- [Narrator] Here's the story.

(gentle music) (funky music) (funky music continues) (funky music continues) - [Announcer] Our next performer is Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise.

Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise.

Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise.

(funky music) - Music was always in my journey.

It has saved my life.

- [Announcer] Christine Elise is a classically trained harpist, pianist and vocalist who has been touring across North America for years.

Christine Elise.

Christine Elise.

(funky music) Kuf Knotz blends hiphop poetry with deep grooves of soul and beats sun kissed with the spirit of lo-fi and '90s era vibes.

'90s era vibes.

Lo-fi and '90s era vibes.

- My journey into music started pretty young.

My brother, who I always looked up to, he rapped.

He was an MC, and my grandmother sang gospel music.

So growing up, I was surrounded by those two worlds.

Once I got to high school, created our first rap group with my friends.

And then, yeah, once I got into college, I really started taking it really serious.

(funky light music) - My choir teacher was like, "You play piano so well.

Harp is very similar to piano.

You should play the harp."

And played the harp and piano.

Went to school for music therapy and now I'm doing music therapy in the world.

(Kuf and Christine chuckle) - [Announcer] Christine Elise studying music therapy at a master's level led her to find a passion for community music therapy.

Christine has facilitated group sessions and workshops for professionals and clients in the USA, South Africa, Peru, and Jamaica.

(funky music) - Been in a few different bands.

Did a reality show with one of the bands.

(Kuf chuckles) After the reality show, I think with what I wanted and what I was looking for musically shifted a lot.

- [Interviewer] What caused the shift?

- I guess I just had, I mean, not to sound cheesy, but an awakening within that experience where I just felt like what I was part of, I didn't really connect with fully, and I didn't feel like it was a good representation of what I wanted to put out into the world.

- [Announcer] Welcome to the stage, Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise.

- Hey, how's everyone feeling out there today?

All right.

Thank you for being here.

I'm Kuf Knotz.

- I'm Christine Elise.

- And we're gonna play some music for you.

If at any point you feel like dancing, there's a big dance floor right there.

Before we jump into our sets, we always take a few minutes to just ground the energy and take a minute to breathe.

We know how fast this life moves and how important it is to just breathe and just be.

So as we do that, we share some words we aim to live by.

(contemplative music) (contemplative music continues) (contemplative music continues) Today, we plant the seeds for the life we long to live.

(contemplative music continues) We remain open and willing to flow with life's changes as we understand (funky music) those unseen curves in the road tend to pop up more often than not.

So we take time to just breathe.

♪ Breathe and I know ♪ ♪ And do it ♪ ♪ Breathe and I know ♪ ♪ And do it ♪ (funky music) - Today, we see the world with enthusiasm and curiosity.

(funky music) We know that each breath is an entryway to inner calm and peace.

(funky music) So we take time to just breathe.

(funky music continues) (funky music continues) Just breathe.

♪ Breathe and I know ♪ ♪ And do it ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ ♪ Breathe and I know ♪ ♪ And do it ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ - We know that setting goals for the future is what gives us direction in the present.

(funky music) We also know that the present is truly a gift.

So we take time to just breathe.

(funky music) Just breathe.

(funky music) ♪ And I know and do it again ♪ (funky music) - Just breathe.

♪ And do it again ♪ (funky music) (funky music continues) - We know the mind is brilliant.

The body is healthy.

The spirit is tranquil.

(funky music) Just breathe.

(funky music fades) - So I was working for a nonprofit and they had a band that played a fundraiser, and that band happened to be Kuf's band, and he was playing with a full band at that time.

And I went to the event not knowing what the music was gonna be.

I saw him on the stage.

He had two keyboard players.

He had, I think a flute player, someone playing guitar.

Like, it was just this beautiful array of music and also just the message.

And I remember saying, "If I ever wanna be in a band, I wanna be in something like that."

Said to my best friend and then I just went to work the next day, didn't look him up, didn't say hi at the show.

And two months later, we randomly ran into each other and I went over and I said, "Hey, I saw your show.

If you ever need a harpist, let me know."

- [Narrator] What was your reaction to if you ever need a harpist?

- I was like, "A harpist?"

(interviewer chuckles) I'm not even sure what that sounds like.

Like, I've seen it in big orchestras or something, but I was like, I was curious though.

I'm like, I wonder what that would sound like because I'm big on, like, you know, fusion and mixing different sounds and stuff.

So I was like, you know what?

I'm gonna reach out and just see what it sounds like.

So I contacted her.

I sent her some music, and I'm like, "Can you just improv over this music so I could hear what it sounds like?"

And she sent it back and I was like, wow.

It's like, it's beautiful.

And then I invited her to the studio.

We recorded a album I think maybe within four to six months.

- Yeah, it was quick.

- It was quick.

And then we just hit the road.

(gentle music) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (waves crash) For me, it's very inspiring, like, being in new places, feeling new energy, meeting new people and learning stories.

It's like you're learning every day and you're on the road and you're doing something you love.

(gentle music) (gong rings) We've been doing Alaska every year for the past seven years.

Hawaii.

We do the West Coast.

We do Canada.

- Yeah.

- Yeah, we pretty much are all over.

This year will be our first year going outside of the States other than Canada.

We'll be going to Greenland, Iceland and to the Netherlands.

- [Interviewer] You bring the music to them, but what's the intangible?

Are you picking up sounds?

Are you picking up culture?

Are you adding it to your music?

What are you pulling out of these travels?

- One of my goals when I first started, you know, doing music and taking it really seriously was to see the world on behalf of music.

So that always was a seed I planted.

And before this, I had bands and had, like, a lot of unsuccessful tours.

They weren't exactly what I, you know, had drawn out in my head, but they were experiences and I learned from them.

But this is like the first project I've had that has been able to successfully tour.

(serene music) (serene music continues) Asbury Park, how you feeling out there?

(audience cheers and applauds) All right.

I'm Kuf Knotz.

- I'm Christine Elise.

- Thank you all for being here.

We're gonna play some music for you.

(dramatic funky music) Be free, free, free, free.

(dramatic funky music) (dramatic funky music continues) ♪ Free ♪ ♪ Never gonna let my brightest power ♪ ♪ Travel on and in reserve ♪ ♪ To be alive is ♪ ♪ Free ♪ ♪ Never gonna let my brightest power ♪ ♪ Travel on and in reserve ♪ ♪ To be alive is ♪ - Yeah, speaking freedom, releasing those locked cells.

So, choose to green and exhale when all else fail.

I'm seeing peace through this journey of change.

Experience is priceless.

Shows us new things.

What's so needed?

Stay humble, believe me.

Just searching and reading, I'm absorbing the teachings.

Growing every day and passing jewels for free.

Get it living, love it.

The blessing is so real trapped between these thoughts, running laps on hope's wheel, knowing that tomorrow holds those dope thrills.

Pushing here to Brooklyn.

Low valleys and big field, no matter where you live, your dream's a big deal.

♪ Free ♪ - Free, free.

♪ Never gonna let my brightest power ♪ ♪ Travel on and in reserve ♪ ♪ To be alive ♪ - Free, free, free, free.

♪ Never gonna let my brightest power ♪ ♪ Travel on and in reserve ♪ ♪ To be alive is ♪ - Waking up early, fresh breeze and the road's lit, glares out the window from the rays, so sick.

Moment to be grateful for fruits of this planet.

Every day is another blessing, a lesson to cherish and ease.

It's peace how the clouds be spinning.

Rotation is the motto.

Take a minute to listen.

Every circle met another cycle complete.

The cycle in read knowledge if you travel and see.

Absorbing wisdom, teach the children.

Respect women.

Hold the womb that carries life, divine and healing, defining our purpose, breaking free, no ceiling, open atmosphere and amazing feeling.

Free, free, free.

♪ Never gonna let my brightest power ♪ ♪ Travel on and in reserve ♪ ♪ To be alive is ♪ ♪ Free ♪ - Free, free, free.

♪ Never gonna let my brightest power ♪ ♪ Travel on and in reserve ♪ ♪ To be alive is ♪ - We operate on these frequencies so we can be free, free, free, free.

(relaxed funky music) We operate on these frequencies so we can be free, free, free, free.

♪ Free ♪ ♪ Never gonna let my brightest power ♪ ♪ Travel on and in reserve ♪ ♪ To be alive is ♪ - Free, free, free, free.

♪ Free ♪ ♪ Never gonna let my brightest power ♪ ♪ Travel on and in reserve ♪ ♪ To be alive is ♪ - Some love they cause, jewels and wealth.

Best love we found, love for self.

If y'all feeling good and rocking with us, when I say self, you say love.

Self.

♪ Love ♪ - Self.

♪ Love ♪ - Self.

♪ Love ♪ - Self.

♪ Love ♪ - Self.

♪ Love ♪ (audience cheers and applauds) - [Kuf] Cool.

Thank you all for being here.

(mellow music) (crowd murmurs) (mellow music) (mellow music continues) - Hey, Stone Pony, what's going on?

Guys, this is the Asbury Park Band Awards.

Make some noise.

(audience cheers) Yes.

(mellow music) - And the winner is Kuf Knotz.

(audience cheers and applauds) - Again, thank you all.

I appreciate it.

This is a beautiful and amazing music community.

I was introduced to it in 2012 from Joe Miller.

He took me to Chico's and The Saint and I played there and I fell in love with the scene.

I didn't know years and years later, I would move back and before we emerged in the scene.

So thank you for the open arms and thank you for the award.

Thanks.

(audience cheers and applauds) - [Interviewer] Tell me about coming back and playing in places like Asbury Park.

- Well, I think good's cool is now, we've been doing this for a number of years and we've developed relationships with people and it's cool that they are excited to come see us when we come back.

And now we've built that relationship, so we're excited to see them.

So it's this like, almost like when you get home and you're like, oh, okay, I can unpack for a second.

I could catch up.

I could kind of fill my cup and go out.

So it's sometimes a different feeling because it's familiar and it's people that, like, come out that, like, love us and are on this journey, but like, it's easier to give them a hug because you've like give them hugs before.

(Christine laughs) - Yeah.

- So I feel like it's nurturing when we come back - Nah, it is.

It's always super exciting.

It feels like home, you know?

- Yeah.

- In both places, Philadelphia and Asbury Park, because we've spent maybe the past, what, five or six years building up and you know, integrating in that music community in Asbury Park.

So that feels like home, as well.

And before there, before this started, I was building, you know, a following here in Philadelphia and I was in the Philadelphia music scene for a long time.

So this still feels like home, as well, so.

(mellow music) (mellow music continues) - [Interviewer] Your music carries a strong message of wellness and positivity.

Was that a creative decision or something that just naturally reflects who you are?

- I was headed in that direction, and then meeting Christine, and having what she brought to it made it more possible and even elevated it.

So I think it was intention, but also pretty organic.

Like, we don't have conversations of let's make this positive.

You know, it's more of just an expression and what our every day is and who we aspire to be.

(relaxed music) - [Interviewer] What do you think your sound gives people emotionally?

- I hope they take away, well, leaving, I hope they feel inspired and joy, happy.

And also a lot of the writing is also, you know, from experience but also an intention.

Like, what I would like to see, what I wanna put, you know, bring to fruition and put out there, put into the universe.

- What I've been hearing a lot at shows is like people lately have saying, "I was just able to come and let go and just be here and feel joy."

Like this kind of message of, with a lot going on, it's like, can I feel this joy?

Can I dance?

Can I let go?

And thank you.

You guys got me to that space.

So I hope that, you know, people continue to feel that way, that we create an environment that feels like you can dance and you can smile and you can, you know, converse with someone that you didn't really think that you would have a conversation with.

Because I do believe that that ripples into the next day and the week.

And so I hope that continues.

(gentle music fades) - Peace y'all.

Kuf Knotz.

- Christine Elise.

- We're gonna jump into a song for you.

This is "Community."

I feel like we all know the importance of community.

They say it takes a village, which is some of the truest words.

So this is "Community" with a focus on the word unity.

(upbeat music) Unity.

(upbeat music) (upbeat music continues) ♪ This builds community ♪ ♪ Strength and understanding and L-O-V-E ♪ ♪ Power, elevation, let the mind be free ♪ ♪ Reach in deep and seek your true equality ♪ ♪ This builds community ♪ - Unity.

♪ Strength and understanding and L-O-V-E ♪ ♪ Power, elevation, let the mind be free ♪ ♪ Reach in deep and seek your true equality ♪ - Yeah.

This is for the people.

Hold your heads high.

Soar like a eagle.

Prosper, the mantra opposite of evil.

Plant the seed.

Now sit back and watch the tree grow.

Yeah.

This is for the people.

Hold your heads high.

Soar like a eagle.

Prosper, the mantra opposite of evil.

Plant the seed.

Now sit back, watch the tree grow.

♪ This builds community ♪ ♪ Strength and understanding and L-O-V-E ♪ ♪ Power, elevation, let the mind be free ♪ ♪ Reach in deep and seek your true equality ♪ ♪ This builds community ♪ ♪ Strength and understanding and L-O-V-E ♪ ♪ Power, elevation, let the mind be free ♪ ♪ Reach in deep and seek your true equality ♪ (funky music) (funky music continues) (funky music continues) (funky music continues) - Searching, but the truth's in us.

Just dig deep and you'll discover yourselves.

It's destined and we control it all.

We build it, connect.

We could touch the stars.

Searching, but the truth's in us.

Just dig deep and you'll discover yourselves.

It's destined and we control it all.

We build and connect.

We could touch the stars.

Yeah.

We could touch the stars.

We could touch the stars.

We could touch the stars.

(funky music) (funky music continues) Let's build this community.

Strength and understanding and L-O-V-E.

Power, elevation, let the mind be free.

Reach in deep and seek your true equality.

(Kuf chuckles) (gentle music) ♪ Your love is lifting me higher ♪ ♪ Than I've ever been lifted before ♪ ♪ So keep it up ♪ ♪ Keep quenching my desire ♪ ♪ And I'll be at your side forever more ♪ ♪ Yeah, and your love keeps lifting me higher ♪ - [Kuf] So high.

♪ Than I've ever been lifted before ♪ ♪ So keep it up ♪ ♪ Keep quenching my ♪