KORN Frontman Releases Music Video For 'What It Is' Solo Single

KORN frontman Jonathan Davis has released the official video for his new single, titled "What It Is". The song will be included on the soundtrack to a new film called "American Satan", out January 26. Davis has also been preparing a new solo album that is expected out this summer via Sumerian.

The new music represents a natural step for the Bakersfield, California singer, songwriter, composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Davis quietly compiled ideas for what would become this solo effort beginning back in 2007. Writing and recording on the road, he personally contributed guitar, keys, and anything else he could get his hands on to the record. Moreover, the music was primarily recorded live, a departure from KORN's heavily calculated, meticulous, studio approach to creation.

"It took 10 years, and I'm so glad this project is finally out. It is something that is very close to me and I'm excited for the world to finally hear it. This time, I'm pulling something out of the audience," Davis reveals. "I've bared my soul for so fucking long, I thought it'd be really cool to pull listeners in a different direction for once." The lead single "What It Is", for example, reveals hints of ominous piano keys, which bleed into a slow-burning verse before thick guitars snap towards an expansive and engaging refrain punctuated by his dynamic vocals. "I'm taking them out of that dark place and into somewhere that's spiritual, positive, and makes them really think," he adds. "It's just art. I've changed lives with KORN, but I wanted to open minds with this shit."

"I remember exactly when and where I was the first time I heard Jonathan's vocals and KORN's seven string guitars behind him," recalls Sumerian Records founder Ash Avildsen. "The world had never heard anything like it. His voice has been so culturally impactful that those same songs from two decades ago are still played countless times every day. As a true icon and pioneer artist, the influential significance of his music is unparalleled in the modern rock era. If it wasn't for what he created, I would not have ended up where I am today, nor would have many Sumerian bands. It is truly an honor to be releasing the debut Jonathan Davis solo album. The record is absolutely brilliant, showing new depths to his songwriting and vocal performances that the world has yet to experience."

Davis composed the score for "American Satan" with Nicholas O'Toole. He listed some of his favorite scores for The Pulse Of Radio a while back. "I'm really into Vangelis, what he did with 'Blade Runner'," he said. "I just like trippy scores, like what Wendy Carlos did for 'A Clockwork Orange' and just cool stuff. I really am a big fan of the movie 'Dune', I love — TOTO did that score. That was a cool score. And then there's the, you know, normal ones, the orchestral scores that are all good. Yeah, those are a few of my favorites."

In addition to releasing a new solo album in 2018, Davis also revealed that he will also tour in support of the LP. He's already scheduled to appear at several European festivals, with more shows in both Europe and North America expected.

Davis has recorded and toured on his own intermittently over the years. He has composed music for soundtracks, most notably "Queen Of The Damned", and has toured and DJed frequently over the years as his alter ego JDevil.

KORN's last album, "The Serenity Of Suffering", came out in 2016.

This August marks the 20th anniversary of KORN's 1998 breakthrough album "Follow The Leader". Guitarist Brian "Head" Welch indicated in a recent interview that the band is mulling over plans to celebrate that milestone.