PAPA ROACH Makes 'Music With A Purpose'

On September 3, Spence of the 95-7 The Rock Station conducted an interview with PAPA ROACH singer Jacoby Shaddix. You can now listen to the chat using the SoundCloud widget below.

Speaking about the fan response to PAPA ROACH's eighth studio album, "F.E.A.R." (Face Everything And Rise),which was released on January 27, Jacoby said: "I'm very proud of the record, very happy with the record. We put everything we had into it. And the process in making the record was very different for us. It was a very daring and bold adventure for the band, but it was exciting, and I think the record shows that."

He continued: "I'm always kind of drained at the end of the process of making a record, and I got done with this one and it was a trip, 'cause we got done and I just felt lifted, man. 'Cause when we went back and finished up and listened back to the record, we were all really happy."

Jacoby also talked about the role PAPA ROACH's high-energy, wildly entertaining performances have played in establishing the band's fan base. "[Being a strong live act is] the reputation that we've been known for throughout our career, and we do our best every night to live up to that — we try to leave it on the stage every night," he said. "We know that that's where rock and roll is truly born. You know, you can take a photo and look cool, you can make a video and look cool, you can record a track and sound cool, but if you can't pull it off live on the stage, beat it. You know what I mean? I think that that really tells who's kicking ass and who's not."

According to Shaddix, part of the reason PAPA ROACH's fans have been able to connect with the band's music so well lies in the fact that the group sings about issues that everyone can relate to.

"I think that our music is very personal," he said. "That's what makes PAPA ROACH who we are — the music is inspiring, and then when we couple that with lyrics that are just emotional and personal, it just makes this… what we do so much, I guess, more special to the fans and how they can relate to it on a life level. It's music with a purpose, man — purpose-driven music."

Shaddix previously said that "F.E.A.R." was "probably the most positive record we've written" and described it as a "very guitar-heavy record."

"F.E.A.R." followed up 2012's "The Connection", which was made as Shaddix was going through personal turmoil, including problems in his marriage and a struggle to stay sober.