When singer Aloha Misho and rapper Rocky Knuckles combined forces in 2017, the two had no problem finding their creative groove. As the Knuckles, they created nearly 300 recordings together that first year alone.
Now some of those early songs, in addition to brand-new ones, will be released later this month on the group’s first album, aptly titled “Good Timing.” They describe their debut album’s vibe as joyous, aimed at combating the “spiritual lows” brought on in 2020.
“It's all about the greater good. A lot of time we think about the self and not the greater good. And so we're trying to talk to people about being selfless in a moment of extreme selfishness,” Knuckles said on Friday’s St. Louis on the Air.
“I think in this album, we found some solutions to our attitudes approaching the world right now,” Misho added. “So I absolutely adore this album; it’s gotten me through some pretty low days I think during this time, so I hope it does the same for Knuckles listeners.”
They’ll release the album over the course of a few weeks, with creative visuals to promote it since touring is severely limited due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In addition to the “Good Timing” album, each artist has individual music projects planned for the year.
Knuckles’ “Raytown” album was inspired by the ‘80s sitcom Mama’s Family, which is set in Raytown, Missouri. “It's a small community of people: They can't stand each other — but they won't let anybody else talk bad about them. All they have is each other,” he explained.
Knuckles will reinterpret the essence of the show by showcasing the people of St. Louis.
“When I started working on this, I was like, ‘Yeah, that's my community I live in right now. Good energy, good energy; everybody's an alpha,’” he said. “But you know what? We're all together.’”
Misho’s “Big Mama, Boom Boom” project is a love letter to her childhood.
“'Big Mama, Boom Boom' was my nickname growing up as a girl,” she said. “That was what my mama and my brothers used to call me because I was a juicy little girl, full of just unapologetic joy.” Inspired by her own youthful confidence, the singer wants to portray gaining it back and spreading girl power.
Fans of the duo can catch their next virtual performance in a different avenue — theater. The two are the main cast members of “Jacked!,” debuting Jan. 21. It’s a modern-day twist on “Jack and the Beanstalk” produced by Metro Theatre Company.
“St. Louis on the Air” brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. The show is hosted by Sarah Fenske and produced by Alex Heuer, Emily Woodbury, Evie Hemphill and Lara Hamdan. The audio engineer is Aaron Doerr.
