August 17, 2009
Time Out Hong Kong

Hey Brad – so you’re sitting backstage in Finland at the moment?

Finland, at the Sonisphere festival. It’s very metal. Except for us.

What does Linkin Park do backstage?

I just did an interview where I was asked whether I drink beer or whisky, and I was sad to reveal that I’m pounding spring water.

Spring water? Is that common for you?

Yeah, it’s just spring water for me, before and after. And some stretching. [There’s] this myth about the rock’n’roll lifestyle, but I don’t think it would be very sustainable if one weren’t keeping their body in shape.

It doesn’t sound like you’re very worthy of your nickname, Big Bad Brad.

That’s why it’s a funny nickname. It’s ironic… I’m neither big nor bad.

Okay, Little Good Bloke Brad, let’s talk about the album you’re working on – I hear it’s going to be genre busting. Is that like ghost busting?

Yeah – I think it has something to do with the flux capacitor. [Laughs]

We’re working with Rick Rubin, and the stuff we’re doing doesn’t sound like anything we’ve done before. It’s experimental, melodic, really eclectic. The records we’ve made we’re really proud of… but I don’t think it would be inspiring to try and go replicate that.

Tell me a bit more about the sonic changes.

It’s hard, because I don’t want to lock it in with certain adjectives. To me, it sounds really futuristic, and it sounds really unusual but in a good way.

Well, of course – you wouldn’t want to produce something crap, would you?

[Laughs]. Exactly – it could be unusual and really bad. But our goal is unusual and really good.

Have you been influenced by anything around at the moment?

Yeah, I always listen to both classic and newer folk-influenced music. Singer-songwriter, alternative music. I also listen to more experimental dance music. So it’s a weird mix, and you multiply that by six people.

So we should expect folk-electronica?

That’s what I’m going for.

Absolutely not.

That’s lucky – because it sounds like classic Linkin Park.

If anything, New Divide is almost a through-line to the classic, Hybrid Theory thing, which is ironic because it has nothing to do with any of the music we’ve been making. I think if anything it will throw people off where we’re going.

I also heard that it might be a concept album. Can you confirm or deny this?

I heard it might be too. I can confirm it might be.

So you’re not giving any hints away?

If I knew more, I would certainly tell you.

Not overtly.

And when are you hoping for it to be out?

Sometime, in the next ten years, but probably closer to the next year.

We’ve seen less and less rapping over the last albums. What’s the future for Linkin Park and rapping?

I think we’re at a point artistically where we don’t impose any rules on ourselves. I think everything’s open: it could be all rapping or no rapping. We’re just trying to make the best music we can, using the tools that we have in our tool belt.

You’ve had big success with New Divide, for the new Transformers movie. Did you watch Transformers as a kid?

I was a big Transformers fan.

Yes. In fact, I want to be a Transformer as an adult. I would transform into a Gulf Stream 500.

Probably an Autobot, and I’d fly myself and my friends all over the world to exotic destinations.