Mike Shinoda Explains Why Emily Armstrong is the Perfect Fit for Linkin Park's New Chapter

Linkin Park recently released their highly anticipated eighth studio album, *From Zero*, on November 15th. The album marks a significant new chapter for the band, featuring 11 fresh tracks, including the previously released singles "The Emptiness Machine," "Heavy Is The Crown," "Over Each Other," and "Two Faced." This album also introduces Emily Armstrong, the new lead singer of the band, following the tragic passing of their former frontman, Chester Bennington. In a recent conversation during iHeartRadio LIVE with Linkin Park, Mike Shinoda opened up about why he believes Armstrong, co-founder of the band Dead Sara, was the perfect addition to Linkin Park. "She's done it for a long time and knows she's a seasoned professional," Shinoda explained. While Armstrong hadn't yet experienced playing a massive headline show in Paris, Shinoda was confident in her abilities. "She has over 10,000 hours of experience performing, writing songs, and being on stage. So we knew we were in a good position, and it felt very natural." Shinoda also shared that the band wasn’t looking to replace Chester Bennington with someone who sounded exactly like him. Instead, they wanted Armstrong to bring her own unique voice to the band. He shared an insightful perspective, comparing the situation to the concept of "Uncanny Valley," a term often used to describe how something that is almost lifelike can feel unsettling. He referred to a video of a Linkin Park cover band that mimicked Chester's voice perfectly, but Shinoda felt uneasy, saying, "It made me immediately know that that wasn't the move for us. I don't like it. I like it for them, but it felt creepy." For Shinoda, the goal wasn’t to replicate Chester but to embrace Emily's individuality as she brought her own energy and authenticity to the band's legacy. From Zero is now available, and with Armstrong’s powerful addition to the group, Linkin Park has clearly found a new creative direction while honoring the spirit of their past.