Chris Daughtry on New Music, Mad Max-Inspired Videos, and His Epic Tattoos
It’s cold. It’s Detroit in the dead of winter. And here I am, chatting with Chris Daughtry about why bands tour the Midwest and Canada when it feels like the Arctic.
“Great question,” Daughtry laughs. “We’ve done it, and it’s brutal. It felt like we were either running from a blizzard or chasing one. I kept asking, ‘Why are we doing this?’ But you know what? The fans still came out, and we’re always grateful for that.”
Tough winters mean tough fans—that’s the Midwest for you.
Finishing Touches on “Shock to The System Part 2”
Chris Daughtry is back in Nashville, hammering out the final vocals for new music, his new album, Shock to the System Part 2—the follow-up to the crushing Part 1.
“I’d love for it to come out this year,” he says, “but we don’t have an official release date yet.”
I had to ask: “When you’re writing, do you ever just toss ideas because they don’t feel right?”
Daughtry said, “Absolutely, Some ideas just don’t work. It’s like throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. But everything on this record feels cohesive and genuine. This second half is darker in some ways, but there’s more hope too. We’re really excited about it.”
The Dam, Music Videos, and Dying on Screen (Again)
Speaking of dark themes, Daughtry’s latest single, The Dam, comes with a jaw-dropping, Mad Max-style video.
“I worked with Jensen Noen, an amazing director, to bring it to life,” Daughtry says. “It ties in with the themes of our other videos. And yeah, I die in this one too—it’s kind of a running theme now.”
Dude. Dying in your music videos? That’s rock and roll.
Working with Scott Stevens
If you’ve been digging the Daughtry sound lately, you’ve got to give props to Scott Stevens, Daughtry’s go-to collaborator.
“Scott’s amazing, he really understands my vision and helps bring it to life. We’ve become close friends over the years, which makes collaboration easy and authentic.”
Welcomed into the Rock World
When Daughtry first dropped onto the scene, there were whispers. Would the rock world really accept him?
It turns out that the answer is a resounding hell: yes.
“Bands like Disturbed and Nothing More have been incredible. The festivals are amazing too. The artists are super welcoming.” He pauses and grins. “Though, yeah, some fans can be a bit gatekeeper-y.”
The Albums That Shaped Him
Last year, Daughtry opened up about the albums that made him. Unsurprisingly, a lot of them were from the early ’90s.
“Those records are the reason I wanted to be a singer-songwriter,” he says. “They’re defining albums for me.”
One of his top picks? Metallica’s Black Album.
“That record is perfect,” Chris says. “From the hooks to the production—it’s their magnum opus.”
Streaming vs Vinyl
Despite his love for classic albums, Chris admits he’s not much of a vinyl collector.
“I love the artwork and liner notes,” he says, “but I mostly listen to music on streaming services. There’s just something cool about holding a physical album in your hands, though.”
Tattoos, Pain, and Seven Brutal Days
OK, we need to talk about Chris’s blackout tattoo. If you haven’t seen it, it’s intense. I had to know: How much did that hurt?
“Dude,” Chris laughs. “It was brutal. Seven days of sessions, about 72 hours total. The healing process was rough, but I’m glad it’s done.”
Seven days of tattooing?! That’s wild.
“I definitely got to know my tattoo artist well,” he jokes.
What’s Next?
With Shock to the System (Part One) out now and Part Two on the way, Daughtry fans have much to look forward to.
“Hopefully, we’ll see you in Detroit soon,” Chris says before signing off.
Rock on.