By Ryan J. Nims
Knifeplay is currently planning a new album release and will be performing with Fawn at Hotel Vegas on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 8 pm.
Knifeplay is the Philadelphia-based Shoegaze project of songwriter TJ Strohmer. Strohmer is the singer and guitarist; Alex Stackhouse is on bass; Max Black is on keyboards and string arrangements; Johanna Baumann is on vocals, guitar, engineering, and production; Nora Maupin is on drums; and Dennis Martinelli is on lead guitar.
In Strohmer’s own words: “Knifeplay started as a home recording project around 2015, but was not unveiled to the public until late 2017, when I had a band name and some formal, cohesive releases ready to go. I wanted to make sure our debut had intention behind its sound and aesthetic… The progression from solo project to a full band was gradual; each record has become more collaborative, [and] our upcoming record [is] the most collaborative by far. Once I found the right people…I was able to release a lot of control… which has been great for the growth of the project, both in sound-wise and spiritually speaking.”
Listeners to KOOP’s Beat Happenings every Friday at 6:00 pm might want to check out Knifeplay!