In this analysis we’ll focus on what they are actually playing.versions but those are not accurate to what the guitars are actually doing in the recording. If you look for the chords for this song you’ll find acoustic arrangement.Chino has mentioned in interviews that they grew up in what he described as a ghetto and they were constantly surrounded by beats and rap which influenced their sound.Īnother big element of Deftones’ sound is the simplicity of their songwriting, which helps to squeeze the most out of their songs while keeping their music short and easily digestible. Abe’s drums tend to focus on beats and groove rather than very complicated, fast, technical playing and this is due to the influence of rap. Chino often switches between shrill screaming and intimate, breathy clean singing. Their sound makes heavy use of dramatic musical contrasts between very aggressive metal sections and very soothing, ambient sections. Without getting too deep into genres they are probably best described as just a really great metal band. Love that track.Deftones is a metal band widely known from the era of Nu-Metal (which has influences from rap) but I would say their sound extends beyond that label. Most pieces in place, navigate the puzzle in front of you. But this visit I was able to assume the role that I've become accustomed to. I don't recall whether I showed up with completed lyrics or not. WHEN YOU CAME IN FOR THE RECORDING OF "PASSENGER," HOW WAS THAT DIFFERENT FROM YOUR TIME WITH DEFTONES MONTHS EARLIER? DID YOU WRITE NEW LYRICS THERE? I honestly had nothing to do with it other than a mental break and temporary change of perspective. I had no idea whether my approach would work or not and no idea if that idea would ever work again, but in this instance it did. The result of my interruption was for them to unconsciously remember or feel what connected them in the first place.īy the time I saw them again, they had opened their own creative floodgates. They were able to keep up the courtesy to a point, but eventually it was time for me to let them be. I stuck around long enough for them to start itching to not have me around. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR CONTRIBUTION DURING THOSE WRITING SESSIONS? WHAT WAS THE ATMOSPHERE LIKE? Video of Deftones – Passenger (Mike Shinoda Remix) – Official Audio I could just feel Stephen thinking, "What kind of acid trip crap is this?" I might as well have been wearing hippy beads and bunny ears.
I had them each switch instruments, play on the bowls, take one loop and try some improvisation.
So I showed up with Tibetan Singing Bowls, some percussion instruments, champagne, and asked them permission to do some experiments. I felt like they just needed a bit of new perspective. Up to that point, they seemed to have been able to navigate through their differences in ideas and approaches. And they are some very strong-willed gents. They certainly weren't going to discuss that with me, an almost total stranger. I may have received bad or exaggerated intel at the time, but I was told the guys were having a bit of writer's block or some turmoil within the band.
WHAT DID THOSE INGREDIENTS BRING TO THE WRITING SESSIONS? WITH CHAMPAGNE AND TIBETAN SINGING BOWLS. ABE CUNNINGHAM REMEMBERS YOU COMING TO THEIR REHEARSAL SPACE IN L.A.