For Colorado-based singer-songwriter Knate, better known under the rock moniker SilverKing, music is a process of perseverance. Inspired by the rich mining history of Aspen and driven by a personal mission to revive the glory days of rock, SilverKing’s music delivers classic grit with a modern sheen. Crunchy guitars, soaring harmonies, and grounded, heartfelt songwriting define a sound that’s both evocative of rock’s golden era and deeply personal.
His latest release 'In My Eyes' is a decade-long creative odyssey that captures a unique tension between heartbreak and hope. Written in the midst of a fading relationship back in 2013, the track has evolved over 12 years before finally emerging in its current form. Piano-driven and guitar-charged, it carries the emotional weight of years passed while still brimming with optimism.
So with the new single out now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Guitar for sure. When I was a kid, I learned to sing by miming the guitar solos I loved. But despite that love, I didn’t learn to play guitar until college. The added irony is that I’m a terrible solo player to this day!
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I was all over the place initially, but gravitated towards hair metal. My brother, myself, and our friend would go into the friend’s basement and play his brother’s collection of “Headbanger’s Ball” tapes. We even had an air guitar “band”!
What was the first album you remember owning?
I don’t specifically remember which was first, but it was one of Beastie Boys – Licence to Ill, The Boss’s Born in the USA, or Janet Jackson – Nasty Boys. Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet joined the party very soon after.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Oh man, there’s so many! The Long and Winding Road, anything off of Nirvana – Nevermind, Mayonnaise and Through the Eyes of Ruby by Smashing Pumpkins, Born to Run, Jolene by Ray Lamontagne, Gold Only Knows, etc, etc, etc...
I don’t seem to follow directions well!
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I don't know if it qualifies as either habit or ritual, but the main thing I try to do is shut off my conscious mind and just let what wants to happen HAPPEN. I feel that my writing got stronger when I just get out of the way of whatever muse has visited me in that moment.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Let’s see: The Teskey Brothers, older Vince Staples stuff, Doechii, Charley Crockett, The Districts, The Paranoyds, Colter Wall, Wunderhorse, Tigercub, Superlove, Scene Queen, Red Clay Strays, Turnstile, Idles, Balancing Act, Ecca Vandal, Rocket, Babe Rainbow, and Venus & the Flytraps are all artists that have me captivated in some way currently. I tend to dig deep for my favorite artists. I don't find much value in music that can be found on the charts.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Nirvana. Huge influence on me and my music. I get the chills just thinking about it.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
It has to be the energy exchange between the listener and the artist. When you can connect with a crowd in such a way that it produces a kind of high. The hair on the back of our neck stands up and you can just FEEL it. You make them happy, and in turn, their happiness elevates you. There’s no drug that can compare to it.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Engineering and mixing for sure. It’s very easy to be overly critical and pick apart every little detail looking for perfection. I have an extremely high standard for the music I like to listen to, and I try to meet that standard when I make music as well. The problem is that much of that music was made in high end recording facilities, to which I do not have access to. I'd be a kid in a candy store if I did though, WOO!
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
I used to have stage fright really bad, and someone once told me that the people in the audience didn’t come there to see us fail. They WANT to have fun and be entertained, so give them that. Play with passion and without reservation and people will respond positively. Mick Jagger isn’t a great frontman because he is a talented singer, he’s great because he shows out every night, without a single shred of self-consciousness.
That hit me so hard. I’m rarely nervous before a show now.
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SilverKing's new single 'In My Eyes' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.