Scott Stevens Talks The Exies, Songwriting With Shinedown, Hopes to Produce Upcoming Creed Album
Scott Stevens, known for his time with The Exies and his work as a producer, talked with Meltdown about his career, upcoming shows, and working with some of the biggest names in rock music.
Stevens, who many still remember from his days crushing opponents on the ice as a New Jersey Devils player, shared his excitement about The Exies’ upcoming show at The Machine Shop on November 9th. “It’s our second reunion show, and we couldn’t be happier about playing The Machine Shop—it was like our home away from home all those years ago,” Stevens said. “I love Kevin, I love Minty. Fun fact: the first hallway shot there, that was with us.” The Machine Shop holds a special place for Stevens and is excited to return.
Stevens talked about the impact of the pandemic on his songwriting. “I’m done talking about the pandemic, but it keeps coming up in songs,” he admitted. The lockdown gave him time to start writing again, even though he hadn’t recorded himself singing in over 15 years. “Without it, I don’t think I would have written anything for The Exies. My work just stopped—producing bands like Shinedown, Halestorm, Theory of a Deadman—it all just paused. So I started writing to cope.”
Scott Stevens Didn’t Plan On Putting Out Anymore Music
When The Exies disbanded in 2008, Stevens never planned on putting out music again. After a wild one-off show in Russia in 2010, where the band was paid $100,000 to play just two songs, he decided to focus on producing. His first major production project was with Tyler from Theory of a Deadman, and his career took off from there.
Stevens went on to work with big names like Shinedown and Halestorm. “Not at all,” he said when asked if he expected to be producing for such artists. “Coming from a touring rock background, I knew how songs had to hit live—something that translates to an audience. That gave me an edge when I started writing for others.” He said he would come into the sessions with an idea half-baked, allowing artists to add their spin, which has been a successful approach.
One of his standout collaborations was with Brent Smith from Shinedown. “The first time, I was so nervous—Shinedown was huge,” Stevens said. Initially, Brent didn’t like Stevens’ idea, and he thought he had blown his chance. Later, Brent recorded a cover of “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” for Birdman’s international trailer, and Stevens had a second chance. They went on to write “How Did You Love” together, a song that Stevens described as “pure magic.”
Stevens also spoke about his work with Dorothy, comparing her soulful, rootsy style to Lzzy Hale’s more metal approach. He initially hesitated to show Dorothy her latest single, “Mud,” because it was different from her usual sound, but she loved it. “Every artist brings something unique to the process,” Stevens said.
The Inspiration For Scott Stevens To Become A Producer
As a producer, Stevens credits his experience with Nick Raskulinecz and Matt Serletic for helping him hone his skills. “Nick was a big influence. I learned by watching him and Matt when we made our first hit, ‘My Goddess,'” he explained. Spending time in the studio with these masters taught him a lot, and that curiosity helped him grow as a producer.
Stevens now has his studios in L.A. and Nashville, allowing him to work on ideas at any time of day. “I can get up in the morning and immediately start working on an idea,” he said. “Sometimes it’s just playing with an acoustic guitar over coffee, and if something sticks, I’ll develop it further.”
Scott Talks The Possibility Of Working With Creed
When asked about working with Creed on a new record, Stevens revealed that he’s had some conversations with Scott Stapp and Mark Tremonti. “I think they want to get in there first, set the tone, and then maybe I’ll get a shot to add something,” he said. That would be a huge feather in his cap.
Catch Scott Stevens and The Exies at The Machine Shop on November 9th. “We’ve got people flying in from England and Australia. The Machine Shop is special to us, and I think this show is going to be something really memorable,” Stevens said.
And for anyone wondering—yes, there will be a hallway picture with me, Meltdown, with Minty taking it, of course!
I’ll be posting the audio interview on Friday on the Talkin’ Rock with Meltdown podcast.
Local Music Venue Spotlight: The Machine Shop
A panoramic view of the Machine Shop taken by Minty.
