Shinoda set for Linkin Park writing sessions

Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda has revealed he’ll soon take part in writing sessions for the follow-up to 2014’s The Hunting Party.

And although he won’t discuss how it might sound, he’s hinted it could feature hip-hop guests, possibly Kendrick Lamar.

Shinoda tells NME that he’s “starting to work out some ideas” and continues: “I have no idea what it’ll sound like yet. It won’t sound like The Hunting Party – we like to surprise people.”

His London sessions are set to include an unnamed collaborator. But discussing his “hip-hop nerd” status, Shinoda says of Lamar: “Chester Bennington and I were talking the other day about how great his recent two records are.

“We were specifically talking about the artistry of his records, that I feel is something that’s starting to emerge in hip-hop.”

He describes Lamar’s work as “complex, colourful, deep and politically charged” – and asked whether he’d like to stage a collaboration he replies: “Yeah, sure.”

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Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.