Most individuals within the music world hail the late, nice Prince as a musical genius, however each James Patterson and Ben Ruttner (aka J-Patt and B-ROC from The Knocks) are geniuses, too. Now they’re getting the popularity they’ve lengthy deserved, together with a Grammy nomination final yr and a coveted slot at this yr’s Lollapalooza pageant in Chicago.

Patterson’s new solo single “After Darkish” sounds just like the type of music Duke Ellington or Quincy Jones would have made in the event that they had been born within the Nineteen Nineties. The track is a moody, late-night spellbinder that includes jazzy chord progressions, surprising sonic textures and fluid basslines – plus a superb, fall-off-a-cliff ending.

New Yorkers Patterson and Ruttner even have an uncanny capacity to collaborate with well-known singers and take their work to new ranges. For instance, their 2016 collab with Carly Rae Jepsen (“Love Me Like That”) is arguably the very best work of her profession. And on final yr’s HISTORY album, The Knocks wrote and produced some absolute gems that includes singers like Dragonette, Donna Missal and MUNA’s Katie Gavin.

As well as, J-Patt can be a terrific basketball participant who has robust opinions on how the Knicks can attain the NBA Finals. We spoke with him just lately about his hoop expertise and songwriting influences.

This looks like a career-defining yr for each your solo work and The Knocks due to your latest Grammy nomination and your upcoming Lollapalooza present. Does this yr really feel completely different by some means?

Sure, it undoubtedly looks like we’re taking longer strides as The Knocks. We really feel like we’re most likely in the very best place of our careers. This consolation and freedom has opened up the door for the solo stuff, which I’m enthusiastic about as a result of all of them go hand in hand. If James Patterson does nicely, The Knocks do nicely and vice versa.

Will you be doing any solo reveals this yr to advertise “After Darkish”?

Sure! I’m enjoying in Denver July 1 and Detroit later this summer time. I even have gigs throughout NYC.

Each you and Ben typically don’t get the credit score you deserve as songwriters. As an illustration, your 2016 track with Carly Rae Jepsen (“Love Me Like That”) is without doubt one of the finest songs of that decade. Likewise, your collabs with Dragonette, Foster The Individuals and different artists on HISTORY are actually nice songs. Who’re a few of your greatest songwriting influences?

Thanks! A few of my greatest influences so far as songwriting goes are rappers, simply because I grew up listening to numerous rap music. As an older particular person, I’ve been fortunate to be uncovered to numerous completely different sorts of music. Relying on the session, my inspiration can differ from Nas to James Murphy to Dolly Parton to Quincy Jones.

You’re each a basketball fan and participant. What place do you normally play (I’m guessing energy ahead), and the way ought to the Knicks construct round Jalen Brunson subsequent yr?

See…individuals assume I’m a ahead/heart as a result of I’m KINDA tall with king arms – however I’m a guard with elite imaginative and prescient, handles, plus you possibly can’t let me shoot. Mfs be tryna stick me within the publish with these large guys smh. Anyway, I really like Jalen and Josh Hart, and I feel reuniting them with Mikal Bridges (who has proven he can go for 40) might be nice since they gained collectively in faculty. Julius Randle is not the reply.