The Tim Ferriss Show, Episode 21: Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park – Making Art, Making Music, Getting To 60+ Million Albums
Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park.
Listen on iTunes, download (right click “save as”), or stream below now:
This podcast is brought to you by The Tim Ferriss Book Club, which features a handful of books that have changed my life. Here’s the list.
Now, on to our guest…
Mike Shinoda is best known as the rapper, principal songwriter, keyboardist, rhythm guitarist and one of the two vocalists (yes, an insane list) of Linkin Park, which has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide and earned two Grammy Awards in the process.
Mike has collaborated with everyone from Jay-Z to Depeche Mode, and he’s also the lead rapper in his side project Fort Minor, which I’m a huge fan of.
As if that’s not enough, he’s also provided artwork, production and mixing for all the projects mentioned above. The man is a beast… but did he start out that way? His answers might surprise you.
This episode covers how Mike got started, advice for aspiring musicians (or creatives/artists of any type), navigating “entertainment” and Hollywood, daily rituals, how he writes songs, how he rehearses, and much more.
Enjoy!
Subscribe to The Tim Ferriss Show on iTunes.
Non-iTunes RSS feed
Like these episodes? Want me to keep making them? Please leave a short review here. Even one sentence helps.
Show Notes and Select Links from Episode 20…
Mike’s first love, and what he thought he would do with his life
The humble, “boots-on-the-ground” beginnings of Linkin Park
From Linkin Park to Fort Minor, how Mike fills the void in music with what he wants to hear
How Linkin Park band members stood up to a major record label to get signed on their own terms
The story of how a few 19-year-old kids with red hair, tattoos, and facial piercings told Warner Brothers execs how to do their jobs
The importance of developing a fine-tuned radar for the subtle edits that can completely change your art into a “watered-down commercial nightmare”
An inside look at the various techniques to recording music
How songs are born
How Mike finds inspiration for his craft in things unrelated music
Why he will either delete your email or reply with a dissertation
Linkin Park’s rehearsal process
The software Linkin Park uses for rehearsals and shows
The one thing he would change about himself, if he could
And much more… Here’s the episode.
SELECT LINKS FROM EPISODE 20
Visit the Tim Ferriss Book Club to find a new book each month (or so) that’s changed my life
Fort Minor
Music for Relief – Non-profit org founded by Linkin Park
DJI Phantom 2 Vision Quadcopter
Ableton Live 9
This American Life
Learn more about Rick Rubin
Chase Jarvis’ Official Site
Linkin Park | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Mike Shinoda | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Books Mentioned in the Episode
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
Becoming a Category of One by Joe Calloway
Learning Not to Drown by Anna Shinoda
Music Mentioned in the Episode
Check out Mike Shinoda’s Spotify and Beats playlists
Mongol Horde
Doom Riders
Royal Blood
Movies Mentioned in the Episode
The Godfather
The Usual Suspects
Fight Club
Seven
Akira
Wall-E
Ninja Scroll
Mall directed by Joe Hahn of Linkin Park
