Knower (band)

Knower, also stylized as KNOWER, is an American independent electronic music duo who have gained success releasing music online. The group consists of Louis Cole and Genevieve Artadi.^[4] Their full band is a jazz-funk act that includes saxophone, bass and keyboard players.^[1]

Background

Louis Cole studied music in Los Angeles, California, graduating from the Jazz Studies program at USC Thornton in 2009.^[5] He became good friends with fellow musician Jack Conte in 2006. Both composed and recorded some songs which are present on Conte's YouTube channel. Conte suggested Cole start releasing his music online. Genevieve Artadi also studied music in Los Angeles. She received her Bachelors in Jazz Studies at California State University (CSU) Northridge, and her master's degree in CSU Long Beach. Genevieve also teaches Jazz vocals and music at the Musicians Institute. Louis Cole met Genevieve Artadi through the LA-based saxophonist Robby Marshall. They then joined forces in 2009 to begin creating electro-pop/funk/jazz music.^[6] They released their first album in 2010. In addition, they maintain their own respective channels, often collaborating on each other's solo releases.

Career

In early 2010, the group began to upload their music to YouTube.^[7] Their first video, a cover of Britney Spears's song "3" got a lot of hits quickly thanks to Jack Conte promoting it on YouTube. Another early video release, "Window Shop" (originally recorded on Louis Cole's first album) also got a lot of hits thanks to a front page YouTube feature. In this same year, they released their first album called "Louis Cole and Genevieve Artadi."

The following year in 2011, their second album "Think Thoughts" was released. Songs such as "Around" and "I Remember" presented some heavy funk grooves.^[8] Soon after the release of this album, the group collaborated with Pomplamoose to release a single, "It Goes On." Sporting the group's distinctive electro-funk sound, the single brought increased visibility to the duo.^[9]

"Let Go", Knower's third album, was released in 2013. They followed the release of "Let Go" with a performance at Bonnaroo Festival with Soul Khan, Jenny Suk, and Black Violin.^[10] Knower also went on a tour of the east coast United States with duo WeYou, consisting of Nate Wood and Jesske Hume.

In 2014, Knower released the non-album single "I Must Be Dreaming", and toured the East Coast and the South. They were also presented by Quincy Jones in a new artist concert series in Los Angeles.^[11] Their song "Fuck the Makeup, Skip the Shower" was featured on FlyLo FM on the next-gen version of Grand Theft Auto V.

In 2015, Knower recorded with Snarky Puppy on their Family Dinner – Volume 2.^[12]

In 2016 they formed a 5-piece live band as an alternative lineup. Apart from the core members, the band at various points included Tim Lefebvre, Dennis Hamm, Sam Wilkes, Sam Gendel, Nate Wood and Jonah Nilsson. Their European tour of 2016, as well as parts of the US tour, featured the live band.^[13]

In 2017, the band's popularity started growing in the US and even more in Europe. They have had almost monthly performances abroad. In July, Knower opened for the Red Hot Chili Peppers in four major European cities. The duo continue to write music for high-profile artists and movie soundtracks as well as performing as Knower themselves.

2018 has seen Knower tour Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, and the continental US, continuing the live band formation and also unveiling a renovated duo set with Artadi and Cole.

Cole and Gendel have been suspected to be behind the surrealist grindcore-influenced formation Clown Core.^[14]

Members

Permanent members

• Genevieve Artadi — vocals composer/songwriter, keyboards, bass guitar (2009–present)
• Louis Cole — multi instrumentalist, percussion, keyboards, vocals, strings, choral conducting (2009–present)

Members of full band, guests or former members

• Tim Lefebvre — bass
• Sam Wilkes — bass
• Sam Gendel — saxophone
• David Binney — saxophone
• John Escreet — piano
• Vikram Devasthali — raps
• Aya Toyoshima — trombone
• Jack Conte — keyboard, drums
• Nataly Dawn — bass, vocals
• Adam Ratner — guitar
• Rai Thistlethwayte — keyboard
• Dennis Hamm — keyboard
• Jacob Mann — keyboard

Discography

References

External links

• Knower's channel on YouTube