I was 15 years old when ‘Hybrid Theory’ was released, and it instantly became one of my most on-repeat albums on those days. And I’m speaking of days when the damn CD kept jumping in your portable player whenever you moved too fast so you just had to start over those songs endlessly. That’s about how much I listened to Linkin Park then, an endless number of times.
If you had any doubt, I was obviously at that age one rebellious punkass filled with teenage angst and a very dedicated pain in the arse (some things never change) – which made LK the perfect band to blast in my bedroom. I annoyed everyone around, and I could lose myself in the music and let it do its finest job – rescue me.
I’ll never have enough words for how much understanding and acceptance this band brought me – at 15 sure, but still to this day whenever I put those tunes back on. One of those bands that taught me to sit with my demons, and luckily deal with them. Some people don’t get it, but if you’re reading these lines you’re probably part of those who do – music can save your life. And LK definitely did just that in my own journey. Some of us got lucky thanks to those songs and those words, and for that I’m forever grateful to them all. We made it Chester, thanks to you too.
But it was not just about feelings – for once – and you know by now that my other trigger for writing a lot of shit on a dark corner of the internet is : voices. Chester’s, obviously scorching my senses and leaving an open wound in my heart everytime I hear it now, but also Mike’s.
I try to never take music too seriously, or make sense of it but it’s funny how it loves to make sense on its own. Layers of time and space coming together on your own musical journey and showing you a magic part in music – it’s all connected.
I actually bought that first album because of Mike. I was in quite a big Japanese rock phase then (we all have our flaws), and obsessed with a band I was never able to even say the name – much less remember it so many years afterwards – and the lead singer rapped. Rock with a rapper. Oh that might well be my ultimate green flag when it comes to music. I blame the good lads from Rage Against The Machine for that.
So obviously, with ‘In The End’ rotating on every radio station – it was only a matter of time (and saving pocket money) before getting that one.
Years went by but I still kept faithful to that band. Buying, listening, relating, feeling – and most of the time having good cathartic cries at all the truths they shoved at us in those texts. But then the unspeakable happened and it all became too painful. Grief is a weird thing. You know what you should do to feel better and yet you don’t. Chester would probably have wanted us to keep listening to his songs but for a long while the pain was just overpowering. So I kept my distance. And it took some time. I’ve only started listening to LK again these past months or so.
And the real reason why – and also why I’m rambling so much on this one – is because I kept seeing Mike’s name popping left and right. I’ve broadened my musical horizons since I was 15 – thankfully, it’s not the case of everyone, I know – and if LK were part of my favs at some point in my life, I sure have a ton more to add to that list now.
And here comes the point I’ve been trying to make (at last thank fuck) – once again, it’s all connected.
Mike’s name came back in my musical circle because he produced a song on ‘Evergreen’ by Pvris who is one of my top artists right now. Ha. Fun coincidence right? Well obviously it made me curious about what the man was up to lately. Like some old acquaintance suddenly appearing on your Facebook memories after not opening that damn app for 3 years – there’s only one way to respond to it, stalking. Don’t pretend it’s just me, we’re all the same weirdos.
A new single – that freaking rocks for the record, find it right here – and a full EP?
I sure kept an eye on this. And that’s when I stumbled across THIS one.
Hearing ‘Bleed it out’ again felt like pouring gasoline on the embers that were left of my love for LK and turning it instantly into the raging fire it once was. A true love never leaves you completely, it’s just there, dormant and waiting to be reignited – note to self : be glad yours are mostly musical and not from your dumb exes.
GOD what a feeling. Like muscle memory, my brain went instantly into overdrive, tensing my whole body ready to release at the top of that scale leading to the chorus and… Wait. Wait a minute. I KNOW that voice. Bonnie?! I swear to all the rock n roll gods I never switch tabs so fast in my life – not even on ticketmaster – but here she was : Bonnie of Stand Atlantic, the band I had been obsessing over for months. When I tell you it’s all about voices and feelings….
AND IT’S ALL CONNECTED.
And that’s a good thought to have, especially on a monday morning when you choose to go down memory lane – it’s not always an easy path to walk, but eh, at least it’s proof there’s growth and you’re not going around in circles. Again, a good thought.
You want another good one for the day? I think hearing those songs again was healing. Yeah. I think it’s time for healing, and that’s a great place to reach.
So, thank you Mike.
You got me into Linkin Park and you brought me back to Linkin Park – and on the way we picked up a few more fav friends to enjoy the journey.
Music is freaking magic man.
What over things in life can bring you such serendipity so easily.
What a life to be a music fan.
