Paul Knakk
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2012 | SELF
Music
Press
Knakk says he has since penned 56 original tunes. In 2010 he won the Lehigh Valley Acoustic Performers Contest. - Dustin Schoof
The truth is, the competition wasn’t even close. Knakk was the only contestant among the four finalists who picked notes on his guitar rather than strum chords (although much of his songs also were strummed). And he offered up a lot of energy on stage.
His songs also were the most interesting – offering up, if not the only hooks of the night, certainly the most and the best. He strummed dynamically, attacking the strings on such songs as “Jealousy” (probably his best) and “Waiting on Superman). He also beat-boxed with his mouth, sang scat and rapped lyrics – which on the closing “The Real Song,” had the audience clapping along.
It also helped that Knakk, who said he’s only been performing about two years, had a bunch of charisma, often smiling broadly. - John J. Moser
I got to sit down with friend, singer, and songwriter Paul Knakk, who breaks the standard “1 in 10 songs is a hit” rule and creates an abundance of music that would have overtaken the once highly rated TRL every day. Paul Knakk is a gem. - Libs Segal
Discography
Rebel With A Cause
- Struggle
- Moonshine
- I Had You
- Boots
- The Road
- Rebel With A Cause
- Rush
- Bottom of the Bottle
Photos
Bio
Paul Knakk, born Paul Knakkergaard, is an American Country-Rock artist born and raised in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Knakk picked up his first guitar at 13 and began singing and writing at 19. Performing at local open mics, he was able to land his first gig within a year. Having been exposed to various genres of music growing up, Knakk always favored 90's Alternative-Rock and Country music. In 2010, Knakk competed in the Lehigh Valley Acoustic Performers Competition and took home 1st place based on his songwriting and performance. By 23, Knakk had gone from playing local venues to opening up for national acts in sold-out concert venues.
Following an acoustic performance at Warped Tour, Knakk made his biggest debut opening up for the Philadelphia-based band Silvertide on their reunion tour in September 2013. This made him one of the first local acts to perform on the Sands Event Center stage in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. One month later, Knakk was asked to come back to the Event Center and open for Weezer in front of a nearly sold out crowd. Knakk returned to the Event Center in March 2014 to open for Three Doors Down on their Acoustic Basement Tour, and later that year was part of the Jam at the Dam Music Festival.
In late 2015, Knakk teamed up with Engineer John Rupp and Producer Geoff Black of Sixwill Studios in Bethlehem, PA to begin recording his first EP "Rebel With a Cause". The album was released on June 1st, 2016 on all online retail & streaming websites and apps.
To date, Knakk has written countless songs, fronted bands, collaborated with other artists, and plans to further his career in Nashville in 2017.
Band Members
Links
