Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda Drops Emotional Three-Song ‘Post Traumatic’ Solo EP
Linkin Park have yet to properly address their future following the tribute show that was held for Chester Bennington late last year. Will they find a new singer or put an end to the Linkin Park name? Nobody knows for sure, but what's certain is that Mike Shinoda is focusing on his solo work right now and has just released videos for three new songs off his Post Traumatic EP: "Place to Start" (above), "Over Again" and "Watching As I Fall" (both below).
It's an emotional listen for Linkin Park fans as the songs center around the loss of Bennington. "A Place to Start" leans on a heavy bass synth and Shinoda's rap-to-croon as he wonders what comes next for him. The end of the song features a collection of voicemail recordings from friends offering their condolences to Shinoda following the death of Bennington.
“Sometimes, sometimes you don’t say goodbye once / You say goodbye over and over and over again," open up "Over Again." Throughout the track, Shinoda describes the feeling of preparing for Bennington's tribute show which took place in Los Angeles. He confronts his embattled feelings, wanting to offer a sendoff to his fallen friend and anger and frustration takes over as the song progresses. He mentions how the show was a blur and recalls friends asking how it went afterward and what he will do next. “And everybody I talk to is like ‘Wow’ / It must be really hard to figure what to do now / Thank you genius , you think it’ll be a challenge? / It’s only my life’s work hanging in the fucking balance," conveys where his head is currently at.
"Watching As I Fall" finds Shinoda reflecting on how he feels somewhat fortunate to have experienced the success of Linkin Park and is in the position to watch it potentially go away. At the end of the video, he's seen lying on a couch touching upon the mental anguish of the loss and other musings about life.
"The past six months have been a rollercoaster. Amidst the chaos, I’ve started to feel an intense gratitude — for your tributes and messages of support, for the career you have allowed me to have, and for the simple opportunity to create," began Shinoda. "Today, I’m sharing three songs I wrote and produced, with visuals that I filmed, painted and edited myself. At its core, grief is a personal, intimate experience. As such, this is not Linkin Park, nor is it Fort Minor — it’s just me. Art has always been the place I go when I need to sort through the complexity and confusion of the road ahead. I don’t know where this path goes, but I’m grateful I get to share it with you," he finished up.
Mike Shinoda, "Over Again"
Mike Shinoda, "Watching As I Fall"
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