SHINEDOWN Singer Looks Back At Debut Album 15 Years Later

SHINEDOWN frontman Brent Smith was asked in a new interview with Consequence Of Sound for his thoughts on the band's debut album, "Leave A Whisper", which was released 15 years ago this year. Smith remarked: "I was in my early 20s, and the band had been finally formed, which took three years with all the writing and putting the band together... A lot of people don't know this, but there are three different producers on that album, and that album was recorded in five different locations across the U.S. It was a lot of work. It wasn't a normal debut album where it's like, these guys have known each other since they were kids and have been making music together."

Smith was originally signed to Atlantic Records in 2000 as part of a different band. That group was ultimately dropped but the label remained interested in developing Smith and building a new project. The original lineup of SHINEDOWN was formed as a result and worked on the material that became "Leave A Whisper".

Smith recalled: "There was so much work involved in creating SHINEDOWN and finding those individuals and harvesting a real relationship with a band... I've been given a gift to work with some of the most extraordinary people in the world over the past 20 years, and they've allowed me to be myself the whole time."

The band went through a number of personnel changes over the years but has settled down around original members Smith and drummer Barry Kerch, along with guitarist Zach Myers and bassist Eric Bass. Smith said about the current group: "Now, more than ever, this band could not be more of a family... But I give much respect to 'Leave A Whisper' and [second LP] 'Us And Them' and the people who were here in the beginning. I don't take it for granted."

Smith gave The Pulse Of Radio his thoughts a while back on why the band has managed to do so well. "Why it's worked is because when we came out, we were very much a no-nonsense type band," he said. "It was about being humble but being honest, and also being confident in who you were. We still wake up every single day and thank the heavens above that we're able to do this for a living, 'cause I know it's what we dreamed about since we were, you know, kids."

"Attention Attention", SHINEDOWN's sixth studio album, debuted at No. 1 on the Top Rock Albums chart back in May. The follow-up to 2015's "Threat To Survival" marked SHINEDOWN's first full-length effort to be produced entirely by bassist Eric Bass.

SHINEDOWN will embark on a U.S. headlining tour in February. Support on the trek will come from PAPA ROACH and ASKING ALEXANDRIA.

Photo credit: Jimmy Fontaine