The Knocks are a production and DJ duo who specialize in melodic, carefree dance music that draws from soul, funk, disco, rap, and pop. Making their name with several singles and remixes, as well as EPs like 2011's
Magic, they made their full-length debut in 2016 with
55, which featured a diverse array of guests such as
Cam'ron,
Carly Rae Jepsen,
Wyclef Jean, and
Walk the Moon. Following side project diversions that delved into future funk (Amelia Airhorn) and tropical house (
the Mary Nixons),
the Knocks presented another feel-good disco-house throwback with 2019's
New York Narcotic. The duo subsequently released projects with artists like
Gallant,
Rivers Cuomo, and
Foster the People, with whom they recorded the covers-heavy 2021 EP
Melody & Silence. The collaboration-heavy full-length outing
HISTORY appeared the following year.
The Knocks were formed in 2008 by
James "JPatt" Patterson and Ben "DJ B-Roc" Ruttner.
Patterson and Ruttner met at New York City's New School and shared an apartment, where they set up small recording studios in their bedrooms. The loud noise coming from their apartment led to neighbors constantly knocking on their door in order to get them to pipe down, hence the duo's name. Early success as remixers, however, enabled them to build their own studio in Manhattan. During 2008 and 2009,
Knocks remixes surfaced for
Katy Perry ("I Kissed a Girl"),
Britney Spears ("3"), and PRGz ("Soul Glo"). B-Roc and
Andrew W.K. also released DAMN! The Mixtape Vol. 1 in 2009, featuring several
Knocks productions.
In 2010,
the Knocks released their first singles, the sunny "Dancing with the DJ" (which later appeared on their 2011 EP
Magic) and the whistling "Make It Better." Over the course of the next few years, the duo's profile was magnified by additional remixes for
Tegan and Sara ("Closer"),
the 1975 ("Girls"), and
Dragonette ("Let It Go"), among others, in addition to tours with
Ellie Goulding,
Dragonette, and
Sleigh Bells. They also collaborated with
Fred Falke for the Kitsuné Music release "Geronimo" in 2012, as well as
Treasure Fingers for "DYWT," released on Fool's Gold Clubhouse in 2014. Also in 2014, the group released an EP, titled Comfortable and released on the Neon Gold label, that included collaborations with
X Ambassadors and
Ra Ra Riot.
Signed to Big Beat,
the Knocks slowed it down a bit for the 2014 single "Classic," one of their funkier and more disco-indebted singles, featuring
Powers. An EP titled
So Classic appeared in April 2015, followed by a new version of "Classic" featuring a verse by
Fetty Wap.
The Knocks spent much of the year working on their long-delayed debut album, which was previewed by the singles "I Wish (My Taylor Swift)" (with
Matthew Koma) and "New York City" (featuring
Cam'ron). Finally, in March 2016, the duo released their first full-length,
55, which included additional guest appearances from
Wyclef Jean,
Walk the Moon,
Carly Rae Jepsen,
Alex Newell, and
Semi-Precious Weapons' Justin Trantor. That July, the pair remixed selected tracks from the album on the 55.5 EP.
In early 2017,
the Knocks released
Testify, an EP of new songs featuring collaborations with
MNEK,
Delacey, and
Tayla Parx. Later that year, the duo teamed up with
Skylar Spence and released a future funk mixtape as Amelia Airhorn. They also formed
the Mary Nixons, a group with
Mat Zo, and issued the single "Adrian." They followed with the
Captain Cuts collaboration "House Party." July 2018 saw the release of the single "Shades" which appeared later that year on
the Knocks' second full-length,
New York Narcotic. The album also featured contributions from
Method Man,
Sofi Tukker, and
Foster the People.
2019 brought several singles, including the
Kah-Lo collaboration "Awa Ni" and "Lucky Me" (with
Great Good Fine Ok). Most of these were collected on the EP
Summer Series: 2019. Several more singles arrived in 2020, including "One Fine Day" (with
Idris Elba), "Bodies" (with
MUNA), and "All About You" (featuring
Foster the People). The following year, they released
Melody & Silence, an EP with
Foster the People that included a remix of the single, as well as covers of hits by
Beck,
Moby, and
the Verve. Also in 2021,
the Knocks released "R U High" (featuring
Mallrat) and "Sound the Alarm" (featuring
Rivers Cuomo and
Royal & the Serpent), and were featured on
Purple Disco Machine's "Fireworks." The following year saw the release of the full-length effort,
HISTORY, which featured collaborations with
Foster the People,
MUNA,
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs,
Cold War Kids,
Parson James, and
Yoke Lore, among others. ~ Andy Kellman & Paul Simpson