Rise Above the Narrative: Kneet on Music, Motherhood, Advocacy, and Reclaiming Your Voice

Rise Above the Narrative: Kneet on Music, Motherhood, Advocacy, and Reclaiming Your Voice Uncle Dave welcomes Kneet, a Punjabi Sikh artist raised in Thailand, psychology graduate, mother, and founder of Protect Children New York, for a powerful conversation about music, identity, domestic abuse, family court, mental wellness, and rising after life attempts to rewrite your story. Kneet shares how her song “Rise” grew from an honest conversation with her producer about domestic violence, coercive control, and the painful family-court battle she experienced after coming to the United States. What began as emotional venting became a deeply personal song about refusing to let another person define her identity. Returning to the location where her story began to film the music video—and bringing her son with her—became an empowering part of her healing. The conversation explores the mission behind Protect Children New York, an initiative created to bring greater attention to children affected by coercive control, psychological abuse, emotional trauma, and harmful family-court decisions. Kneet explains that these forms of abuse may not leave visible marks, making them difficult for courts to recognize. Children may also lack the language to explain their experiences or form trauma bonds that prevent them from speaking openly. David and Kneet discuss how family-court cases can become battles over who presents the stronger legal narrative rather than a complete investigation into what is best for the child. Kneet hopes to use her music, education, advocacy, and public platform to encourage courts and communities to recognize the emotional and psychological realities children face. Kneet also shares the cultural influences behind her music. Born and raised in Bangkok while maintaining her Punjabi Sikh heritage, she brings Indian, Thai, Asian, and Western elements into her artistry. Her song “My Man” celebrates her Punjabi roots, while “To the Moon” began as a lullaby inspired by the phrase her father used with her son: “I love you to the moon and back.” Although listeners may hear it as a romantic song, its original meaning centers on the bond between a mother and child and their dream of escaping together to a peaceful place. Music has become more than a career for Kneet—it is a vessel for healing, storytelling, and reclaiming the identity she felt she lost under another person’s control. Each song represents a part of her life, allowing her to transform pain, love, struggle, and hope into something others can connect with. Kneet explains that reclaiming your voice begins with getting to know yourself again. When other people repeatedly tell us who we are, we can lose track of our preferences, boundaries, passions, and direction. Self-reclamation requires pausing long enough to ask what you believe, what you enjoy, and which path you choose. The episode also highlights the importance of community. Kneet credits her parents, producer, son, and trusted supporters with helping her remain grounded. When she forgets who she is, the right people remind her—not of the identity created by someone else, but of the authentic person they have always known. Her seed for the Magic Garden is simple: no one is an island. Healing, creativity, parenting, and advocacy all require the right support system. Faith can guide us, but we must also help ourselves, accept support, and surround ourselves with people who encourage us to rise. Kneet’s message is one of resilience: falling does not make us failures. We are human, and difficult seasons will come. What matters is recognizing when it is time to stand, reclaim the truth, and rise again. To follow and support Kneet: Search Kneet Music on social media: K-N-E-E-T Music Find her music on streaming platforms by searching: Kneet Listen for songs including: Rise My Man To the Moon Follow her advocacy work with Protect Children New York and her mission to protect children affected by coercive control, emotional abuse, and family-court trauma. To support us, check out: https://davidchametzky.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@davidchametzkyNOW https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/peace-love-and-bring-a-bat/id1552738547