Korn Frontman Discusses New Album

What's Up magazine recently conducted an interview with Korn frontman Jonathan Davis. A couple of excerpts from teh chat follow below.

What's Up: When can fans expect a new Korn album?

Jonathan Davis: Korn is working on it. Getting started getting into it. The guys are doing the writing; I haven't been around. I always take myself out of the first part of the writing process because I always sing melodies, then tell the guys to play stuff on guitar, and I screw myself because they should have been vocal melodies. So I let them write the songs first, and then I come in and do the vocals and the melodies later.

What are some of the themes going to be lyrically for this next album?

Yeah, it's gonna be a concept record. I have these five symbols that I've come up with that I think are the downfall of man. And each symbol is going to have a couple songs about it and go through in order, and then a couple songs about how they are all tied together. That's just my general brainstorm right now. I'll get more into it when I hear the songs and start writing the lyrics.

What are the five symbols?

First one is drugs, the pharmacy side — a person who is not medicated or medicating themselves some way to deal with life. Second (is) religion, organized religion. I don't mean spirituality but religion in general, where people are controlled and believe their god is better than another god. Third one is the power symbol — most all humans are power hungry. Fourth is the money sign. People will do anything for money. Money — just the concept of it is stupid, and it's a pretty f*cked-up thing. The fifth one is time. It's our biggest enemy of all. Everyone is always battling time; people don't have time to do this, people don't have time to do that. They spend millions of dollars to buy Botox trying to buy time. I think it's a killer of all of us.

Is Ray Luzier going to be a permanent member of the band?

Yeah. He's writing this (new record) right now. So, yeah, he's our drummer.

How's he working out?

Great, he's an amazing, amazing drummer. He fits us perfect. He's on fire. He's great.

You've worked with Lil Wayne a couple of times and even did a remake of his song "Got Money". Why?

We only worked with him once. On his video, he asked us to be a part of it. I just liked that "Got Money" song with T-Pain and him. I just did the cover of it for fun, and I put it out for free for kids to download. I just like the way he raps and his style.

Read the entire interview from What's Up magazine.

Comments

[kfong03]

interesting, hope it turns out fine

[Freunleven]

So, they're writing a new "Dark Side of the Moon" - money, time, etc.

Sounds cool.

[mastaofrocknrol]

Awesome !!!!! ^Lol

[Alex101]

Korn rocks, but sadly, it's never been the same without Brian and Dave.

[SuicidalFreak]

Alex101 wrote:

Korn rocks, but sadly, it's never been the same without Brian and Dave.

I agree that the new Korn is not the same as the old Korn, but didn't you mention this in Korn's last article in UG "Korn Recording Two New Albums"?

[AEnima18]

Interesting concept. I just want it to be more aggressive than the last couple of records and a bit more back-to-basics.

[thirdeye_15]

^ sum1 did write that exact same thing, possibly him i dont remmeber or kare to look bak at old articles... Its funny at first reading bout this "concept" album with the time,money,power, thing i was thinkin u kno alrite not bad, and then sum1 above said the thing bout the Darkside of The Moon, hahaha dint even cross my mind but TOTALLY true hahah!

[Creep_C-1]

korn needs to hang it up. ever since they gave God Head theyve never been the same =)

[whoa_backoff]

I think they need more bagpipes in this record

[strat0blaster]

Alex101 wrote:

Korn rocks, but sadly, it's never been the same without Brian and Dave.

100% - more so with David gone.

[jharv23]

started out terrible, managed to get worse over time

Sounds interesting. Hopefully they'll go back to the heavy, industrial feel off the older records and break away from the newer sounds. Not saying Untitled was a bad album, it's just not for me.

[Draconey]

Yeah, this album might be really good but I have no idea if they will be able to do it without Head. It will have that bass and vocals, but the guitar and drums will never be the same.

Suggestion, ALOT less synth and more bagpipes and yelling XD

[WheredMyRockGo?]

Alex101 wrote:

Korn rocks, but sadly, it's never been the same without Brian and Dave.

I think it's the style that just got old, not necessarily that the new musicians can't pull it off. I look at this band as more of a fad. They never had a chance at a long career with this type of music.

[Metal Massacre]

Korn is just somewhat of a different band now, and that's fine.

I think their self-titled and Untitled are two great, completely different records.

[slipmaggot93]

A couple of excerpts from teh chat follow below.

that distracted me.

but on topic, i like change in style. they make money from fans like me no matter what anyways.

[ringo23rsr]

best news i read on UG all day haha the album sounds like it should be pretty good and it sounds like they are recording like in a tool style - have adam jones, danny carey and justin chancellor write the songs and then have maynard come in later and lay down vocals and melodies, but thats just my opinion and i will definetly buy this album

[TheReverend724]

i saw them on saturday
ive never really been a huge korn fan but they were really good
ill have to check this out

Checked

[Soozy]

I like the concept album idea...but I don't know how it's going to be coming from Korn

[Mainer]

I agree with Alex101, Brian was the best part of KoRn besides Johnathans vocals...I still am definatly buying this!

[Martindecorum]

Soozy wrote:

I like the concept album idea...but I don't know how it's going to be coming from Korn

Korn did issues which was a sort of concept album so thats the way i think it will be again

[MetalHead73]

David did not contribute anything of value to Korn.
I enjoyed the drumming on Untitled MUCH more than any other album.
David was, at best, a mediocre drummer, he didn't do anything overtly special that stuck out and made him memorable.

[HotDogs1]

money, a factor in the downfall of man? how much money does jonathan davis have to his name? if its such a problem then he should give his away to someone who needs it.

[Spooni_Shaq]

MetalHead73 wrote:

David did not contribute anything of value to Korn.
I enjoyed the drumming on Untitled MUCH more than any other album.
David was, at best, a mediocre drummer, he didn't do anything overtly special that stuck out and made him memorable.

I disagree man. Listen closely to blind and faget, those are the examples that spring to mind. But yeah I loved his style

[Spooni_Shaq]

HotDogs1 wrote:

money, a factor in the downfall of man? how much money does jonathan davis have to his name? if its such a problem then he should give his away to someone who needs it.

I don't think you understand what he means. (sorry for the double post :S)

[Martindecorum]

HotDogs1 wrote:

money, a factor in the downfall of man? how much money does jonathan davis have to his name? if its such a problem then he should give his away to someone who needs it.

you so totally dont understand or your just arrogant

[i_suck]

Creep_C-1 wrote:

korn needs to hang it up. ever since they gave God Head theyve never been the same =)

all i can say is haha so true

[SvnStringMaster]

some of you guys are right. these guys were done when issues came out. why still make records. they only have 3 people, heads guitar tracks are played from back stage, what a band.

[FireBirdKing]

Mainer wrote:

I agree with Alex101, Brian was the best part of KoRn besides Johnathans vocals...I still am definatly buying this!

Have you heard Brian's solo stuff? its pretty good. In fact I like his voice over johns.
I love anything Korn does. It's always unique in a way. I'm pretty excited for this.

[loganpwns]

can't be any worse than the Untitled.

Lawd,
that was one of the worst.

[replica_]

ummm ooookaaay.... time isnt nessessaily a downfall of mankind. time is an illusion and is relative. ok hes right humans are obsessed with time and trying even to buy time in futile and ridiculous ways (botex etc.) which can also relate to such disorders as mid-life crisis, and neurosis and such. but we need time, i mean without it then how can have incentive in living looking forward to things in the furture. how would we otherwise organise things. its valuable but not a downfall. not all drugs and pharmacy side is a downfall. without wed all be still dyin of ****in, small pox, n all that shit. sorry i just kinda disagree lol organised religion i must agree on tho. but without it we wouldnt have anarchy and counter-active thought.

[staleyfan34]

i wish head would come back....oh well. this should be cool

[ThatWouldBeJon]

replica_ wrote:

ummm ooookaaay.... time isnt nessessaily a downfall of mankind. time is an illusion and is relative. ok hes right humans are obsessed with time and trying even to buy time in futile and ridiculous ways (botex etc.) which can also relate to such disorders as mid-life crisis, and neurosis and such. but we need time, i mean without it then how can have incentive in living looking forward to things in the furture. how would we otherwise organise things. its valuable but not a downfall. not all drugs and pharmacy side is a downfall. without wed all be still dyin of ****in, small pox, n all that shit. sorry i just kinda disagree lol organised religion i must agree on tho. but without it we wouldnt have anarchy and counter-active thought.

its his rough draft or a main idea, try not to shoot down his ideas before there even airborne yet haha

[your^consience]

ringo23rsr wrote:

best news i read on UG all day haha the album sounds like it should be pretty good and it sounds like they are recording like in a tool style - have adam jones, danny carey and justin chancellor write the songs and then have maynard come in later and lay down vocals and melodies, but thats just my opinion and i will definetly buy this album

I just about wet myself when I read this