Interview with Joe Hahn in Linkin Park: Friendship is the greatest strength in our music.

Do you remember the first time you listened to Linkin Park's songs? Is it from the campus radio station, or from the numbness of the brainwashing cycle of the radio station, or from the new division of Transformed king kong 2? I believe that for most millennials, the gorgeous rock and punk in the 1970s are too far away, and the junk rock in the 1980s and 1990s may not have experienced it. Aside from the "gods" in the history of rock and roll, perhaps Linkin Park, who appeared at that time, was the real rock and roll enlightenment of many people in their youth.

At that time, the tree of traditional rock music was flourishing. At the same time, rap music, which gradually emerged in the middle and late 1980s, gained greater influence in the American music market in the 1990s. On the other hand, rave parties extended from the Sour House also spread to nightclubs all over the world at the same time, and the turntable scratching from the old-school hip-hop was also applied to some music types such as rock music ... Facing the arrival of a new millennium, in this era of musical background, Linkin Park, born as a new band, blended many elements in a breakthrough way, and soon became an explosive band at that time.

Although the music types of nu-metal have been created by Korn, Limp Bizkit and other bands before, Linkin Park is definitely one of the best in terms of popularity. They simplified the music structure on the basis of traditional metal music. Without guitar solo, straightforward rap plus a lot of scratching and electronic rhythm may be easier to adapt to the fashion trend at that time; Chester Bennington, the lead singer, shouted out the struggle and confusion in his heart with a song that was venting but not morbid, and also caused waves in the hearts of young people all over the world.

Linkin Park's debut album "Half-Blood Theory" sold 4.8 million copies in one year, ranking first in the album bestseller list of 200 1. Even in today's streaming media era, millions of hits are effortless, but it is not easy to reach such physical sales figures. In the end, this song was included in it and was once named "ode to new metal". Meteor, released in 2003, continued to kill the quartet with a new metal style, making Linkin Park a frequent visitor to the billboard charts and Grammys, and received invitations to perform in hundreds of concerts.

In addition to being recognized by the market, Linkin Park has also attracted the attention of many people in the industry in the shortest time. At the Projekt Revolution Music Festival independently held by the band since 2002, even Linkin Park's rock elder even Snoop Dogg and chris cornell, the lead singer of Sound Garden Band, gave their support. The popularity of Numbness directly contributed to the cooperation between Linkin Park and Jay-Z. In 2004, an adaptation of Numbness/Encore, which was jointly produced by the two parties, once again surprised the whole pop music scene. Up to today, the number of videos played by Numb on YouTube has accumulated more than one billion times, which is definitely a milestone.

Then, there was a new change in Linkin Park: the third studio album "A few minutes before midnight" released in 2007 abandoned the band's iconic new metal style; Subsequently, A Thinking Sun and Biology used electronic experimental elements on a large scale. Hunting Party returned to hardcore punk in 1990s; Later, this style became more popular in the market. Although these works after Linkin Park were praised and criticized by the outside world, and their musical achievements did not reach their original glory, their position in contemporary rock music is still unshakable. British rock magazine Kerrang! 20 14 Linkin Park is called "the most striking rock band in the world today". Linkin Park even "beat" Backstreet Boys, britney spears, Eminem and others in the selection of "The Greatest Artists of the 00' s" sponsored by American cable TV station VH 1, and won the highest number of votes from the public …

Twenty years is a terrible number. How many bands can go through 20 years together? However, Linkin Park did it. After a calm and steady musical journey, Linkin Park returned on 20 17 with a new album "One More Light" to start a new round of North American tour. It should have made a lot of fans overjoyed, but just when everything was back on track, Chester's unfortunate death became a bad news that shocked the whole music industry and left indelible pain to other members of the band.

Mike shinoda, a member, once said on social media that she had experienced a period of "roller coaster ride" and created her solo album Post Traumatic through deep thinking about Chester. In this more than a year, Joe Hahn has also been committed to art projects that he loves for self-healing. This time, he brought the precious moments he recorded in the One More Light tour to his personal photo exhibition, and wanted to share this last memory about Chester with friends and fans.

While Joe Hahn's "carrion" photo exhibition was held in China, we talked with him face to face about these bittersweet unforgettable memories and reviewed the 20-year history of Linkin Park. Of course, there is the question that fans are most concerned about and worried about-what are Linkin Park's plans next? Even, will Linkin Park still exist? Joe Hahn has answered for us. After the conversation, we seem to have another understanding of Linkin Park …

Joe Hahn Joseph Hahn, Linkin Park DJ

"Abundant energy, experimental spirit and reflection on life constitute Linkin Park"

N: Looking back on the 20 years since Linkin Park became a military, how do you view the innovation and change of the works, from the Mixed-Blood Theory, which was born with diverse musical elements, to the thought-provoking theme of Minute to Midnight, and then to its popularity?

Joe Hahn: When the band started, we started with some special energy. Whether it's pop, rock, heavy metal, hip-hop or electronic elements, at that time we all wanted to explore various possibilities and try to combine all these individual things to create a brand-new sound that no one else had. We put this dynamic energy and the emotions we want to express in the lyrics and seek to vent. There are some negative emotions, but music has finally become our outlet, and the reflection and expression of these self-situations have also been transformed into positive emotions.

Perhaps everyone feels the same way. Whether it is emotional problems, life setbacks or a sense of confusion about the future, the music and lyrics we wrote can be said to have found many songs. This cosmopolitan sentiment not only made us famous in the United States, but also gave us the opportunity to come to China, even to countries that don't know English at all, but we can understand their feelings even if we don't.

It is natural to experience musical changes in the later period. We want to improve ourselves and try more different things. How to create something beyond expectations and how to integrate members' ideas is our common pursuit in music or visual creation. Mike and I went to the same art center design school. We will look for inspiration from art films, but more importantly, we will look for inspiration and breakthroughs from all aspects of life.

N: We know that apart from music production, you and Mike are also responsible for designing the band's logo and album cover, and you even directed several MVs yourself. So what is the process of visually conveying music?

Joe Hahn: My members and I always observe and try to reflect something from our lives. Musical inspiration can come from anywhere. I may dream of having something, so I will write a song about it. I watched a movie, the story of which I particularly liked, or it contained some energy that attracted me, or I felt it from a completely different angle. I hope to seize these inspirations, think and then create. The same is true of visual arts. Painting, comics, movies and fashion will all be our sources of inspiration. The most important thing is how to link these things in life with your own ideas and turn them into creativity.

"The feelings between bands are difficult to explain in words, and images will be a powerful expression."

N: Tell us something about this exhibition. Why is the theme "Go on"? What do you want to convey or let people feel from it?

Joe Hahn: Carrion was my personal project in April 20 17, and its concept was related to travel. For example, when you are at home, you will have everything you need, but when you travel, you will pick out some necessities and put them in your carry-on bag. For me, the camera is the necessity in my carry-on bag. During that time, I often took my favorite camera with me. It happened that our multi-light tour was in progress, so I naturally recorded these precious memories, but the project came to an end after we stopped touring.

In addition to the concept of travel, I also gave it a second meaning, that is, "continue my life." These photos are not only time capsules to store memories, but also healing methods for me to look forward to the future and continue to live a good life.

N: Compared with other photographers, as a band DJ, you must have some different perspectives on these tour pictures recorded by yourself, right?

Joe Hahn: Because I know every detail of the scene, I can move freely and go to places where no one will go, so my perspective is unique. Besides, we have played most of the songs in the 20-year tour, and I know when I can shoot with my hands. For example, sometimes when I just need to play vocal music and guitar, I will run around. As long as the lights are in place, or I think a moment is special, I will press the shutter. To my surprise, these photos are of high quality, so I decided to share them with people around me and fans.

Among them, I filmed Chester, Mike and all the other band members performing magical moments, and the atmosphere and energy on the stage were extreme. Behind these photos is the friendship of the band and the feelings between us and the fans, which is difficult to explain in words, so I think video recording will be a powerful expression.

N: We know that the band unfortunately experienced Chester's death during the tour. Is this exhibition a memory of Chester? What role does Chester play in your life for you?

Joe Hahn: Of course, remember that Chester is a big part. Last year, Mike released a solo album to commemorate Chester, and my photo exhibition is to commemorate the memories with Chester in my own way. But what occupies a bigger part is the memory of the whole band. The six of us grew up together as students and spent half our lives together. We are best friends. The greatest strength that can make the band go all the way to the present is our friendship. In addition, I also want to express my gratitude to our fans. I also took a lot of photos of fans, all of which were displayed in this exhibition. One of my favorite photos is the clenched hand. In this photo, there are fans holding Chester's arm, but I didn't deliberately highlight their faces, but focused on the moment of touch. I like this detail very much.

"Holding a concert or releasing a new album is no longer something we will deliberately discuss."

N: What kind of mental journey did the band members go through when Chester was away from everyone for more than a year?

Joe Hahn: We lost our best friend. This feeling is beyond words. I believe that every member of the band had a very difficult time in a very personal way, and I have no right to speak for them on this point. But what I want to say is that when things happen, what further plans we will have in the future and what kind of music we will make next are no longer our priorities. We just want to focus on the relationship between members.

N: I saw the members talking about making brand-new music together in the news interview the other day.

Joe Hahn: People always ask me what plans Linkin Park will have next ... but the truth is, nothing will happen at present. But only one thing is certain, that is, we will always be best friends. Of course, we will still work together and create art together, but this is only because we are friends. In fact, many bands may not be as long as us, but they are also very good. * * It's not about how many achievements they have before them, but about how they work together in Qi Xin to create this achievement. **

It's the same to us. Making music is our hobby. We just want to enjoy our time together and then naturally produce something. When to hold a concert and when to release a new album is really not something we will deliberately discuss. More often, members get together to share inspiration, then play music together and finally make it a reality. Or just have lunch or dinner together and play with our children. That's what we will do together.

N: Personally, what plans and plans do you have next?

Joe Hahn: I am famous for running around among my friends. It can be said that I wear several hats (laughs). DJ who has been making music and will do outdoor activities in the future. I also run various art projects, such as this photo exhibition ... Of course, I have also tried various paintings and recently created murals. I will also be my own director, shooting some MVS or commercials. I directed an advertisement for Mercedes-Benz in June 5438+February last year. A few months ago, I helped Steve Aoki BTS (BTS direct the MV of the song "Waste on Me". Besides these, I plan to open an art project in China before the end of this year, and I hope to participate in some music festivals this year. Then, you know, stay with friends in Linkin Park as usual.

Some people think that Linkin Park, which tends to be "popular and commercialized", has lost its former glory. Some people think that the departure of lead singer Chester makes the band incomplete, or it may be that endless new rock covers up the name Linkin Park in your mind. However, for Linkin Park, no matter whether there are great achievements in the music market or whether the music innovation is accepted by the public, the so-called "band" form has never been in their territory, and the name "Linkin Park" has already surpassed the significance of being a band itself.

Today's Linkin Park may have lost its numb and unstoppable power, and we can no longer feel Chester's roaring power like a shot in the arm. But whether it's ten or twenty years, whether it's a return or a reorganization, Linkin Park will always be Linkin Park, just like those who played music together when they were students.

Author: Claire. allow

Photographer: seekwhite

Photographer: KC, Zoe

Later period: Fang Xiaohua