Post Traumatic EP

From Linkinpedia
Post Traumatic EP
EP by Mike Shinoda
Recorded:2017
Released:January 25, 2018
Length:9:35
Producer:Mike Shinoda
Label:Warner Bros. Records
Mike Shinoda chronology
The Rising Tied (2005) Post Traumatic EP (2018) Post Traumatic (2018)

Post Traumatic is the debut EP by Mike Shinoda as a solo artist. It was announced on January 24, 2018[1] and released the following day at 10am EST and 7am PST with accompanying homemade music videos for each song.

Background

The EP was released about six months following Chester Bennington's death and contains three songs composed by Mike Shinoda as a way to cope with the loss of his friend and to express everything he'd been going through over this period. In a release note, he wrote:

"The past six months have been a rollercoaster. Amidst the chaos, I’ve started to feel an intense gratitude--for your tributes and messages of support, for the career you have allowed me to have, and for the simple opportunity to create.

Today, I’m sharing three songs I wrote and produced, with visuals that I filmed, painted, and edited myself. At its core, grief is a personal, intimate experience. As such, this is not Linkin Park, nor is it Fort Minor--it’s just me.

Art has always been the place I go when I need to sort through the complexity and confusion of the road ahead. I don’t know where this path goes, but I’m grateful I get to share it with you."[2]

About the release, Mike said, "The reason I chose to put (the first three) songs out was because I knew there were a lot of fans who were having a tough time coping with Chester's loss and the uncertainty of what's gonna to happen with the band," Shinoda explains. "I wanted to communicate on one hand that I was feeling the same way they were, or similar. And on the other it's also giving them almost like a beacon of 'This is where I am, and this is where I would like to go,' so there was a sense of direction in that way. I just wanted to signal that it WAS personal, and that it was a different sound and a different approach. I think the core fans of the band's music and of my music understand that, and to anybody else I just wanted it to be clear that this is MY expression."[3]

Writing and Recording

About a month after Chester Bennington's death, Mike Shinoda started sharing photos of himself in the studio, doing what he called "music therapy".[4] Over the remaining of 2017, he kept working on new music.[5][6] He said, "On this project, I’m trying to work “in the moment.” I record a vocal or shoot a video while I’m feeling something."[7] As an example of this, "Looking For An Answer", the new song performed at the Hollywood Bowl show in honor of Chester, was written only 8 days after Chester's suicide,[8] and part of "Over Again" was actually written and recorded on the day of the show.

Mike said getting back into the studio and getting started in general was terrifying because the only person he had spent more time with than Chester was his wife.[9] Luckily, he had a wonderful support system of friends and family, with vistors coming every day for the first two months to bring food and just listen to him.[10]

Composition

After releasing the EP, Mike said he had a bunch of other songs, some of which were more finished than others, but he wanted to release those three first to see if the fans would like him to keep going.[11] Regardless of that, he said there were already more music and visuals in the making[12] (including a studio version of "Looking For An Answer")[13][14] and he wanted people to see and hear each piece as soon as he completed them. [15]

About the musical elements on the songs, he said, "There are live instruments, of course. Guitar, percussion, piano, etc. I also feel like sometimes keyboard instruments sound better if I play them by hand instead of recoding and quantizing them (a fancy way of saying the computer plays them)."[16]

Releases

The EP was released on January 25, 2018 exclusively in digital format. Both explicit and clean versions are available.

Track Listing

No. Title Writer(s) Length
1 Place To Start Mike Shinoda 2:13
2 Over Again 3:50
3 Watching As I Fall 3:31

Personnel

  • All songs written and produced by Mike Shinoda
  • Vocals by Mike Shinoda
  • Percussion on "Place To Start" by Rob Bourdon
  • Track 1 mixed by Mike Shinoda
  • Tracks 2 and 3 mixed by Manny Marroquin
  • Mastered by Michelle Mancini
  • Artwork by Mike Shinoda

Promotion

Mike Shinoda did a Q&A on Twitter a couple of hours after the EP was released.[17] He said he wouldn't be doing any interviews and the only place he would be answering any questions regarding the EP (including from journalists) would be on social media.[18]

Despite no song from the EP being officially sent by the label to radio, "Over Again" was picked up and played by radio stations.

After announcing his two solo shows at the Summer Sonic Festival in Japan,[19] Mike Shinoda said where he plays shows is up to the fans. "If the agents & promoters know the fans want a show, it'll happen. But you have to make yourself heard."[20][21] This prompted LPLive, in collaboration with the Linkin Park Global Ambassadors, to launch a campaign for a Post Traumatic Tour around the world[22] which received support from Mike himself.

Gallery

External Links

  • Place To Start (Official Video): YouTube
  • Over Again (Official Video): YouTube
  • Watching As I Fall (Official Video): YouTube

References

  1. Mike Shinoda - Publications, January 24, 2018
  2. Mike Shinoda - Publications, January 25, 2018
  3. https://www.theoaklandpress.com/entertainment/linkin-park-s-mike-shinoda-is-sharing-his-post-traumatic/article_066a6de6-e29b-11e8-ad35-2b35567a0ae3.html Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda is sharing his "Post Traumatic" life through music
  4. Linkin Park Live on Twitter: "🙌🏼… " ., August 11, 2017
  5. Linkin Park Live - Publications, October 31, 2017
  6. Mike Shinoda (@m_shinoda) on Instagram, December 13, 2017
  7. Mike Shinoda on Twitter: "(1/2) On this project, I’m trying to work “in the moment.” I record a vocal or shoot a video while I’m feeling something. For example, I wrote and recorded verse one of “over again” on the day of the Bowl show, and did verse two the day after. #PostTraumatic" ., January 25, 2018
  8. Linkin Park & Friends Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington - LIVE from the Hollywood Bowl - YouTube, October 27, 2017
  9. Mike Shinoda on Twitter: "The hardest thing was just getting started in general. The only person I spent more time with than CB was my wife (honorable mention to Brad and Dave). Getting back into the studio was terrifying. #PostTraumatic… https://t.co/EL8oXbQYg3" ., January 25, 2018
  10. Mike Shinoda on Twitter: "I have a wonderful support system of friends and family. I think I had visitors every day for the first two months. They brought food and just listened, which was great.… https://t.co/busWFWZqHm" ., January 25, 2018
  11. Mike Shinoda on Twitter: "I have a bunch of songs; some are more finished than others. I wanted to release these three today and see what the fans want me to do next. If you like these, I’ll keep going. #PostTraumatic… https://t.co/GvegLDLnUj" ., January 25, 2018
  12. Mike Shinoda on Twitter: "Yes. I’m not ready right now, though. Still making more music and visuals.… " ., January 25, 2018
  13. Mike Shinoda Live On Instagram 19/12/2017 "LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER" - YouTube, December 19, 2017
  14. Mike Shinoda on Twitter: "It still exists, I just want to figure out the right presentation! I made a version of it with lots of cool sounds, but that seemed to take away from the power of the song. Maybe I restart with piano only...?… https://t.co/Y7Kq5uiJP0" ., January 25, 2018
  15. Mike Shinoda on Twitter: "(2/2) And I wanted to put this out as soon as possible because I’m living it, and a lot of other people are living it, too. I want people to see and hear it as soon as I complete each thing. #PostTraumatic" ., January 25, 2018
  16. Mike Shinoda on Twitter: "There are live instruments, of course. Guitar, percussion, piano, etc. I also feel like sometimes keyboard instruments sound better if I play them by hand instead of recoding and quantizing them (a fancy way of saying the computer plays them).… https://t.co/FP4FQESLAT" ., January 25, 2018
  17. Mike Shinoda on Twitter: "I’ll be on Twitter in 30 minutes to talk to you guys and answer questions about the new music and videos. Feel free to RT. #PostTraumatic https://t.co/mHvyjLaLVo" ., January 25, 2018
  18. Mike Shinoda on Twitter: "First things first. I want to talk to you directly, I don’t want anyone in between. So I’m not doing interviews for the time being, just using social media. If anyone (including journalists) has a question, you can ask me here in the coming weeks. #PostTraumatic" ., January 25, 2018
  19. Mike Shinoda - Publications, February 01, 2018
  20. Mike Shinoda on Twitter: "In terms of where I play shows: it's up to you. Share, tweet at / call your music stations (radio/video/etc.), & make noise. Tell them you want to hear #PostTraumatic. If the agents & promoters know the fans want a show, it'll happen. But you have to make yourself heard.… https://t.co/4YYcjPmFd2" ., February 06, 2018
  21. Mike Shinoda on Twitter: "No, its overall activity. Combination of everywhere you listen to music. But the more active you all are (in whatever your favorite place to listen to music or watch videos), the more likely it is I can come play. You gotta share, retweet, repost, and be active.… https://t.co/j2DofmFuH6" ., February 06, 2018
  22. Demand a #PostTraumaticTour Show: Let's Make Some Noise - Newswire - Linkin Park Live, February 07, 2018