Inside Five: Kevin Knapp on his latest record, new imprint and post-covid life

There have been fewer influential artists in house music over the last decade than Kevin Knapp. Not only is he an incredible producer of music, but his vocals have been the cornerstone in some of the most popular club-ready cuts over the years. 

His stand out vocals turned our heads back in 2012, proclaiming “My Beat Will Control You” with Audiojack and his first Hot Creations cut ‘The Drums’ alongside A&R head Richy Ahmed in 2013 is still owning dance floors to this day. 

Now, almost 10 years on from his initial burst into the fore, the Plump Records frontman is raising the stakes with an imprint of his own.

We caught up with Kevin to celebrate the release of his latest record – Say So – and got to know a little more about his vision for the label as well as his plans for the future. 

Hi Kevin, thanks for joining us! Your next release comes out on Plump Records – your label. Why did you decide to start your label, and what do you hope to achieve through it?

My fiancé and label Co-Owner Hutchtastic and I love the idea of focusing more on the roots of dance music in today’s musical landscape. We consider ourselves champions of the diverse, inclusive, hedonistic origins of this music we love and intend to shine a spotlight on some of the more marginalized voices in the industry, and we hope to use Plump as a tool to do so.   

Most of your productions have a robust and punchy feel to them as well as retaining a rich analogue aspect.  Are there any particular processes or tools you like to use in productions to give a fuller sound to your tracks?

I love Reaktor, Diva and Massive and work primarily in the box.  I’ve been using them all for years so I’ve gotten good at getting the sounds I like out of them.  Truth be told I’m pretty formless and unschooled when it comes to synth work, I just keep trying and muscling buttons until I get a sound that I feel fits. I find that once you’ve got the kick, clap and bass line down, the tracks just kind of write themselves in a way after that.

What three things do you never leave home without?

Keys, Earbuds, Eye Drops

Do you have any studio rituals or guilty pleasures?

It’s amazing what the first couple of glasses of wine can do for a studio sesh. It’s not something I make a habit of but a bit of a guilty pleasure for sure.  As for a ritual, I don’t have a studio ritual but rather a stage one.  Before I play, I always take a sort of LeBron James moment where I have to stick my head against the wall somewhere and close my eyes and then when I open them; it’s time to rip. Not sure how it started, but it’s something I do every show now.

What are you most looking forward to in a post-pandemic world?

I’m looking at the best release schedule I’ve ever had over the next few months. I just can’t wait to see those records played on actual dance floors. It’ll also be nice to not look at everyone around me like they are carrying disease as soon as I hit my front door, haha. I’m over that!

Kevin’s latest release – Say So – is out now on his Plump Records imprint!