first, I’m always quick to throwing up the peace sign.”
Last three albums you listened to?
Lil yatchty - Let’s Start Here.
Ab soul - Herbert
SZA - SOS
