Mike Shinoda

August 12, 2015

IamA Mike Shinoda AMA!

My short bio:

Hey guys, Mike Shinoda here, from Linkin Park. I like long walks on the beach, short walks off long cliffs, and medium-length intros about what I’m about to be doing.

A little bit about me:

• I can’t touch my shoulders with my hands unless I cross them (right hand can’t touch right shoulder, left can’t touch left).
  
  
• The only bone I’ve broken is my pinky toe, which I happened when I slammed it into a wall while turning a corner too closely because I was running to the bathroom.
  
  
• I started an NES gamer club in junior high called “NINTENDOL, where the only rule was that you be able to finish any NES game you played in 7 days or less from the time you opened the package. We all drew the letter “L” on our consoles in red.
  
  
• I drew and painted obsessively growing up, and invented my own casts of characters for Mega Man, Metroid, Super Mario, and a handful of Dungeons and Dragons characters (shout out to Jeff Easley).
  
  
• I can’t do a safety float on my back in the water; my legs sink and I go under far enough that my nose is submerged.
  
  
• I once made a demo tape of joke gangsta rap songs called “Pooch Pound” that included a song called “North Coast Killa” where we executed all our Canadian gangsta rivals.
  
  
• Lastly, I have a side-project called Fort Minor, and I recently released a song and 360 video called “WELCOME”.
  
  

I’ll be answering your questions for the next 60 minutes, so ask me anything about music, tech, drawing, painting, snowboarding, basketball, Music For Relief, or whatever else comes to mind. Excited to talk to you guys!

My Proof: https://instagram.com/p/6SmCbODmTp/

//////

Hey guys, thanks so much for all the great questions. We leave for Europe this week, see you guys at the shows. And thank you for supporting Linkin Park and Fort Minor. And thanks for the support on WELCOME: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REAwGmv0Fuk (make sure to watch on your phone in the YouTube app for the 360 experience)

-Mike

I'm a huge fan, Mike! You're a huge inspiration for many and an awesome guy. I absolutely love all of your work, and Linkin Park will always have a special place in my heart, as it was the band that got me into music. Anyway, enough of that - this is an AMA. Here's a few questions.

• What are your all-time favorite songs (of yours - LP and FM - and of anyone's)?

• What was your favorite album to make?

• Is it easier to make a solo album like The Rising Tied (because you have to do everything yourself), or a LP Album (because everyone has to be happy with it)?

• How has being part Japanese influenced your career?

• Why do you think that there is such a stigma surrounding the band? It seems like every time I tell someone that I listen to LP, they instantly call it "screamo" and complain that all of the songs sound the same (which is hilariously false).

• If you had to choose a color to represent each member of the band, what would they be?

• What is the strangest thing anyone has ever asked you to sign?

• Which song do you think is the hardest for you to perform?

• What was your favorite concert ever to play?

• Are there any new and upcoming bands that you would recomend listening to?

• Who do you really look up to, as an artist and as a person?

• What advice would you give to an aspiring musician?

Also, any hints on what the upcoming album will be like? ;D

Better than a dead baby..

What does it start with?

Hi Mike! First of all I have to get it out the way and say I’m a HUGE fan of both Linkin Park and Fort Minor. I’ve been a fan since I was 10 years old when I first listened to Hybrid Theory. It’s my 24th birthday today, could I get a birthday shoutout from one of my favorite musicians?!

Some questions:

1. “Welcome” is a great song and seeing Fort Minor back has easily been the best surprise for me this year. Can you explain the motivation to release a new FM track and could we possibly see more coming in the near future (not necessarily a full album, perhaps a 3-5 track EP)?

2. It’s no secret that Linkin Park is always willing to try new things when making music. Do you have a general idea as to which direction the band will head to and what you guys will try out when recording your next album?

3. I’ve recently gotten a lot into EDM and your collaboration with Steve Aoki played a huge role in that (he dropped A Light That Never Comes during VELD Music Festival and I can’t describe in words how awesome it was). How did this collaboration come about and are you open to collaborating with other EDM artists?

4. Would you fight 1 horse-sized Brad Delson or 100 duck-sized Brad Delsons?

Hey, Mike. Big fan. Since the release of Linkin Park's The Hunting Party, I've been wondering, was it intentional that the riffs to Victimized and A Line In The Sand sound similar? If so, why did you do it?

What inspired you to bring back Fort Minor? I'm a huge fan Mike!!!

Edit: Oh and the new song, Welcome is fucking great!!

LUPE FIASCO REFERENCE AND YOU'RE OFFICIALLY MY NEW BEDT FRIEND

BEST*

Hey Mike, thanks for doing this!

Do you and Linkin Park plan on doing an European tour?

Also, the 360 music video for "Welcome" was awesome.

Hi Mike! Long time listener of LP. Here's my question:

• I recently heard on the radio that you guys are "Free to be creative on your new album, as finances aren't hold you back". Can you elaborate on that?

I've never been this early to an AMA before! Long time fan of both LP and Fort Minor so thank you first!

What's your go-to sandwich?

What inspires you the most when painting/drawing? And where do you get all the great ideas?

Also, if you could, for one day, be someone else who would you be, why? :)

Keep up the good work :)

What's your favourite Nintendo game?

Hi Mike, I recently started to listen to Linkin Park and I love it, but I have a small question.

Why did Linkin Park capitalize all the song titles in LIVING THINGS?

Hey Mike, thanks for doing this AMA! Here are my questions:

1. Do you remember the time in sixth grade when we had to set up a shop at the school’s “renaissance faire” and we decided to make masks, and you did all the art and I did all the menial tasks because you had talent and I did not?
2. Which of the 12 Mike Shinodas on Facebook is actually you?
3. Are you coming to the reunion (one of our mutual friends asked me to ask you this)

Sorry for the personal nature of the questions — I’ve been trying to get in touch with you for 15 years and failing, so this seemed like the best way! Feel free to PM a response. :)

Which is your favorite brand of beer?

What about Asahi tho?

Hi Mike! I love your work both in Linkin Park and Fort Minor! Here's my question: do you have that one small hobby that you cherish most but don't tend to speak about?

Hi Mike,

You have done a lot with your creative life, from music to art and I am sure you have learnt a lot along the way. What advice have you learned from your experiences that you could share with us all? You know stuff like how do you manage your time, all your ideas and demands and everything you want to do to ensure you actually get shit done and make it a reality?

p.s I have your signed skate decks from Glorious Excess on my wall and a signed hunting party vinyl from an LPU meet + greet on my walls, my most prized possessions! Thank you! :)

[deleted]

What do you think of lpfiction?

Do you prefer Spotify or Apple Music?

I was born in 1999 and listened to hybrid theory on release. The next time Linkin Park comes to the UK, can I play guitar on a few songs? I would also like to know what your favourite cake is.

How did Fort Minor first meet/get back together? Also, will you be going to see Straight Outta Compton this Friday?

Hey Mike, what music, new or old, have you been jamming to recently?

Hi Mike, you are amazing. My question is: How do you feel about the next generation of rock/metall?

Hi Mike! I’ve been a huge fan since Hybrid Theory and I was an original member of the Linkin Park Underground. I also love the work you did with Fort Minor.

Here’s my question: As a long time fan, I often get asked if I prefer “old Linkin Park” or “new Linkin Park”. I always respond by saying that nobody is the same person that they were ten years ago, and I love ALL Linkin Park. You yourself have acknowledged that you are not the same person who told us “to forfeit the game”. How do you feel about the change in your music style, and what do you have to say to people who don’t appreciate your evolution?

Thank you so much for doing this!

hi Mike, thanks for doing this AMA, Big fan :p

MY Question: LP is kind of known for its large spectrum in music-style. Is there a change LP will make an album that is heavier than HT or meteora?

See you at Pukkelpop

Hi Mike, I'm a huge fan of Linkin Park, I have over 100 songs on my iPod... My questions are: would you ever go back to having red hair? Does it annoy you that some people think you're in "Wake me up inside" when it's 12 Stones? Who is your favourite Pokemon?

You realise the irony in this sentence right? Right??

How did the mash up with Jay-Z come about? Also I loved seeing your moonshine posts on Instagram when you were in West Virginia (my home state)

Hola Mike, greetins from Ecuador. My question is: Hablas Español?

Hi Mike! Big fan!! I'd like to ask a tech-related question about music: How do you think music production will change with the rise of online collaborative platforms like Soundtrap? Do you believe in 100% virtual bands?

Thanks for the AMA and thanks for reading my question (If you actually did. If you didn't, thanks anyway for having have read it, if you've seen it, assuming not seeing it would've been the only reasonable reason for not answering it).

Since Chester broke his ankle, do you guys have any plans to return to Canada for the shows that were cancelled? Specifically Edmonton?

Loved seeing you guys at Sonic Boom a few years ago, but I was working so I didn't get to stay for the whole show (only the songs media was allowed to record).

Thanks for all the great music!

Mike! I've seen Linkin Park live on stage several times. You guys are great. Keep being daring with your music and you'll always have a fan in me. My questions:

1) Who were your mentors, how did you find them, and what big lessons did you take away from them?

2) What advice do you have for people trying to find success in artistic fields like music or video production?

3) Are you still doing work in Haiti? Are there opportunities for us to help you in your side projects like that?

4) When LP was just getting big with Hybrid Theory and you used things like Instant Messenger to connect with your fans, did you ever use a screen name of SunggleFuzz something or was somebody just pretending to be you and trying to kill me?

Hi Mike! Another huge fan here! Do you have a plan if the zombie apocalypse happens? If so, what is it?

Hi Mike

Where'd you go?

I miss you so

Seems like its been forever

That you've been gone

Oh, I see, you're a Universe A guy...

What is your favorite dinosaur?

Hey Mike, huge fan of all your work.

I've been a fan of LP since the beginning, and I never remember hearing about or reading about any kind of animosity or even a simple argument between the 6 of you. How is that possible when you've spent just about every day with the same group of guys for almost 20 years now?

Mike what you recommend to get the success in the music industry???? (i love all songs of LP and tell chester that his screams make my wife cum)

Hey Mike, do you and Chester do any special preparations when you perform at high altitude locations like Colorado or are you two used to it?

Also, what are your favorite pizza toppings?

Hi Mike, Any plans of making another art show like Glorious Excess in the near future?

did you know that your name is fun to say to the tune of My Sharona?

If Reddit got together to write you a rap, would you rap it?

What's the darkest most insane early 2000's record label scum bag story you have? Honest question. I love hearing shit like this.

Dear Mike,

Thank you so much for doing this IAmA. I have these questions for you:

1) Why was the song A.06 (A-Six) excluded from Meteora album, and why was only the instrumental released? Can we expect A-Six with full lyrics to be included on some of the next LPUs?

2) Why were songs Part of Me and Carousel (from Hybrid Theory EP) never played live?

Hey mike! What is the weirdest thing you've seen at a concert?

I'm preparing a flag for the FM show in Berlin. Is there any chance that you will use it?

Hey Mike, do you still have demos of "The wizzard song" from Pre Meteora time? I want to hear it so badly! Cheers and see you in Düsseldorf! Can't wait to see Fort Minor(+LP) Live!

Hi Mike Shinoda,

I'm not too familiar, but how come is it that I remember your name?

Hey Mike! Great to have you doing this AMA.

I have a couple of questions:

1. If I recall correctly, you mentioned in an earlier interview that you guys (Linkin Park) don’t really jam when coming up with new music. How, then, do you start conceptualizing a new album, especially considering that every record (aside from Meteora, arguably) has been a significant evolution from the previous one?

2. A Thousand Suns was a drastic step away from Hybrid Theory, Meteora, and Minutes to Midnight, and was therefore received with both praise and criticism. Similarly, Living Things and The Hunting Party both had their individual themes, causing many listeners to separate the “old” LP from the “new”. After reading all the reviews and fan opinions, how do you guys react to it? Do you change the way you approach the next album? How do you manage a possibly divided fan base and attempt to unify it again?

Again, thanks a ton for this AMA. I’ve been a fan ever since I can remember, and love you guys because I can never predict how your music will change. I also hope you manage to make it to India some day!

This interview was transcribed from an "ask me anything" question and answer session with Mike Shinoda conducted on Reddit on 2015-08-12. The Reddit AMA can be found here.