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On Shinedown’s current single, “Get Up”, being about bassist Eric Bass’ struggle with depression That’s another reason we wanted Eric to produce the album. Eric and I call it “band in a can,” and that was the complete opposite of what we were going to do with this album. I didn’t want the album to sound stock under any circumstances, and a lot of times, what happens in any kind of genre is that certain producers and mixers and engineers will do all of those records in that genre, and what happens is that everybody starts to sound the same. On why Shinedown wanted to go outside the box on ATTENTION ATTENTION It was interesting, because we had a lot of great teachers over the years in regards to production and engineering, but it was time for him to sit in the captain’s chair and really take this record on as a whole. I spent 179 days with him and the band last year in Charleston, South Carolina, at his studio, and we began to construct this piece of work called ATTENTION ATTENTION. Eric is also the producer, main engineer and mixer on this album. The reason I say that is because Eric is the bass player, but he is way more than that. This album, in particular, had a lot to do with Eric Bass. On the approach to Shinedown’s latest album, ATTENTION ATTENTION We look for the biggest mountain, and once we get to the top of that mountain, we take a moment to high-five and hug each other, and then we say, “Let’s find a bigger mountain.” We’re a group of guys who are never going to be satisfied with the idea of a feeling. But, I give much respect to Leave a Whisper and Us and Them and the people who were here in the beginning. Once that record was written, that’s kind of where I think Shinedown began. For me, the band started at The Sound of Madness. It’s interesting, because I don’t think of the band anymore from those first two albums. Now, more than ever, this band could not be more of a family. On the camaraderie between the current members of Shinedown 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. I was able to really hone my craft, because Steve thought I was a great singer but also a songwriter. Steve Robertson, who was the A&R at Atlantic Records, he signed me, and from there, it was a journey of four years to create what became Shinedown. The industry looked at it like we were going to put a band together, but in reality, what happened was that I was signed to Atlantic Records with another band, and after a year, that band was dropped, and I was given the opportunity of a lifetime to have a development deal. There was so much work involved in creating Shinedown and finding those individuals and harvesting a real relationship with a band. On the genesis of Shinedown and how that has brought the band to where it is today When we got back to U.S., we were looking at some bands we hadn’t worked with before, and we contacted their management and were able to get them on this tour. We became really good friends, and it was interesting, because we had never really toured together before, and we found a kinship with them. Also, when we were in Europe in June and July, we were doing all the European festivals, and Asking Alexandria was on those festivals. The interesting thing is that the second leg of the Godsmack run this, Asking Alexandria. On Shinedown’s tour with Papa Roach and Asking Alexandria scheduled for early 2019 I’m always making sure the architecture of the band is in good form. I always want to make sure the idea and what we set out to do with this band and where we’re going next. I’m always picking up somewhere we left off. As I’m sitting here in New York City, looking out my window, I’m thinking about how many miles we’ve traveled this year. It’s really weird to look back on this past year. Brent Smith recently checked in with Heavy Consequence to speak about the deeply personal meaning behind “Get Up”, discuss the band’s 2019 touring, look back on Shinedown’s career, and more.

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