A new era, without fear of change.
Shinedown He arrived for the first time in Mexico to perform at the Knotfesta meeting long awaited by thousands of people who have followed the band for years. With the excitement of the festival still fresh, we chatted with them about “Searchlight” —his most recent single and the preview of a new album—, his constant need to reinvent himself, the value of vulnerability in his music and the process of building a setlist in a discography as wide as it is emotional. Between reflections on creativity, artistic honesty and that unrepeatable live energy, the band made it clear that this new chapter is not just a change in sound: it is a rebirth.
Indie Rocks!: Let's talk about “Searchlight”. Many people are seeing it as the beginning of a new era for Shinedown. Brent said that “they didn't find the song, but the song found them.” At what moment did you know that it opened a new path for the band?
Shinedown: (Laughs) Everyone has told us “please say new era”, so yes, it seems that way.
The truth is, this year we didn't have a “master plan.” We released four singles towards the announcement of the album that will arrive next year: “Dance Kid Dance”, “365”, “Killing Fields” and now “Searchlight”. And each, taken together, gives a sense of the peaks and valleys of the new material. But “Searchlight” return to something that has always been a part of Shinedown: talk about mental health, perseverance, finding your purpose. The difference is that this time it is told from another musical landscape. Is it a new era? Let's say it's a new album… but for everyone else, yes, it's a new era.
GO!: In “Searchlight” they explore Americana, Rhythm & Blues and different instrumentation without losing the rock essence of Shinedown. How did you integrate these influences without it sounding forced?
S: Well… I did force Eric to put a viola. That was forced (laughs). But other than that, we never fight with what the song wants to be. We let it evolve on its own, find its form. If you don't try to impose your own ideas too much on it, it always ends up sounding natural. In this case, the song asked for a banjo, it asked for pedal steel, acoustic guitars… and we gave it to them. But the important thing is that we never let that eat into the song. She is still the center.
GO!: In the video we can see them playing pedal steel and other instruments, showing a different facet. What were you looking to convey visually and what was it like working for the first time with Andrew Donoho?
S: Andrew It was amazing. He knew exactly what he wanted, and that's just what you look for in a director. Cinematically it is one of our favorite videos: simple, direct and full of symbolism. We are in a kind of “box” that little by little is being dismantled, and that means not letting ourselves be pigeonholed, not living within the same mold. It's almost a rebirth. Plus, it was fun to play all those instruments in one video. We're always on our main instruments, so this was refreshing.
GO!: Brent described “Searchlight” as “an awakening of the soul.” After so many years and so many achievements, how important is it that vulnerability remains a central part of Shinedown's message?
S: It's crucial. It's what keeps us real. We always write from what we feel or experience at that moment: personal struggles, mental health, growth… and vulnerability connects because everyone goes through those things. Play songs like “365” either “Symptoms of Being Human” for the first time and seeing how people break down, hug someone or find comfort… that can't be faked. You can invent a lot of things in a song, but you can't fake vulnerability.
GO!: After a career with records, number ones and massive tours, what is the secret to continuing to create without falling into monotony?
S: First: be honest. Second: take care of each other. We live together, we eat dinner together, we fight like brothers… but we never keep it. Third: never “do routine things.” We always want to surprise ourselves, because musical boredom is real. If you do the same thing over and over again, you wake up in a creative prison. We get bored easily, so we take advantage of that to keep moving.
GO!: A few days ago they finally played in Mexico at the Knotfestafter two decades of the public waiting for them. How did you prepare for a festival with such different generations and styles?
S: We did the only thing we know how to do: be us. We're not going to change our set to fit. We do our best in the time we have and let the energy do its thing. But we also understood something: there were people who waited 20 years to see us… and others who had no idea who we were. That gave us extra strength. In the end, we have only one boss in this life: the audience. They decide who stays and who goes.
GO!: Shinedown is known for its live intensity. What differentiates the band on stage compared to the studio?
S: Study is precision; living is freedom. An album is forever, that's why it's called a “record”: it's a record of a moment. But a show… happens only once in a lifetime. The energy is different, it changes every night. And you also see how people react: where they laugh, where they cry, where they shout. That human connection is something no recording can replicate. That's where we really understand our songs.
GO!: With such an extensive discography, how do you build a setlist that connects with fans of all eras?
S: It's very difficult. The more singles we have, the harder it becomes. We want to play everything, but also consider that there are always people seeing us for the first time. On this tour, we change the setlist every night, which keeps us alive. At festivals it is different: less time, mixed audiences. Here we go with what we call “the dirty twelve”: the essential ones, the ones that always work. This is not the time to throw B-sides. The idea is to give a complete trip in a short time.
GO!: For someone who is going to listen to you for the first time, what is the best gateway to your music?
S: We generally say “Sound of Madness”. It is our banner. But “Second Chance” It's also a great start. And some would say “Cut the Cord”. It depends on which version of Shinedown you want to know first.
GO!: In closing: describe Shinedown in three words.
S: (Laughing) Three words? Ok, here we go: Depth, intensity and love. And… “chocolate peanut butter.” Just because. Because that's how it is Shinedown.
