Jacoby Shaddix + Chris Daughtry open up about mental health

“I went for a time where I felt like I was just writing songs. I was just writing — this is what a good song sounds like or this is what a hit song sounds like.”

Chris Daughtry recently joined Chuck Armstrong Loud wire nights (June 4) to discuss what changed for him to write more transparent and personal songs.

“Even before I lost my daughter and my mother, I just walked through this place feeling like I wasn’t saying anything,” Daughtry admitted.

“I felt like I was going through this impostor syndrome…I felt like I had to open up and really pour out things that maybe I didn’t even know I was going through.”

At the show, Daughtry was joined by his friend and peer, Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix. As Daughtry opened up about his music, Shaddix clearly agreed in light of his journey.

“You just got it — that’s my brother shining,” Shaddix said as Daughtry concluded his comments. “As I get older, it’s like peeling back the layers of an onion. And the deeper I go, it’s like I’m discovering this new thing that I didn’t know was there.”

For Shaddix, discovering new things can go back to his childhood.

“Growing up in a broken home and having this happen, it’s like, I wasn’t responsible for what happened to me, but I’m responsible for how I react to it and how I grow and how I build from it.”

Both Chris Daughtry + Jacoby Shaddix remain positive

As both Daughtry and Shaddix develop layers, they said it’s important for them to remain grateful so they can stay in a positive place, even when writing heavy, sometimes dark songs.

“I have to recalibrate myself every morning because I wake up with the fear of impending doom,” Shaddix told Loud wire nights audience.

“It’s my kids,” Daughtry added.

“I have this responsibility to be that, you know, presence that’s inspiring, not only in life, but I want to be fun to be around. So I’m constantly telling dad jokes to my kids.”

Shadix jumped in immediately.

“Oh we let deiz nut jokes fly in my house.”

Is Papa Roach working on new music?

Beyond diving deep into their mental health and the emotional weight of their music, Shaddix revealed that Papa Roach is currently working on the follow-up to their 2022 album. Ego Trip.

As Shaddix said, “We’re working on new music,” Daughtry interrupted to add, “I can say I’ve heard some of this new music and it’s fire.”

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“I’m really excited to be creative,” Shaddix admitted, “and we’ve been going in like once a month, for a week, and just writing and writing. I think we have eight songs and some of them are like parts, verses and choruses, you know, but eventually they’ll be done…”

As Shaddix pondered what those bits and pieces would become, Daughtry filled in the blank: “Masterpiece.”

What else did Jacoby Shaddix + Chris Daughtry discuss Nights with loud wires?

• Will they collaborate or not together in the studio for the new music?
• How therapy helped Daughtry on his songwriting journey
• What is one of Shaddix’s favorite jokes and how does it involve Imagine Dragons?

Listen to the full Interview in the Podcast Player below

Jacoby Shaddix and Chris Daughtry joined Nights with loud wires Tuesday, June 4; The show is replayed online here and you can tune in live every weeknight at 7pm ET or on the Loudwire app; you can also see if the show is available on your local radio station and listen to interviews on demand.