Linkin Park recently announced through a livestream event on September 5th that Emily Armstrong from the band Dead Sara is the new co-vocalist, replacing Chester Bennington. The addition of Emily Armstrong to the band garnered mixed reactions from the fans and Mike Shinoda has also addressed the same.
Linkin Park made adjustments for Emily Armstrong
The band has made several key changes to their classic tracks to accommodate Emily’s vocal range. These adjustments, though subtle, reveal how Linkin Park is adapting their music without sacrificing its intensity or emotion.
Here’s a breakdown of how some of the band’s iconic songs have changed keys in recent performances to fit Emily’s range.
Songs That Stayed in Their Original Key
Interestingly, not all songs needed to be altered. Four of Linkin Park’s tracks remained in their studio-recorded keys:
- The Emptiness Machine
- Lying From You
- The Catalyst
- Papercut
These songs fit well within Emily’s vocal range and showcase her ability to carry the band’s powerful sound without needing any major modifications.
Songs That Were Transposed Up
Several classic Linkin Park songs were raised in pitch, giving them a fresh feel with Emily’s vocals. Here’s how the keys were adjusted:
Up a Half Step (One Semitone) – By raising the key just a half step, Faint stays close to its original energy while allowing for a slightly higher vocal range.
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Up a Whole Step (Two Semitones)
- Crawling
- One Step Closer
- In The End
- Bleed It Out
Raising these songs by a whole step adds brightness to the sound, making them feel more urgent and intense. Emily’s vocals bring a new dynamic to these already high-energy tracks.
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Up 1.5 Steps (Three Semitones)
- Numb
- What I’ve Done
Pushing these tracks up a step and a half creates a more emotional, soaring quality, which blends well with the poignant themes of both Numb and What I’ve Done.
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Up Two Whole Steps (Four Semitones)
- Somewhere I Belong
- Waiting For The End
These songs have been significantly raised, creating an uplifting feel that enhances Emily’s vocal strengths while retaining the originals’ emotional depth.
One song, however, stands out as an exception. “Lost” was actually taken down a whole step (two semitones) from the studio version. Lowering the key gives the track a darker, more grounded feel, which complements Emily’s voice in a different, yet effective way.
Linkin Park’s careful attention to music theory as they adjust their setlist for Emily Armstrong demonstrates the band’s commitment to evolving while respecting their iconic sound. These subtle key changes may seem minor, but they play a crucial role in ensuring the band’s performances remain powerful and engaging.
With Emily Armstrong now taking the spotlight as the new lead singer of Linkin Park, replacing Chester Bennington, critics are closely scrutinizing her involvement with the band. Armstrong has drawn massive flak on social media for her controversial ties, including past associations with convicted rapist Danny Masterson and the Church of Scientology, which has faced accusations of human rights violations.
Armstrong has publicly stated that she has cut ties with Masterson and distanced herself from Scientology, she has been criticized heavily for her association. Former Scientologist Chrissie Carnell Bixler, who is the wife of The Mars Volta’s Cedric Bixler-Avala, recently attacked Linkin Park singer Emily Armstrong due to her ties to the Church of Scientology. Amid this scrutiny, one way to understand Armstrong’s true character may be to dive into her work with Dead Sara and explore the themes she tackles in her music.
Linkin Park announced a short world tour which will see several arena shows across the world between September and November this year. The tour kicked off at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles on September 11th. Other stops include New York, Germany, London, South Korea and Colombia.
