Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise’s “rē(ə)l ləv (real love)” is the music you play that makes your life better hearing it. As much as music is about making something that sounds good to hear, it’s also about making music that people feel good hearing, and they deliver that and more, on this record one listen will never do enough justice.

What is the band’s origin story, and what makes them different?

Christine Elise is a classically trained harpist, vocalist, and music therapist, and Kuf Knotz is an MC, Poet, Producer, and Songwriter. Before meeting one another in 2018, the unlikely pair each carved out a notable path of their own merit- Elise’s passion for community music therapy has brought her to facilitate sessions nationally and internationally, publish articles in scholarly journals, and present at conferences, and teach at the graduate level. Knotz’s eclectic and diverse musical palette has led him to open for a number of artists including Lauryn Hill, Common, The Roots, Wyclef, Arrested Development, Josh Ritter, Talib Kweli, and The Wailers to name a few.

Yet, the duo found their musical match in one another in 2018. One evening, Christine, who at that time worked at a non-profit which provides music lessons for teens affected by incarceration, attended a fundraising event for work. It just so happened that night that Kuf was performing for the event, and Christine was blown away by his talent and positive messaging. So much so that, upon seeing him at Whole Foods a few months later, she approached him to see if he needed a harpist. Since then, they have embarked upon a musical partnership that is wholly unique in its sound, texture, and message.

Kuf and Christine combine their love of music with their equally enduring desire to help others. It is all-too-fitting that they first crossed paths at an event for teaching music lessons to incarcerated youths. Together, they do not just write and perform music, but it is the cornerstone of their partnership that they help others to heal through music. The pair founded a community outreach performance project called Higher Grounds Music, which offers motivational creative arts workshops and performances in various settings such as schools, hospitals, and community centers.

The music video for rē(ə)l ləv (real love) features a song from their 2021 album Ké myōōnėdé [Community], which was met with critical acclaim.

Where was rē(ə)l ləv (real love) recorded and who was involved in its production?

The beat was created by DJ Sat-One, a producer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The song was recorded at Morningstar Studios and mixed and mastered by 2 times Grammy winner Glenn Barrat.

Where was the music video for rē(ə)l ləv (real love) filmed, and who was involved in its production? The music video was filmed in Philadelphia, PA with:

Dean Myers (Videographer)

Laurie Amado & Brendon Holland (Couple)

Josie Colt (Animation)

Kuf Knotz (Editor)

What is the story behind the song rē(ə)l ləv (real love)?

From the artists, “The beat really reminded us of Motown and the sound of Philadelphia- it had that classic 70’s soul vibe. We wanted something to match that; a lot of those songs back then were love songs, and so we were like all right, let’s take it in that direction.”

Kuf based his verse on real-life experiences, both past, and future. It is a combination of a reflection of his life thus far but also calling things in, and speaking into existence what is yet to come. This song is my Mom and my Dad- this is what they listened to in the living room when I was a kid, it reminds me of them because that’s what was happening in the house growing up, and in the car driving home.

From Kuf: “This song is my Mom and my Dad- this is what they listened to in the living room when I was a kid, it reminds me of them because that’s what was happening in the house growing up, and in the car driving home.”

From Christine: “When I listen to or play this song, I envision a city love story. I see that retro vintage vibe of two people falling in love. Maybe they have love at first sight, but there’s a certain element where perhaps they don’t know where it is headed, and it is only through their experiences with each other, in the city of Philadelphia, that they fall in love. It is as if they’re falling in love with the city and with each other at the same time.”

Tell us about the making of the music video.

To capture the music video footage, we walked through the city of Philadelphia- mainly the Northern Liberties and Fishtown area. The areas filmed included locations in which the couple would frequently visit, creating memorable moments.

Do you have any favorable quotes from previous reviews of the band that you’d be happy to share?

From writer and podcaster Chase March of Bond, regarding the most recent album: “Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise have been making some incredible music for a while now. Their latest album Ké myōōnėdé [Community] is a sonic masterpiece.” Linked here. October 27, 2021