Trapt best known for their hits "Headstrong", "Still Frame", and "Echo", have done what any other band has done, released singles, videos, written and recorded as well as played and toured all over. To this day these guys are still around and headstrong with making music, they have new music underway to follow-up to "Reborn" with future shows also in the works. Frontman vocalist and occasional rhythm guitarist Chris Taylor Brown talks about their past, present, and future activity.
1. Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in Trapt, and how does it feel having been in a band that's been around for over 15 years?
Chris: I'm Chris Taylor Brown, singer and principal songwriter for Trapt. The last 15 years has been a crazy ride, from starting as a high school band and later releasing 2 independent records, and then 4 more major releases. I'm definitely proud of the body of work that we have made over the years.
2. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?
Chris: The music scene in Northern California, where we grew up, was awesome in the late 90's. We had bands like Papa Roach, Deftones, Dredg, Spike 1000, Insolence, a bunch of great bands. That scene is still going strong. I would recommend Beta State.
3. Can you tell me the story as to how and why you wanted this band to be called Trapt? What does the name represent and symbolize for you guys?
Chris: Trapt represents the feeling of not having control over one's life. There are external circumstances that can affect what you can and can't do, but more importantly there are things going on inside of you that really keep you from being the person you want to be. That is what I try to focus on when I write lyrics. Overcoming that voice inside your head that keeps telling you that you can't do what it is you want to do in life.
4. What bands have influenced your band and its sound?
Chris: All the early 90's stuff, pearl jam, red hot chili peppers, Nirvana, Tool, Metallica, Sepultura are also up there for me. Nu metal bands like Korn, Rage Against The Machine, I also love Pink Floyd, U2, Fleetwood Mac and Dave Matthews Band, so there are quite a few influences for sure.
5. What lyrical theme do you guys use in your music? What message do you want to send?
Chris: Pretty much nailed the message on question 4.
6. "Headstrong" is that one hit that everyone knows you by - what do you think it is about artists and bands who have a "one hit single" their best known by?
Chris: I think it's great to have a massive hit, but it definitely can overshadow all the other good songs you have as a band. People sum you up by the one song the have heard, instead of looking deeper into the band's songs. Our core fans know all of our songs and Headstrong definitely helped us make those fans for life.
7. What's your take on Reborn as a whole?
Chris: Reborn is a record we really out our heart and soul into. We took our time making it and added elements to the songs that we hadn't ever done before, like a lot of the synths I used to add texture and we used some of the guitar effects differently than past records, in that we created sound scapes under the main vocals, guitar, bass and drums. I think it makes the production more expansive and lush.
8. What's your favorite song on the album right now?
Chris: Experience.
9. Is it important for you to paint visual pictures with the songs?
Chris: I really just want our fans to know that I have been where they are and that they are not alone in what they go through. I try to take the listener to a better place and a lot of the lyrics allow our fans to paint their own pictures of what the lyrics mean to them.
10. Where is the new material headed?
Chris: I think we will keep on the path of really trying to create melodic sound scapes with synths and the right guitar effects to go with the traditional big guitar and hook driven songs we have always written.
11. What is your opinion on sites posting your guys material and other bands material?
Chris: I think it's great.
12. How do you guys feel about the classifications in rock, metal, and punk music? Like alternative, emo, hardcore and other sub-genres and how some get a negative rep.
Chris: We don't get caught up in that. We just write the music we want to hear and let the fans decide what to call it, lol.
13. What is your opinion on the current state of rock, metal, and punk?
Chris: I think metal is huge right now and rock will be coming back hard in 2014.
14. What can the fans expect to see from you in 2014?
Chris: Some great shows and some new tunes!
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