Photo Courtesy of James Foley Photography.
Fans of Louis Knight’s American Idol performances are getting another helping of the teen heartthrob’s swoon-worthy ballads. “Maybe That” is Knight’s first post-show release, and it bears all the hallmarks of his output during the show’s quarantine season, half of which was filmed from contestants’ homes, as well as the homes of judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryant.
In “Maybe That,” Knight sits at the now-familiar piano in his parents’ Narberth home, playing and singing the sweet but sad love song. “It’s about looking back at a relationship—someone moves on faster than the other,” Knight says. “In this case, my ex-girlfriend moved on, and I was the one lost.”
Heartbreak is a well-mined subject for the 19-year-old Lower Merion High School graduate. “Just Kiss Me,” which appeared on his 2019 EP Small Victories, was written about a Memorial Day Weekend the singer spent in Margate following another breakup. “I’d been caught up in a relationship and hadn’t spent time with my friends,” he says. “I wrote the song about going to this place and doing something spontaneous.”
Although Knight finished in the top seven contestants, he was eliminated before any additional rounds. His at-home performances were filmed with three iPhones and props sent by the show. “The producers walked us through how to record from home, and that’s very valuable information that I’m grateful to have,” Knight says.
He put all of that knowledge to good use on “Maybe That.” Filmed live in one take, the tune was recorded on two iPhones. While he admits it’s not acoustically ideal, Knight says he’s proud of the video. “Yes, I’d love to get out of the house and into a real recording studio,” he says with a laugh. “But I wanted to get the music out because it’s important to me.
Next up is “Twisted Conversations,” another new song he plans to release in June. “I loved having the support in Narberth,” says Knight. “But I do look forward to playing a gig in front of a live audience—and not just my family on our porch.”[/vc_column_text]