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Newcomer Tucker Knisell Delivers Ode To West Virginian Roots In Stellar New Song, “Mutts”
Remember the name Tucker Knisell.
There’s no denying that the independent country scene has gotten jam-packed over the past decade. Whether it’s giants such as Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson and Turnpike Troubadours becoming torchbearers for the genre or budding talent such as Colby Acuff and Drayton Farley, it’s been harder than ever before to truly keep track of who’s who in the genre.
With that being said, however, there are also a plethora of artists out there who are seemingly chasing trends, trying to go viral on TikTok and rehashing the same tired sound — all falling short of whichever sound they’re trying to replicate. If you’re looking for an artist who’s undoubtedly true to their roots and paving their own path in the industry, look no further than one of today’s newest and most promising artists: Tucker Knisell.
In case you’re not familiar with Knisell, he’s been cutting his teeth for quite a while in the ever-growing Appalachian scene in West Virginia. Back in 2022, the now 26-year-old singer/songwriter would catch fire with his debut single, “Wrist Tattoo,” which not only garnered him some virality online but also caught the ear of none other than Zach Bryan, who co-signed the beautiful ballad on his Instagram story.
In the years following, Knisell has been putting his head down and grinding out barrooms all across West Virginia, also dropping stellar singles such as “You & Caroline,” “Rhubarb” and a live album, Out of Tune & Out of Time, which showcased an underrated aspect of the rising star’s talent: his killer stage presence.
Recently, the Morgantown native has formed a relationship with Grammy-winning producer, Adam Odor, who has worked with the likes of Colter Wall, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Silverada, The Chicks and more — someone Knisell credits as a major influence on the sound he’s been curating recently.
“I think my writing [and music] is a lot more mature and that’s a product, I think, of working with Adam. He pushed me a lot in the studio. He’s a great arranger and creative, and that shows.”
With Odor as a heavy hitter in his circle, Knisell is readying the next step of his career with the release of today’s new single, “Mutts,” which will serve as the lead single of his upcoming debut album.
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Upon your first listen to “Mutts,” the first thing that jumps out at you is just how seasoned Knisell’s songwriting ability is. In an age where songwriting is as popular as ever, a clever line or two is seemingly worth a dime a dozen. With the West Virginian, however, he takes a simple love song and elevates it tenfold, packing the heartfelt acoustic track with stellar imagery, a clever nod to his home in Morgantown and the passage of time in a jam-packed 2:58.
As for the inception of “Mutts,” Knisell wanted to pen an ode to one of Morgantown’s most popular bars, Mutts Place. Without the risk of being too cliché, however, he decided to make it the center point of a love song, forgoing the typical “I love this bar” stereotype that surrounds plenty of odes to a singer’s favorite bars.
“I had the idea of writing a song about the place, but I couldn’t figure out a way to write it. I just didn’t want it to be another one of those ‘I love this bar,’ laundry list type of songs. I was just trying to paint the scene of the place and tell a side story — just have the bar be a vessel for it.”
What results is one of the most earnest love songs I’ve heard in quite some time. Though Knisell can absolutely rip on guitar, he decided to let his songwriting shine here.
The first verse immediately transfers you to a cold, fall night outside of your favorite bar with your lover. Here, Knisell paints a beautifully simplistic scene of a drunken walk back home, underscored by flickering streetlights.
“A dirty sidewalk, standing drunk
I’m holding your right hand
In between you and the road
Because I am your man”
From there, the first chorus showcases the “Wrist Tattoo” singer’s ability to play with metaphor and simile. Likening himself to a candle, he notes he’ll burn to lift his woman up, also adding a stellar line, “Darlin, that ain’t thunder; that’s my heart beneath the floor.”
The second verse comes with a changing of the seasons, with Knisell delivering a few standout lines. From simple moments like framing her face with his hand to seeing the mayapple flowers bloom through the weeds, he packs the track with attention to detail that many forget in this day and age.
Of course, this verse leads into the crux of the song (and the hook), which sees him delivering the unconventional but undoubtedly romantic lyric that reassures his lover that they have it all as long as they have each other.
“All the songs we sang from here to Tennessee
We may be mutts, but we ain’t strays as long as you got me
Kissed you at a bar in the evening outside standing on the porch
Darling, that ain’t thunder, that’s my heart beneath the floor”
Ultimately, “Mutts” is just scratching the surface of what Knisell has to offer as an artist. As we all know by now, a love song is worth a dime a dozen. With that being said, however, the West Virginian delivers a heartfelt ballad that is sure to resonate with many who are looking for a lyrics-first, earnest look at a relationship. Simply put, “Mutts” doesn’t just deserve your attention, it demands it.
“Mutts”
The post Newcomer Tucker Knisell Delivers Ode To West Virginian Roots In Stellar New Song, “Mutts” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.
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