On stellar single “About You,” Mike Shinoda copes with the loss of his Linkin Park ‘brother,’ Chester Bennington. He’s assisted by blackbear.  

Mike Shinoda, an integral part of Linkin Park, drops his first full-length solo album attributed to his name.  Post Traumatic arrives June 15, 2018.  In advance of Post Traumatic, Shinoda dropped the Post Traumatic EP (“Place to Start,” “Over Again,” and “Watching as I Fall”), as well as a number of individual singles including “Crossing a Line,” “Nothing Makes Sense Anymore,” and our song at hand, “About You,” featuring blackbear.

As expected, the production work is a huge selling point on “About You.” In addition to the hard drums and mysterious synths, there are a variety of pitch-shifted vocals, keeping things interesting. As for Mike Shinoda himself, he drops hard-nosed, passionate rhymes, colored with a couple of f-bombs.  When he’s not rhyming, it’s his pitch-shifted vocals that make up the intro and chorus sections.

“Even when it’s not about you, about you

All of a sudden it’s about you now, ooh.”

So, where does blackbear come into the picture? He appears on the bridge, contrasting the tough, unpitched vocals of the verses with melody.  Interestingly, he sounds smoother and less coarse than usual.  He doesn’t have a huge role obviously, but it’s a welcome change of pace.

“Can’t find the words to a memory

But these are just words to a melody

Find something that works fits the symmetry

For only a quick broken remedy…”

Final Thoughts 

So, what is “About You” actually about? Essentially, Mike Shinoda is struggling to get past the tragic death of his ‘brother,’ Chester Bennington.  Every song he composes, intentional or not, actually or merely perceived, is about Bennington.  All in all, he captures his emotions effectively and sensationally on “About You.”

Mike Shinoda • Post Traumatic • Warner Bros. • 6.15.18

Photo Credits: Warner Bros.