Today we’d like to introduce you to Lucy Knowles.
Hi Lucy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born in Nashville, so I’ve been surrounded by music since the beginning. When I was 6 years old, I was part of a community “Broadway Revue” in which we performed selections from classic musicals. I was captivated by musical theatre from that moment on. My earliest songwriting efforts were parodies of “Fiddler on the Roof” songs. Simultaneously, I was obsessed with film music, particularly “Star Wars”, “The Lord of The Rings,” and the “Narnia” movies.
I started piano lessons at age 7, but for a long time I didn’t take music very seriously. I was a storyteller, and expressed that passion through every medium I could: I wrote books, stage plays, screenplays, parodies, poems, songs, and was constantly filming home-movies with my friends. I wanted to be an author, artist, filmmaker, actor, pianist, director, you name it. And I was torn because I thought I had to choose one.
In high school I acted in lots of local theatre, continued to explore songwriting, and wrote two (very bad) novels. But I also began to pursue music on a deeper level. I studied composition, music notation/engraving, and songwriting from the incredible Bill and Robin Wolaver in Franklin TN. I also received classical piano training from Camille DaSilva. I continued learning from them through my early 20s, and under their mentorship I began writing musicals and film music, culminating in the debut of two original musical theatre productions and my first short-film score commissions. I saw my varied passions for writing, acting, and music unite in storytelling through theatre and film, and discovered (to my great relief) that I did not have to pick just one!
I am currently based in Cookeville TN, where I am active in my community as a gigging pianist and a Musical Director in our local theatre programs. In addition to that, I score short-films, teach private piano lessons, and am currently working on my first album.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have incredible parents and friends who have encouraged me every step of the way. I’ve never doubted that I am loved and supported, so in that way my road has been smooth. As a Christian, I am constantly learning to follow where the Lord leads me, and while His plan can be unpredictable and challenging, it is always worth it!
I’d say that the biggest hardship I’ve faced is simply the scale of the music I write. It’s easy for a singer-songwriter to film themselves singing and playing guitar, but if you compose film music, you don’t have a full orchestra at your disposal. You have to learn to use virtual instruments, virtual microphones, and how to mix tracks. Even after all that, your sound quality can be dependent how much money you were able to invest in sound libraries. It is also harder to share my theatre songs, as it can be difficult to communicate them via solo piano or guitar, and a song, say, from the perspective of the Crocodile in Peter Pan is not what you expect to hear at a traditional open mic night. So I have to look a bit harder to find ways to share my work.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a pianist, I love playing for live theatre, whether it’s a classic musical like “Fiddler on the Roof”, or a straight play where I am creating an underscore. It’s my sweet spot. I will never get tired of watching a scene come to life when I set music to it. The same goes for film scoring, where the music is pivotal in shaping a viewer’s response. I always seek to analyze what story is being told and support it accordingly. I want the music to feel natural, unobtrusive, and my use of the orchestra and traditional instruments over synthesizers emphasizes this.
As a musical theatre songwriter, I am greatly influenced by classic literature and its rich language. I delight in wordplay and rhyme. Words have their own music, and I want my lyrics to be as fun to recite as they are to sing. I also write funny songs whenever I can. I believe that the best way to reach your audience is to disarm them with humor, and once you have them laughing, they’ll be willing to cry too.
One of my strengths is being able to envision a project’s full potential and effectively communicate that vision with other musicians and actors. That’s why I like directing. When you’re working on something like a musical where you don’t see all the pieces come together until the last minute, it’s important to be able to cast a full creative vision. This skill is also useful in teaching as I help my students see their potential and what they are working towards. I’m proud of my abilities in this area and delight in seeing others respond to them. It builds a collaboration that is both fulfilling and just plain fun.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I am grateful to be a part of Nashville’s rich musical heritage. I am proud to call it my birthplace. I love that I can pop into town anytime and be immersed in such incredible artistry. I have so many opportunities here that I would never have anywhere else, and I give thanks for them daily. However, Nashville’s greatest blessing is its greatest curse: everyone has a song. You have to work extra hard to make your voice heard, and it’s easy to feel like you’re “just another musician with a dream”. You can easily doubt that you have anything special to offer. But look past that and you get a vibrant history, thriving community, and endless inspiration from the creativity around you.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @novaloremusic
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/SwNCzaWIHVayXDoSTk
