Paul Knakk, known professionally as "HARKLAND," is an American singer-songwriter born and raised in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. In 2010, Knakk competed in the Lehigh Valley Acoustic Performers Competition and took home 1st place based on his songwriting and performance, ultimately igniting his career in music. Following an acoustic performance at Warped Tour in the summer of 2013, Knakk made his biggest debut as the first local act to perform on the Sands Event Center stage in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania opening up for the Philadelphia-based band Silvertide on their reunion tour in September that year. One month later, Blake was asked to return to the Event Center to open for Weezer in front of a sold out crowd and again in March 2014 to open for Three Doors Down on their Acoustic Basement Tour.

In recent years, Knakk has opened for artists and bands such as Candlebox, Colt Ford, and The Cadillac Three, has performed at various music festivals, and has released two singles titled "Country Star" and "Waiting on Superman." Knakk spent 2017-2020 in Nashville, TN where he was given the opportunity to perform at some of Nashville's most prestigious original music showcases and venues including Revival, Whiskey Jam, and The Listening Room. In 2020, Knakk returned to his home state of Pennsylvania during the COVID-19 pandemic to focus on writing, recording, and releasing his debut record, "The Heart & the Hopeful," in 2023.