Previously known for his work in the genre of EDM and collaborating with The Knocks, Jake Knox is making a hard pivot into the world of pop punk with his latest single “Jake is Dead (Head Underwater)”. Where most of his previous work stems from an electronic foundation, this new track is rooted in crunchy guitar tones and crashing drums which brings a different dynamic to his oeuvre.
For fans of Machine Gun Kelly or Sublime, this would be an interesting listen. There’s a distinct skate punk vibe to the vocals that feel like a mix of mumble rap/vocals and reggae inflections, especially in the verses. As the chorus opens up into a full-fledged rock and roll build, the vocals swell with desperation as Knox tries to pull himself out of the depths of unforgiving waters.
Knox writes that he wrote the song, “at one of the lowest parts of my life. I was sitting on the side of the road in the middle of one of the biggest depressive spirals in my life. Everything seemed to fall apart, and I felt like I was faced with two choices. One darker choice, and one choice to go and try and write my thoughts in a song. Writing the song was the option that saved my life.”
As the title track to his upcoming album, this is, no doubt, as notice of stylistic departure for Knox as he treads into unknown waters. “The song is about where we go when dealing with lower than low thoughts that might lead to bad decisions. It is one of the most personal songs I have written and is a great peak into what the rest of the album has in store.”
“Jake is Dead (Head Underwater)” is available now on major streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and Deezer.
Charlie Maybee is a dancer, musician, educator, and writer based in Charleston, South Carolina who currently teaches with the Dance Program at the College of Charleston. His primary work as an artist is with his performing collective, Polymath Performance Project, through which he makes interdisciplinary performance art that centers tap dance as the primary medium of expression and research. He also currently plays rhythm guitar for the Charleston-based punk band, Anergy, and releases music as a solo artist under the name Nox Eterna.
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