Photo Credit: Andrew Sokolow
The electronic music duo known as The Knocks is made of two members, Ben “B-Roc” Ruttner and James “J Patt” Patterson. Known for popular singles like “I Wish,” “Classic,” and “Ride Or Die,” The Knocks wants people to be in a constant state of happy. The electro-duo creates fun dance party music that combines genres like pop, electronic, rap, and disco.
The duo came together in 2008 while attending The New School in New York City. They hit it off well and moved into an apartment together. When the two played music, neighbors would knock on the door because they played too loudly.
In 2008 and 2009, several remixes were released under the new band. Some of these included Britney Spears’ “3”, Chris Brown’s “Beautiful People” and Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl.” Later in 2010, the duo released their first singles “Dancing with the DJ” and “Make It Better.” The Knocks released several more remixes that gained them notoriety like The 1975’s “Girls” and Tegan and Sara’s “Closer.” They also scored tours with popular artists such as Dragonette, Ellie Goulding, and Sleigh Bells.
The Knocks released their EP Comfortable with the label Neon Gold in 2014. In 2015, the duo signed to Big Beat Records and released their EP So Classic. Throughout the year they worked on their long awaited debut and in March of 2016, The Knocks released their first full-length album, 55.
When talking about the album in an interview with Noisey, The Knocks said, “We tried to create a wall of nostalgic energy that anyone could easily access by simply pressing play.” This is a clean summation of the album. The house-like disco beats, pumping synths, and piano riffs create dynamic music for people to party to. The songs also take listeners down memory lane to the golden days of having good times.
For their follow-up, The Knocks released their sophomore album New York Narcotic in August 2018. Blending genres like pop, electronic, and hip-hop, New York Narcotic is a high-energy album. The duo has a lot of big name artist featured on the album like Foster the People, Method Man, Big Boi, and Sofi Tukker. The album brings more insight into the thoughts of the duo. New York Narcotic is inspired from the multi-cultural life of New York City.
The electro-funky duo followed up their album with a U.S tour that ends in February 2019. They’re also gaining further buzz from a monthly “anything goes party” at Public Arts NYC called ‘The Knocks & Friends’.
This dynamic duo searches for new ways to blend music genres like electronic, funk, soul, and hip-hop. Whether in a dorm, gym, party, or at home, The Knocks will craft music to keep the beat alive and let the good times roll.
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