The latest single from Berlin-based Alex Knot is a stripped-back, intimate exploration of self-doubt, exhaustion and friendship. In ‘Loser’, Knot blends the sound of a broken, electronic drum machine with handmade, old-time banjo patterns. The lonesome instrumentation, spare and delicate, traces a slow, melodic path beneath Knot’s weary vocal. Knot moved to Berlin to “…meet new people and try new things,” but ‘Loser’ reflects on a time when he made a huge mistake that made everything feel lost. “Anxiety tip: Next time you’re losing sleep over an embarrassing moment you had years ago, just try to remember other people’s embarrassing moments. You can’t, can you? That’s because you’re the only embarrassing person…” Of course, the feeling of hope comes from the idea that the new situation created is just as fragile as the last, and Knot declares, “Nothing’s forever,” as we follow his deep reflections. The result, both musically and lyrically, is a real sense of vulnerability.
Swedish filmmaker Joel Engberg shot the video in the isolation of rural Sweden. A drone is used to drift through the trees and cliff-edges of a deserted quarry, as if searching for something more. Through the artful visual, Engberg presents us with themes of identity and the way we hide our true selves while presenting an image of something we’re not; this is realised through the use of darkness and shadow, contrasting with the vibrant colour of an emergency flare, burning with angry red brightness against the backdrop of night and the depths of a cave. The flare’s aggressive light comes and goes, like our hopes, dreams and ambitions, while its billowing smoke obscures those aspirations from view. Moody and atmospheric, the video is full of symbols and reinforces the dislocation and uncertainty of Knot’s lyrics.
Alex Knot is an experimental folk artist from the UK who was previously in the indie band Good Wilson, which amassed millions of streams. On stage, he combines the sound of his handmade banjo with that of hand-repaired radios, creating something truly unique. Now, Knot is releasing music on DIY folk music label Cheap Wine Records, based in Lisbon, and we can expect a debut EP, “Out of the Factory”, early in 2026. Look out for the EP and immerse yourself in ‘Loser’ in the meantime.
