In a realm where genre boundaries dissolve and emotion is translated into sound, Mary Knoblock stands as a rare visionary, an avant-garde artist, neoclassical cinematic composer, producer, and singer-songwriter who sculpts music like a storyteller with a pen dipped in moonlight. Based in Portland, Oregon, Knoblock has become known for her uncanny ability to blend the ethereal with the raw, merging classical roots with modern electronic abstraction to craft immersive sonic experiences. Her work is a labyrinth of textured soundscapes, whispered vocals, and emotionally charged compositions that transport listeners into otherworldly dimensions. As the creative force behind Produced by a Girl, Mary Knoblock isn’t just composing, she’s pioneering.
With a unique fusion of cinematic piano, UK garage influences, avant-garde neo-classical flair, shoegaze dream-pop, and electronic ingenuity, Knoblock continually pushes the envelope of modern composition. Her work is introspective yet expansive, experimental yet accessible, laced with the haunting beauty of dreams remembered and emotions once buried. Each note she crafts seems to exist in the sacred in-between, a liminal space where memory, intuition, and spirit converge. Mary Knoblock’s approach to music is both autobiographical and universal. Her compositions often serve as auditory memoirs, sonic letters from the soul, channeling historical moments from her life, vivid dreams, and the subtle energies that hover between the spiritual and physical realms. With each project, she deepens her commitment to storytelling through sound, offering listeners a mirror for their own introspection, healing, and transcendence.
Released on April 18, 2025, Spiritus is not just an album, it is a sacred passage through memory, emotion, and spiritual resonance. In this luminous body of work, Mary Knoblock invites listeners into a deeply cinematic world where sound and story intertwine. At once haunting and beautiful, Spiritus is a journey through forgotten letters, lived experiences, vivid dreams, and the quiet echoes of intuition. Crafted with Knoblock’s signature blend of neo-classical poetics and electronic dreamscapes, Spiritus is a sonic memoir rooted in love, nostalgia, tragedy, and transcendence. It’s an exploration of the invisible threads that connect the human experience to something greater, something spiritual. With Spiritus, Knoblock has composed more than an album, she has architected an emotional and spiritual landscape, both deeply personal and universally resonant.
Spiritus Album Track List:
Excuse Me While I Go Fall In Love:
From the moment Excuse Me While I Go Fall In Love begins, there’s a spellbinding stillness that draws you in, a cinematic quiet that signals you’re about to enter a different sonic realm. Mary Knoblock opens the track with a delicate balance of electronic minimalism and ethereal neo-classical tones, instantly creating an atmosphere that feels suspended in time. The intro floats in slowly, like a mist over a dreamscape, carried by ambient synths and soft, contemplative textures. Her vocal delivery is neither rushed nor overly embellished, it glides in with a haunting sincerity, almost as if whispered from a distance, yet undeniably intimate. The layering of effects around her voice adds a ghostly echo, not distracting but enhancing the raw, emotional vulnerability embedded in her performance. From the first note, the listener is submerged into a world of longing, introspection, and the tender mystery of romantic vulnerability.
The instrumentation is subtle, elegant, and brilliantly produced, every synth swell, distant reverb, and tonal shift is placed with surgical precision, creating an immersive aural experience. The song builds on an ambient foundation, supported by pulses of electronic beats and swirling harmonics that never overpower but complement the emotional pull of the vocals. Together, the vocals and instrumentation create an atmosphere that is both hypnotic and emotionally resonant, evoking a space where time feels fluid, and feelings rise to the surface like memories. The overall production is of high quality, delivering a refined sound that’s rich in detail yet intentionally sparse, leaving room for breath, tension, and reflection. The emotional power of Excuse Me While I Go Fall In Love lies in its restraint, every sound, every pause, every swell feels deliberate, culminating in a hauntingly beautiful experience that lingers long after the final note fades.
Hazy Days:
Hazy Days by Mary Knoblock opens with a subtle but captivating instrumental introduction that immediately pulls the listener into its dream-like atmosphere. The track’s sound is intricate yet soothing, combining soft, metallic percussion with ambient, synth-driven textures that create a sense of both intimacy and distance. From the very first note, the song exudes an ethereal, otherworldly quality that is a hallmark of Knoblock’s unique style. The sparse yet deliberate nature of the instrumentation allows space for the vocals to breathe and float over the composition, which seems to hover in a suspended, almost hypnotic state. This opening vibe quickly sets the tone, inviting the listener into a reflective and slightly surreal experience.
Mary Knoblock’s vocal delivery is one of the song’s most striking aspects. Her voice is soft, airy, and drenched in reverb, creating an almost distant, reverberating effect. She sings with a gentle precision, her tone as fluid as the instrumental backdrop. The vocals and instrumentation blend seamlessly, each one complementing the other without overpowering. The way the lush layers of synths and percussion wash over the vocals adds to the track’s dream-pop feel, offering a delicate balance between melancholy and calm. There is an underlying tension that never quite resolves, leaving the listener suspended in the hazy atmosphere the song evokes. The production quality is flawless, with every sound carefully crafted to create a sonic landscape that feels vast yet intimate. The combination of airy vocals, ambient production, and rhythmic elements results in a track that is both introspective and cinematic in nature, crafting an emotional resonance that stays with the listener long after the track ends.
Hazy Days makes a strong emotional impact from the moment it kicks off. The track’s high-quality production is evident throughout, with every element working in harmony to create a rich, textured experience. The atmospheric vibe is enhanced by the spaciousness of the mix, where each sound, whether it’s the drifting synths, the soft percussive rattles, or Knoblock’s delicate vocal phrasing, occupies its own place in the sonic space. The overall effect is a piece that feels like an introspective journey through shifting moods, one that lingers in the mind and creates a profound sense of emotional depth. Knoblock’s ability to balance subtlety with intensity is a testament to her skill as both a vocalist and a producer, ensuring that Hazy Days isn’t just a song but an immersive sonic experience.
Let’s Go To The Moon:
Let’s Go To The Moon is an energetic and transformative track from Mary Knoblock’s album Spiritus. The song kicks off with an entrancing blend of shimmering synths, building a sense of anticipation and excitement. The infectious groove established by the steady percussion creates an immediate sense of movement, making it impossible not to get caught up in its forward momentum. This track is a departure from the more atmospheric, introspective moments that dominate the rest of Spiritus, bringing a playful energy that feels light-hearted yet polished. The opening synths are clear, bright, and full of life, setting the tone for a song that is both experimental and accessible. Mary Knoblock’s vocal delivery is confident and crisp, layering effects to enhance the natural ethereal quality of her voice. She navigates the track with ease, her vocals buoyant and full of personality, adding a layer of warmth that contrasts beautifully with the sleek electronic production.
Instrumentation in Let’s Go To The Moon is richly textured, with every layer contributing to the track’s vibrant energy. The arrangement allows each element to shine, with the synths offering lush, expansive melodies that swirl around a tight rhythm section. The percussion, in particular, is steady and compelling, driving the song forward with a rhythmic persistence that anchors the more ambient moments of the track. The way the synths and drums intertwine adds a depth to the song, making it feel both grounded and expansive, as though the music itself is propelling the listener toward the stars. The production is pristine, with each sound occupying its own space in the mix, allowing for clarity and definition throughout the track. This level of attention to detail ensures that Let’s Go To The Moon is not only a joy to listen to but also an immersive experience that draws the listener in, creating a sense of wonder and excitement that matches the track’s theme.
What stands out in this track is its ability to shift the atmosphere of Spiritus, offering a moment of playful levity without sacrificing the emotional depth that Knoblock is known for. The song evokes a sense of escapism and light-heartedness, making it feel like a journey to something beyond the ordinary. It’s a delightful contrast to the more somber, introspective tracks on the album, yet it retains Knoblock’s signature style, a blend of dream-pop and electronic elements, fused with her distinctive vocal approach. Let’s Go To The Moon showcases Knoblock’s musical versatility, demonstrating her ability to craft emotionally resonant music that is both introspective and full of life. The high-quality production elevates the song further, making it a standout moment on Spiritus. With its vibrant instrumentation and infectious energy, the track leaves a lasting impression, offering a glimpse into Knoblock’s boundless creativity and her ability to transport listeners into a world of playful, cinematic sound.
Emophilia and The Dark Triad:
Emophilia and The Dark Triad from Mary Knoblock’s album Spiritus is a standout track that captures the essence of her evolving artistry. From the very beginning, the song lures the listener into a deep, atmospheric world with its cinematic, yet grounded instrumentation. The track kicks off with a smooth, rhythmic pulse that builds gradually, drawing the listener in before the full orchestration comes into play. The introduction of the banjo adds an unexpected and refreshing layer to the arrangement, infusing the track with a unique energy. The fusion of dream pop with elements of folk and experimental sound is seamless, offering a sound that feels both innovative and familiar. The song moves fluidly through various textures, with soft, melodic moments that juxtapose the dynamic rhythm section, creating a balanced yet evolving landscape throughout.
Mary Knoblock’s vocal delivery on Emophilia and The Dark Triad is both haunting and soothing, effortlessly blending with the instrumental backdrop. Her voice, delicate yet commanding, navigates the complex emotions explored in the lyrics. The track’s rich production allows every nuance of her voice to be felt, while the instrumentation provides a lush, immersive foundation. There’s a deep emotional resonance in the way her vocals weave into the fabric of the music, creating a sense of vulnerability and introspection. The lyrics themselves, with their reference to emotional complexity and psychological depth, align perfectly with the atmospheric quality of the track. This synergy between vocals and instrumentation creates a piece that is immersive and evocative, pulling the listener into a contemplative mood.
The overall atmosphere of Emophilia and The Dark Triad is one of tension and release, a journey through emotional and sonic landscapes. The high-quality production shines through, with each element, from the subtle percussion to the soaring strings, blending together to form a cohesive whole. The track evokes feelings of introspection and quiet strength, offering a cathartic listening experience. The song captures both the fragility and power of human emotion, and as it unfolds, it pulls the listener deeper into the album’s themes of love, life, and complexity. It’s a testament to Knoblock’s ability to create music that is both deeply personal and universally relatable, with every listen revealing new emotional layers.
Spiritus is a stunning triumph of emotion, composition, and sonic storytelling, an album that doesn’t just play, but breathes. Mary Knoblock has crafted a deeply personal yet universally resonant body of work that guides the listener through love, loss, longing, and transcendence with fearless vulnerability and avant-garde elegance. Each track feels like a doorway into a dreamscape, blending classical grace with experimental edge in a way that only Knoblock can achieve. For listeners who crave music that moves beyond entertainment into emotional and spiritual exploration, Spiritus is not only recommended, it’s essential. Let it be your companion in solitude, your soundtrack in reflection, and your guide through the unseen realms of the heart and soul.
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