KN/GHTS is the electronic pop project of James Knights, delivering high-energy synth music driven by bold melodies, pulsing rhythms, and sleek, retro-influenced production. Blending Hi-NRG, Italo-disco, and modern electro, the sound balances nostalgic club culture with a sharp contemporary edge. KN/GHTS has supported China Crisis, Andy Bell of Erasure and Drab Majesty, with festival appearances at Infest UK, Standon Calling, and Patrick Miller Nightclub in Mexico.
James, kindly took time out from promoting his new album as well as preparing for his upcoming tour dates.
Before KN/GHTS, you were involved in other music projects. How did those earlier experiences influence the artist you are today?
Every project left a mark. Every late-night session, every train journey, every setback and
breakthrough fed into what KN/GHTS has become. All those moments — the ones I remember and the ones I’ve forgotten — are wired into the sound. For better or worse, they shaped my vision, and the constant push to make something sharper, and more electric than before.
What made you decide it was the right moment to move forward under the KNIGHTS name?
When my previous project, Scarlet Soho, went on a break, I realized I still needed to create
music and be on stage. That realisation surprised me at first, but looking back now, it makes
sense. Over the past few years, I’m glad KN/GHTS has stepped in to fill a kind of musical
void — something people say they were missing, even if they didn’t realize they were searching for it in the first place!
Looking back at your early releases, how do you feel your sound and approach have evolved over time?
As I’ve listened to more music and my production skills have grown, the sound has
naturally evolved. Music is all around, and I try to keep an open mind, because inspiration can present itself in unexpected ways.
Do you see your albums as reflections of different periods in your life or creative mindset?
Both in equal measure. It often takes me time to finish an album, and a lot can happen in
that space. Each record ends up being punctuated by chapters of my life and the
emotions that come with them. Even when it doesn’t come through directly in the lyrics,
it’s somewhere in the atmosphere — in the tone, the delivery, and the way certain phrases are sung.
click on the sleeve to pre-order
Your new album, ‘Supernatural Lover’ is out 5/2/2026.
What ideas or emotions led you towards that concept?
I’ve always loved “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell and that slightly spooky,
claustrophobic idea of something supernatural sneaking into your space — sometimes
as a guardian, sometimes as a menace. Once I started working on the title track, the
lyrics poured out almost too easily. I had a ridiculous amount of material to play with it before
trimming it down to the verses that finally stuck.
How does Supernatural Lover LP represent a new chapter compared to your previous work?
Some of it is darker. In the years since the last album, there’s been a lot of intensity, both
personally and in everything else swirling around at the time. All of those things fed into the
making of this record. It was never my intention to make Dollars and Cents part two;
This album needed to reflect a different time.
When creating a full album, how important is it for you that the songs connect as a complete journey?
It’s always something I aim for — I don’t feel comfortable until there’s a thread linking the
songs together. This album took its time to reveal that thread. For a while, I felt like we were
missing a certain something, but if you keep chipping away, everything eventually falls into
place, and the album starts to develop.
Movement and energy play a big role in your music. Has that always been a key part of your creative identity?
Yes. Instinctively, I’m drawn to songs with pace and I like shows to feel a little punky, like
they could go off the rails at any moment….
What draws you to electronic and Hi-NRG-influenced sounds as your main musical foundation?
I love the simplicity of these sounds and how pure they are at their core. You can layer
them without overcomplicating or over-EQing, and each element still breathes on its
own. Nothing feels overblown or crushed by compression, so every track has space to
shine. Stylistically, I’m drawn to how cold and precise it can feel — but of course, it’s just as
exhilarating to dance to.
Why was releasing Supernatural Lover on physical formats like vinyl and CD important to You?
All of my releases get a physical release, and there’s something special about
documenting your music that way and it becoming collectable. Producing physical
copies can be a financial gamble and a lot of work, but with such a supportive audience,
it’s been worth it. I feel lucky to have listeners who really understand and care about this
Music.
How do your live performances reflect your growth as an artist over the years?
I think you build an understanding that anything can happen on stage — and that’s okay!
Somehow, you gain confidence and fearlessness, where the stage becomes your friend and
the safest place to be on earth.
What keeps you motivated to continue creating and releasing new music?
I want to keep leveling up as a songwriter and performer. I want to hit new cities and
share the music with as many people as possible, whether they’re dancing in the clubs,
or blasting it at home. Every show, every crowd is a chance to make something magical happen!
What does the support from long-time fans mean to you at this stage in your career?
It means everything. I couldn’t do this without them. Thinking back on all the gigs, all the
cities — it blows me away that they’re showing up, dancing, and keeping the scene alive.
For anyone pressing play on KNIGHTS for the very first time, what do you hope they feel?
I’d love for them to take away some of the energy of the live shows — that rush of
excitement and connection. It’s not easy to bottle that feeling and put it on record, but we do
our best to make the songs hit just as hard. I hope listeners feel drawn in, like they’re
stepping into the atmosphere of a KN/GHTS performance — even if it’s just through their
headphones!
Thank you, James. Good luck with your new release. Is there anything further you would like to add?
Thanks for the interview, and thanks to everyone who’s supported the album so far.
See you at Aces and Eights in London on May 29th!
