Shinedown's Jasin Todd: 'We Wrote The Best Album We Could'

Jacksonville-based hard rock band named Shinedown has just released its second album "Us and Them" (review) and is currently supporting 3 Doors Down with Alter Bridge on their tour. The band's guitarist Jasin Todd had found some time to answer our questions about influences on the new CD, communication with fans, inspiration and other essential things. Read the interview below.

Ultimate-Guitar.com: So, your new album “Us and Them” just hit the stores on the 4th October and you already have a platinum record “Leave a Whisper.” What’s the difference between them? Are you still experimenting with sound or you think you already found what’s best for you?

Jasin Todd: "Us and Them" is a completely different album all together. Why write the same record twice? We went for a more classic sound on the recording section... smaller amps and hollow body guitars, along with my usual gear - [Les] Pauls through Diezel and Marshalls. I know what I like, but you always have be on look out for new shit.

I know part of your fans that really liked “Leave a Whisper” are disappointed with “Us and Them” – they say you lost your style and now sound like a lot of other rock-bands out there. Does that disappoint you or you think you can’t keep everybody happy? Making a new record, are you gonna pay attentions to these opinions?

F--k 'em if they don't like it, sounds like a personal problem to me. That's the first time I've heard that so maybe you guys know something I don't. People are always going to be upset about something... whatever, we wrote the best album we could.

You said stories that your fans told you inspired you to write songs for the album. Can you tell some examples - what happened and a song you wrote after that?

I'm a guitar player, I drink beer and Southern Comfort, sit and play the guitar all day. Brent writes all the lyrics, that would a ? for him.

Who did the CD sleeve of “Us and Them”? Did you take part in the process?

It reflects a reoccurring dream Brent had. Dark skies, kids outside an institution, uneasy about life.

In one interview you said you didn’t write a single song for “Us and Them” on the road. What were you busy with in between the shows?

We are lucky enough to have a bus to tour on, but there are 12 people riding on it. That means no place to sit and record ideas. Plus we live this shit, traveling with Shiner's is like being on a f--king Pirate Ship... Every F--king Night!!!

You met your bandmates as musicians to play with. Did you become real friends since then?

Shinedown is a brotherhood, we've been together now almost 5 years, which doesn't seem long, but we've gone through a lot together. The crew and band still hang everyday.

I know Brent Smith has been signed to Atlantic Records with a different band before Shinedown. Why it didn’t work?

You would have to ask him that, why didn't my band work? You have to be part of special unit to do this, I guess, who knows.

The band is almost 5 years old. You’ve come a long way to get here. Was there a moment that you regretted you got into all this?

No regrets no remorse, I live to play guitar on stage.

Do you remember that moment when you realized the band’s gonna be big?

That's a strange question, because in our eyes it's still 4 guys rocking out, living everyday like it's the last one, giving it all. We're definitely not famous pricks if that's what you mean.

You said the band is very fan oriented. How to do keep in touch with your fans?

We do meet-in-greets every chance we get, we walk out in the crowds and drink and hang with our family. It's just the way it's always been. Our fans are the reason we're able to do this.

Say, you came to my city and I went to your concert, being your passionate fan. I’m dieing to meet you and make a photo together, if I’m a girl, I may be even dreaming of something else… What are my chances? What should I do at least to talk to you?

We're very approachable people, unless someone is sick, we do just about whatever we can for people. As for the other, I'm married so...

Are you gonna keep on writing songs, based on your fans’ experience or you’ll try to find inspiration somewhere else?

Inspiration comes in many forms... "Lady So Divine" is not about the fans, so it travels nicely on the album..... L.S.D.

Did you use internet to search for tabs? If yes, what’s your favorite site?

I've always played by ear, just jamming out to records and shit like that.

If you were me, what question would you ask yourself?

Guitars, amps, effects. Drugs, alcohol, naked chicks, fried squirrel ass.

And the answer…

Any guitar made by Gibson, with the choice begin Standard Les Paul. Old 800 Marshalls, VH4 Diezel. Old Fender Amps, Old echoplexs, vintage chorus pedals, fuss face. Love 'em, Love it, Eat it up, big f--king joke on our label.

I bet you still remember how you felt a few years ago, before your first album was out. If you had a chance, what would you advise yourself? That would be a good advise for all guys, dreaming to play in a band like yours one day.

Here it is, you guys and ladies might not believe this, but it's true. Don't Quit!!! Everyone back here playing every night, are just cats that never gave up. This is only my second band ever. I tried for 8 years to make it happen with nothing but heartache. Made a change, met a great singer and bam, over night!!! I'm not gonna sugar coat shit and tell you this and that. It's a business out here and it's a lot of work, but if your supposed to be out here -- You Will Be....then the real puzzle begins.

Comments

[rockontilludie]

**** yea, brent smith has major pipes man.

[GoodCharloteSux]

Thats so cool that UG conducted the intervuew very nce

[IamJonsCranium]

i was disappointed with 'save me.' not really the music, but the lyrics. they just seem pointless. but i havent heard teh rest of the album yet. i'll probably give it a whirl.

[gunsn'pjs]

that is awesome ug can do this. hopefully we will see more. and i do love shinedown. great band.

[istandalone]

i like the interview shinedown rocks i wnat there new album i just have no money like usual

[Umair122504]

Us & Them is so much better than Leave a Whisper. Shinedown = awesome

[xfactor]

Leave a Whisper was a great album.

[ThEgReEnMuNkY]

I'm a guitar player, I drink beer and Southern Comfort, sit and play the guitar all day...

Excellent

[Scourge441]

Jasin Todd is a great guitarist, and SHinedown is a killer band.

[flame843]

They're not the most virtuostic band of all time, but they're good at what they do. I enjoyed Leave A Whisper ...I might get Us and Them.

Save Me is all right...but I prefer .45 (the first song I ever learned to play.)

[seekanddestroy]

shinedown is pretty kick ass

[DisturbedIbanez]

Us and Them is nothing compared to Leave a Whisper. Only one good song on it. The rest are mediocre and quite forgettable. Leave A Whisper had all good tracks, and some great ones such as Fly From the Inside, 45, Burning Bright and Stranger Inside.

[Paroxysm]

Good band and Us and Them is a good CD to me even though it's softer than Leave a Whisper.

[DaddyTwoFoot]

All the riffs on Leave A Whisper sound the same.

[untilurreformed]

Shinedown is still a horrible, horrible band. They're no talent hacks at best. They really pushed the suckiness envelope with that weak power ballad "Starin down the barrel of a .45" crap.

[Sören]

I have listened to Us and Them twice and still can't find much good to say about it. Mediocre at the most.

[rainman5190]

Us and Them is definitely their best album, it sounds awesome, Leave a Whisper was great too, but Us and Them takes the cake

[Guitar_Poet]

this guy is a conceited ****-off.

"We're definitely not famous pricks"

sure.

[im not mental]

that's awesome that UG actually did the interview.

[DisturbedIbanez]

And now that I read the whole interview, that dude is an arrogant little ****.

[rock_star77]

Yeah... to whoever typed this, or who did the interview... read over your work before submitting, very akward sentences. But that's besides the point. This guy's got a mouth on him, and I sometime during this interview I literally began to wonder if he kissed his mother with it. After reading half the article I got bored with every reply being the same and having the word **** in it.

[THC-Llama]

yeah...i heard the new shine down cd...being a big fan of their last cd i was pretty disapointed...and their guitarist is a ****ing arrogant prick

[TrappedUnderIce]

That was a really crappy interview.

[fallenguitarist]

man i love shinedown. both albums about equally i guess. and mostly cause of brent. the music is good and i love th guitars, but Jasin def just came off as a stuck up bastard rock star in the egotisticle sense. which is disapointing. cause thats not what shinedown stands for, at least to me. i want to know if this dude thinks about what hes writing and how it fits with th music instead of just tryn to sound hardcore. we dont need more bands like that. i dont mean to say their music sucks cause it dont. but what he comes up with aint that complicated or hard to play so its not like hes got alot to b arrogant about.

[Emenius Sleepus]

I haven't heard SHinedown, but that guy's kool.

[jamstation]

what an a$$hole

[punksk8er18241]

never heard of them.must be an american thing...

[punksk8er18241]

havnt heard of them, must be an american thing..

[XXAllApologiesX]

i love Us and Them, its way better than Leave a whisper. Leave A Whisper was good but this is amazing

[flinch08]

Shinedown has always been my favorite band since right before GRIND came out and everyone heard "fly from the inside"....u guys just keep rockin.

[Dewey1040]

U guys should really think about Jasins point of view he is in THE HARDEST WORKING BAND out there they tour for 2 years straight put out album two years straight put out album and they will keep doin taht because thats how they live he isnt being an A$$hole because the band puts out one record that is loved by everyone because there is nothing to compare it to but the second album that they make differently(on purpose) people say that they changed for the worse and the band is going down the tube... i dont blame him for saying **** off because if you dont like the second album dont buy it and dont talk crap about it the album is done the way they wanted to do it and they did take in peoples advice but you cant please everyone. Him saying **** every line is just the way he speaks and hes not just being arrogant or being an a$$hole its just how he speaks i know plenty of people that will say that all the time and i give him props because he will say it regardless of the fans who are the real A$$HOLES who say hees conceited for saying what he wants