San Francisco Bay Area outfit KnightressM1 presents their debut album ‘Dreams and Devastation’, a 12-song ambitious concept album that explores both the emotional depths of personal transformation and the journey of cosmic awakening. Co-produced by Palen and esteemed producer John “Lou” Lousteau (Foo Fighters, Iggy Pop, Joan Jett), it was recorded at Foo Fighters’ acclaimed Studio 606 near LA.
KnightressM1 is a power rock trio based in Oakland. Formed in 2011 by violinist, vocalist, pianist and composer Emily Palen with support from drummer Rob Ahlers (50FOOTWAVE, Kristin Hersh), KnightressM1 was joined by bassist Uriah Duffy (Whitesnake) for this studio album. Fueled by a deep-seated necessity to defy limitation, their heavy driving bass and rhythm are rounded out with lots of harmonic layering and beauty.
Earlier, the band presented singles ‘Lock & Key’ and ‘Polarity Integrate’, along with stunning accompanying videos. KnightressM1 is the sonic manifestation of Palen’s heart – relentless, always reaching for beauty and absolutely driven by intensity. Their music is fascinating in the integration of specific musical frequencies – the further Palen ventures in this sonic journey, the heavier and heavier the sound gets. The crushing intricate rhythm section blends harmoniously with her driving, searing electricified violin tone as the lead.
“If I could pour out my heart for everyone to feel, see and hear, it is ‘Dreams & Devastation’. I’ve always had this unshakeable knowing that we, as a plant are on the cusp of radical evolution. As a musician I have been drawn to deepen my work into it’s most authentic core. This album is the evolution of that path up until this point. It is energetically designed to inspire awaken the slumbered, bring peace to the peaceless and inescapable truth to the predator. We must have the courage to face our own pain, realize our own potential and step up into our power so we can help shift the tide of the planet towards a free and sustainable future. This album is the soundtrack to that vision,” says Emily Palen.
“This is also a tale of my own healing, songs that helped me to get through impossible places. Music that saved my life. Everything that I have ever been through, every person I loved, lost, gained; every abandoned heartbreak, every dagger’s edge now makes sense in the context of this album. It was all so I could write these songs and experience the power of being within my own authenticity. Music has always lifted me into an untouchable space, even when everything around me is breaking, when I am in unbearable soul pain, beyond what I myself can repair, the music takes that pain and morphs it into beauty and power. When I’m completely honest with the music, it alchemizes the deepest sadness and betrayal into an unbreakable strength and love. We become greater because of the life we have lived, not in spite of it.”
The embodiment of musical manifestations, KnightressM1 is based on the thematic concept of a female galactic warrior, who comes to Earth to bring justice, hunt corruption and restore truth. Within universal language, M1 is code for unity. This is her identifier. Her frequency. KnightressM1 (KM1) is the vessel through which Palen creates and shares her unique contributions to what is more commonly known here on earth as the music industry.
Palen is a a classically-trained virtuoso has spent her life mastering violin, piano, singing and composition. As a young adult, she began exploring the concept of transmitting consciousness through improvisation. Emily explored this power through sacred solfeggio in the steadfast belief that these specific audio tones have transformative power.
Since releasing her first solo violin improv album ‘Glass ~ Live at Grace Cathedral’ in 2012 and ‘Creation’ a year later, she’s become a sponsored artist with Engl Amps, a crucial part of KM1’s tone, and has played or recorded with Foo Fighters, Eric McFadden and Gretchen Menn, among others, both as a live performer and a compositional recording artist, Earlier, she became a finalist in the ‘My Grammy Moment’ competition and played live with orchestra at the Grammys, conducted by John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin).
As of September 25, the ‘Dreams and Devastation’ LP is available across digital outlets such as Apple Music and streaming platforms such as Spotify.
TRACK LIST
01. Butterfly
02. Polarity Integrate
03. Lock & Key
04. Supernova
05. Force of Nature
06. Raising Light
07. Minutes
08. Fire
09. Desolation Heartbreak
10. Gates of Dawn
11. Stars From My Sky
12. Zero Point
CREDITS
Emily Palen – Co-producer, music, lyrics, art direction
John Lousteau – Co-producer, recording engineer, tape engineer, mixing engineer
Mastered by Yossi Shakked
Recorded and mixed at Studio 606
Emily Palen – Violin, vocals, Hammond B3 organ, keyboards, synthesizers, back vocals
Rob Ahlers – Drums
Uriah Duffy – Bass
Mick Murphy – Guitar on certain tracks
John Lousteau – Percussion, back vocals
Cover artwork photo by Nick Bellarosa
Graphic Design by Aaron Nagel / Heart Sculpture by Shane Izykowski
Album notes – tuned to 528 hz, drums and bass recorded to tape
ENGL Special Edition and Invader used for Violin Amp tracking
Photos by Nick Bellarosa, except when indicated otherwise
“Drenched in melody, tightly-interlocked pro instrumentation and vocal intensity, Palen’s vocals are stunning. The music leads through a winding labyrinth of progressive metalcore, weaving a rich tapestry of sound” – The Spill Magazine
“This music is superb, impeccably performed and produced, and clearly involves musicians of the highest caliber. Nothing short of stellar, clearly making this a band to watch in 2020” – Big Takeover Magazine
“[KnightressM1] adds much flavor to an already flavorful track… symphonic justice… new and original cinematic flare” – Jammerzine
“Built on taut bundles of sonics, dexterous weaves and dark designs. And these it uses to build weight through layer upon layer being perfectly placed one on the other until the light can no longer get in… if this is the sound of where the genre is at today, count me back in the game” – Dancing About Architecture
“If you never thought it was possible to combine elements of Whitesnake, Kristin Hersh’s 50FOOTWAVE, Florence and the Machine, Perfect Circle and Metallica in one virile potion, think again. San Francisco Bay-based artist KnightressM1 has already done it… this is a new form of post-metal, unlike anything you’ve heard before” – Louder Than War
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