Korn Frontman Talks New Album

Artistdirect.com editor Rick Florino recently conducted an interview with Korn frontman Jonathan Davis. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Artistdirect.com: How's the new record coming along? Has the concept been fully fleshed out?

Jonathan Davis: It's going to be what it's going to be. The album's starting to take on a life of its own. I wanted it to start out as a concept album but now there are other things coming up that I want to talk about. I don't know necessarily if the concept's going to stick or not. We've been working with [producer] Ross Robinson. It's weird. I've been humming my lyrics along with the band as they play. I haven't done that in forever. We'd usually do our parts separately, and then I'd do my thing over the music after the song was done. We've been writing altogether as a band this time. I've been freestyling all of these lyrics that aren't necessarily about the five things I initially came up with for the album's concept. It's total freestyling — complete stream-of-consciousness. I'm really digging it. I might just go with what's coming out of my body at that moment…

So it's like that same catharsis you had on "Korn" and "Life Is Peachy"?

It's going to be exactly like that! I've got Ross with me, and he breaks it down to the point where sometimes I'm tears. He makes sure everybody in that room understands what that song's about and the power and the energy. He does these pep talks and we sit there and listen to him. Then he just says, "Let's do it," and the energy is ridiculous. We're playing in a little room that's like nine feet by nine feet. We're all smashed in their together and in each other's faces. I've been listening to the songs we're doing, and they really are incredible. We're still on drums with just scratch guitar and bass. Hearing the music, it's so old-school Korn. I'm really excited. I know there are a lot of old school fans that love the first two records, and I think they're going to be really excited with this.

You've grown so much as a writer since you began. Untitled was a very visual record and you told so many stories lyrically. Will this next album combine the raw catharsis of early Korn records with this more recent storytelling?

Yeah, I think that's what it's going to do. You're definitely going to feel exactly what I'm feeling. The band is playing old school-style on tape machines. We don't have any click tracks. The music's got a soul. It's got a life of its own. It moves, and the tempos change. I think it's going to be really interesting for fans to hear this. Everybody uses Pro Tools now, and everything is put through a grid, perfected and Auto-Tuned. This is just going to be raw. We've got a 16-track tape machine and a 16-track board, and that's what we're using. We're doing it like Led Zeppelin did it back in the day.

It sounds like it's going to be incredible live.

It's sick, and we're just doing it as a four piece. The creativity is just flowing. Every day we come up with new songs. We've got so many songs, and it's going to be fun to pick the ones that will make it through to the album.

So many fans grew up with Korn. You're a truly meaningful band to a whole generation. What's it like to have fans so intertwined with your legacy?

It's amazing, bro. When I look out at the crowd now, I see so many different generations. I see people like you that have grown up with us and came to our shows at 12 or 13. Those same fans have kids today, and they're bringing their kids to the shows. I'm seeing younger kids that are just discovering us. I'm simply blown away that we're still doing it, and it's still relevant. People still come to see it and they need it. I feel like what we do in this band is give. We give 100 percent of this power and emotion into our music. The fans take that, and it's like a release…it's like, "Thank you." They want to come live that when we play live or when they buy the records. I mean, my own music helps me get through shit. There are countless people that I talk to who say, "Man, if I didn't have your music I don't know what I'd do." I think that's the magic of this band and why we're still doing it. I'm so happy that I have the opportunity to do it.

Read the entire interview from Artistdirect.com.

Comments

[XeroDivide]

I can't wait for this record! I like what Ross brings to the table as a producer, they really enhance the experience live, I've been in the crowd for one show and stage left with the guitar tech for another, very intense! This will be tight!

[The_Seventh_Sin]

*Crosses fingers*

[SuicidalFreak]

I hope the new album will be good as the first album.

[replica_]

ui think this will be a return to the old stuff definitely. ross is a bit of a nut like lol but he knows the band more than other producers.
he help jonathan with the earlier albums. he knew how to get the emotion out of jonathan's vocals.

[Gods_child]

Damn! Last i heard was that everybody left korn (munky and fieldy joinin head that is)... Anywho i liked untitled so i'l definitely check this out.

[PcaKes]

I only really like the first album but I'd be happy if this one came close.

[DaGuitarMasta01]

Its going to be hard going back to their old style without Head he made great music with korn not so great as a solo artist hope he goes back then I would really be exited about a korn ablum.

[pearlJam_31490]

It should be a good album. Sounds like it will be all over the place which i think will be a good thing.

[Duality Ninja]

I'm glad they're back to the four piece. It'll have so much more of a live presence now.

[sfaune92]

Sounds cool, will give it a listen

[PJ=Metal]

Fuck Yeah Im So Totally Getting This!!!!\m/

[FRACTUREDx2]

They will never be the same without Head.

Checked

[visiofx]

They shouldve gotten another guitarist to complement Munky...like maybe Jim Root from Slipknot...apart from Jonathan's twisted vocals, Head's eery harmonic melodies really made Korn's signature sound...They need that back.

[ginrog]

"Hearing the music, it's so old-school Korn. I'm really excited. I know there are a lot of old school fans ..." When are these bands gonna stop living off their earlier successes by hyping an album as sounding like the earlier albums.

If there is one thing that has been proven over time it is that a band cannot get that same hunger for success after they have become popular and rich.

It is hard to be angry and aggressive when you have nothing to be angry about anymore. "I hate living in my mansion and my wallet is hard to carry with all this expansion" just doesn't sell records man.

[[travis]]

So who's left in Korn, other than John? I though that the whole band left. Is Joey Jordinson still with them?

[sutchy]

[travis] wrote:

So who's left in Korn, other than John? I though that the whole band left. Is Joey Jordinson still with them?

Only Head and David Silveria left.

Fieldy and Munky are still going strong.

[demondown666]

hope its not the new shit he put out. its really not korn anymore.

[distortedmetal6]

i've lost faith in korn. once the original band members started to leave the true korn soul left with them. the new albums prove it.

[Vypor]

Jonathan davis wrote:
"Man, if I didn't have your music I don't know what I'd do." I think that's the magic of this band and why we're still doing it. I'm so happy that I have the opportunity to do it.

Spot on

[pinata89]

Self-titled and Life is Peachy were amazing albums, and Follow the Leader wasn't too bad either. Let's hope Korn goes back to their roots.

[FenderMaster]

Korn will always have a place in my heart, along with Sum 41, Alien Ant Farm and Incubus. I personally liked them up until Take a Look in the Mirror, which while dumb, was heavy as **** and pretty interesting in places.

But Korn no longer get a free pass from me, I won#t be buying the new LP on day 1, like I used to, I'll wait and see whether there is enough quality to justify a purchase this time

[AngryGoldfish]

I'm really excited for Korn. They may still have it them, afteral. I thought Untitled would be a good way to go out; it was a great record. But maybe their day is not over, yet?

[Anjohl]

I hate it when bands say that "this album is going to be just like the old ones that you loved before we got shitty", since they never are, and can never be. Unless you are a great cover/tribute act, capturing the essence of what made a piece of music meaningful in a past era is impossible. Part of the problem is that the band themselves (Korn in this case, or what's left of it) don't realize that there were other things contributing to their sound besides the members of the band.

[Dextermaniac]

I will probably not be as good as they're debut, I doubt if that will ever happen. But good for them for trying. I liked Untitled, with it's funny Beatlesque sound. ^^

[nashmanz]

I loved Korn from Self-titled all the way to Mirror, but once Head left and then David it lost something that I don't think anyone can put into words...

The two guitar dynamic made this band what it was along with the vox of course. It's no longer Korn. Rename the band and move on.

I'm so tired of these bands replacing key members and putting out albums under the same name.

[HavokStrife]

If the music can back up half his claims this sounds like it's gunna be some good stuff.

[!!!MetallicA!!!]

Korn is probably my all-time favorite band and i hope they dont end up like Metallica did.

[guitaraddict333]

i can't wait for the new album man

[Natasha Bodom]

I can't wait for the new album. I was so very disappointed with the last two shits.

I hope they do go back to their old, raw, material. :]

[TOMMYB22]

nashmanz wrote:

I loved Korn from Self-titled all the way to Mirror, but once Head left and then David it lost something that I don't think anyone can put into words...

The two guitar dynamic made this band what it was along with the vox of course. It's no longer Korn. Rename the band and move on.

I'm so tired of these bands replacing key members and putting out albums under the same name.

3/5 of the original members who all contributed to there sound are still in the band, they have every right to keep the name.

[ippystratman]

I ****in love korn, they didnt have a single bad album until that untitled load of crap came out. Judging by the interview this album should be brilliant, cant wait \m/

[ThorMagneson]

Well, I'll give them credit for pressing on as long as they have, but the whole band has already kind of exploded.

[XeroDivide]

sutchy wrote:

[travis] wrote:

So who's left in Korn, other than John? I though that the whole band left. Is Joey Jordinson still with them?

Only Head and David Silveria left.

Fieldy and Munky are still going strong.

Ray Luzier's their perma drummer now, David probably won't be coming back. Head did his part on that song for chi (I was surprised), don't expect to see him coming back to Korn though, I couldn't care less. Like the rest of the band I have moved on with it, Munky's the better guitarist IMO anyway, Ray Luzier grooves with them well too.

[DestructoX]

about time 8)

Checked.

[WheredMyRockGo?]

Anjohl wrote:

I hate it when bands say that "this album is going to be just like the old ones that you loved before we got shitty", since they never are, and can never be. Unless you are a great cover/tribute act, capturing the essence of what made a piece of music meaningful in a past era is impossible. Part of the problem is that the band themselves (Korn in this case, or what's left of it) don't realize that there were other things contributing to their sound besides the members of the band.

exactly.

[irotinmyskin]

im almost sure they wont pull it off.... old korn is dead...

[Smileyspencer]

The Best But I Hope That it will also be similar to the third and fourth albums even though they were really mainstream at that point anyways the best to the album and im sure itll be great

[silent caution]

love korn, dont care what album it sounds like i will still get it...im a huge fan of davis but i cant really believe him since he said 2 albums ago there was going to be solos in it....remember that??

[Pannenkoeken]

Sounds like it's going to be good.

[southern_stylin]

Duality Ninja :
I'm glad they're back to the four piece. It'll have so much more of a live presence now.

Back to a four piece? Did I miss something?

[drawnacrol]

I hope shane gibson has some input on the new album

[Zell182]

I swear every band that just released an album that's been different to their others has decided to 'go back to their roots' but the album never seems to have any soul.

checked.

[metalb0y]

Korn are way past their sell by date. Its about time they call it quits. They had their time and its only right they move on to other projects and stop Korn.

[zAg1619]

ginrog wrote:

"Hearing the music, it's so old-school Korn. I'm really excited. I know there are a lot of old school fans ..." When are these bands gonna stop living off their earlier successes by hyping an album as sounding like the earlier albums.

If there is one thing that has been proven over time it is that a band cannot get that same hunger for success after they have become popular and rich.

It is hard to be angry and aggressive when you have nothing to be angry about anymore. "I hate living in my mansion and my wallet is hard to carry with all this expansion" just doesn't sell records man.

You seem to be confused.. Money does not bring you happiness buddy. I've been poor as hell, and angry as hell about it. I have also been very well off at times, but that didn't change the fact that I was angry and unhappy. Besides, I feel as though your logic is flawed. Being popular and rich, should not be the goals of a musician. Yeah, it would be fantastic, and true, it is motivating, but not everything is about money.

[Torico]

Because when they made their first albums they weren't trying to sound raw, they just were.

[faceless bum]

korns publicist is the best remaining thing about the band really. They always say the same shit about hitting it hardcore old shcool on their enxt album and every time its the same bullshit.

korn died with issues.

[g0dd4rd]

wanna hear you screamin' jon.

[visiofx]

they should just call the band..munkfielvis

[Mainer]

The_Seventh_Sin wrote:

*Crosses fingers*

yup. Untitled (as every Korn album is) was awesome, but I hope they go back to old korn