Mary Knoblock Conjures a Luminous and Phantasmal Masterwork With ‘Spiritus’
- STAFF
- 16 hours ago
- 5 min read
By: Staff
An intoxicating blend of vocal brilliance and hypnotic rhythm, Mary Knoblock creates pure sonic magic.
We recently immersed ourselves in the work of Mary Knoblock and her bold, genre and universe defying EP, Spiritus. With an extensive catalog, we selected a few key tracks from this project that deeply resonated with us and conveyed a clear message we felt compelled to pass on. For us, nothing compares to stepping away from the familiar rhythms of commercial music and discovering something that speaks on a different frequency. We’re always on the hunt for art that pushes our emotional and mental boundaries, and Spiritus delivers in a way that demands to be experienced, not just heard.
We live in a world shaped by routine and controlled systems, often dictated by money, power, and social structure. In that kind of climate, allowing an artist like Mary Knoblock to enter your internal world can feel like reclaiming space within yourself. Her music doesn’t just entertain, it transforms. It challenges the rigid, repetitive cycles we often find ourselves trapped in: commute, coffee, work, repeat, and invites us to break free.
If you’ve never explored this kind of sound before, consider this your formal invitation to something emotionally immersive and mentally expansive. Spiritus isn’t just a listen, it’s a ride. One that challenges you to feel, think, and open up. And we’re here to share our interpretation of that journey.
One of the standout moments for us was “Excuse Me While I Go Fall in Love.” This track pulses with high energy and makes you want to move, not just physically, but emotionally too. It’s a rare thing when sound creates space for the body and mind to align, and Knoblock manages to do that seamlessly. Her vocal delivery is deeply hypnotic, not in a way that dulls the senses, but in a way that lifts you out of your thoughts and into a kind of suspended clarity. It’s an invitation to be fully present, fully free.
The rhythm and percussion in “Excuse Me While I Go Fall in Love” are controlled yet explosive. There’s a sense of deliberate chaos in the beat that pushes you beyond self-imposed limits. The track doesn’t just ask you to move, it asks you to let go. Paired with Knoblock’s expressive vocals, it creates an atmosphere of fluidity and release. It felt liberating, and for us, it forged a powerful emotional connection. We didn’t just listen, we felt it in our bodies, as if the sound moved through us on a physical and emotional level.
Next, touching on the title track, “Spiritus,” it is a deeper dive into the spiritual and sonic essence of the EP. This one is for the true embarkers of the transcendental journey, the ones who close their eyes, put on headphones, and let themselves drift into the sound.
The opening notes alone signal that something profound is coming. We intentionally eliminated external distractions and allowed ourselves to become immersed in the track. What followed was a wave of emotional clarity and peace.
Knoblock’s voice on this track is soft yet commanding, breathy, expressive, and unexpectedly powerful. In an ambient, open soundscape, her voice acts as an emotional guide. Rather than dictating how we should feel, she creates room for us to uncover how we actually feel. Her delivery bypasses the surface and goes straight to something deeper. It’s rare to hear vocals that feel both intimate and otherworldly at once. She makes that contrast feel natural.
As the song progressed, we felt ourselves shedding stress, releasing tension, and reconnecting with emotions we didn’t realize needed air. It was as if our own emotional experiences were being echoed and affirmed through the sonic textures. The fusion of sound and sentiment in “Spiritus” is unlike anything we’ve experienced recently, it’s expansive, honest, and intensely moving.
We also loved the instrumentation behind her vocals that are subtle yet meaningful. Ambient synths and gently sustained tones hold space, matching the emotional weight of her voice without overpowering it. We especially noticed soft piano melodies in the background that felt like raindrops across a vast sonic landscape, inviting, melancholic, and endless in scope. It painted a picture of the universe without boundaries.
What made the track even more real were one or two subtle static textures that bled through the mix. They felt raw, unfiltered, almost like emotional interference that hadn’t been polished out. Rather than remove these imperfections, Knoblock keeps them in, and that decision makes the song feel even more honest. It’s a moment of artistic transparency that brings you closer to her intent.
Another track we connected with was “Crossed Our Hearts.” This song serves as a perfect entry point for those unfamiliar with this genre. It blends ethereal textures with more accessible rhythms, almost bridging the gap between pop and dreamlike electronica. The synths and pulse-driven beats are reminiscent of a club track, but without the commercial gloss. It moves like something familiar, yet sounds like something new. It’s as if Knoblock is dancing with us through sound, but instead of being confined to a venue, the dance happens wherever you are, in your car, your bedroom, your inner world.
Mary Knoblock has a rare ability to channel energies that feel larger than life. Her music transcends the physical and taps into the emotional and metaphysical. She doesn’t just make sounds, she conducts them like an elemental force, using them as a tool for healing and reflection. And what also stands out is her ability to connect deeply with the listener, offering an open space for personal growth and emotional release.
If you’re looking for an artist who defies genre and creates something that awakens your senses, and your spirit, Spiritus is the project you need in your life. Mary Knoblock doesn’t just craft music, she crafts experiences. And we can’t recommend it enough.
Mary Knoblock's 'Spiritus’ is a euphoric, boundary-breaking triumph in sound and soul
Mary Knoblock, a Portland-based experimental composer and sonic visionary, builds vast emotional terrain through her fearless compositions. Fusing neoclassical themes with exploratory electronic layers, her work carves out a signature space where melody and emotion collide in unexpected harmony. With Spiritus, she curates not just a listening experience but an introspective landscape that draws from memory, dreams, and subtle spiritual intuition.
Knoblock’s music stretches far beyond conventional genre boundaries. Pulling from influences as varied as UK garage, ambient pop, avant-garde electronica, cinematic piano, and shoegaze, she builds multi-dimensional compositions layered with haunting vocal harmonies and textured synth atmospheres. This genre fluidity isn't just for style, it’s purposeful. Her tracks unfold like scenes from a film, guiding listeners through emotional chapters that are at once personal and universal.
At the heart of her work is storytelling, sonic narratives, born from handwritten letters, inner dialogue, and vividly recounted memories. Her ability to distill complex emotional themes into sound makes her a rare and compelling voice in modern music. She approaches music-making not just as a craft, but as a form of emotional alchemy, turning lived experience into immersive audio that resonates long after the final note fades.
We can’t wait to hear more from Mary Knoblock.
You can find this release on any major platform, make sure to playlist, stream and share 'Spiritus’ by Mary Knoblock.