An Interview With DAUGHTRY Front-Man CHRIS DAUGHTRY All About Their Newest Fifth Album ‘Cage To Rattle’ and More!

This summer, the GRAMMY® Award-nominated chart-topping rock band Daughtry released their anxiously awaited fifth full-length album, Cage To Rattle [19 Recordings/RCA Records].

Get the album HERE.

Right after the record was put out, it made it to #2 on the iTunes Top Rock Albums Chart and #5 on the iTunes Overall Top Albums Chart.

Cage To Rattle sees Daughtry once again firing on all cylinders. Produced by Jacquire King [Kings Of Leon, Tom Waits, Norah Jones] in Nashville, the album echoes the relentless energy and uncontainable spirit of the group’s most definitive anthems, while advancing boldly into new territory. Whether it’s the bluesy stomp and snap of “Backbone” or the sweeping piano of latest single “Deep End,” the album evinces evolution across the board for the musicians.

About the album, Chris Daughtry said, “This is a really special time for us. We feel like we bottled the spirit and energy from our early days and refined it over the last decade together on the road and making records. We didn’t take the easy way out. Instead, Jacquire really pushed us in the studio, and we worked really hard to make the album we’ve always wanted to make — It’s everything a Daughtry record should be.”

The band pushed themselves harder than ever during the creation of their fifth full-length album, Cage To Rattle [19 Recordings/RCA], produced by Jacquire King [Kings of Leon, Tom Waits, Norah Jones]. As a result, they emerged with their most passionate, personal, and powerful record to date preceded by singles “Backbone” and “Deep End”.

Selling 8 million albums and 16 million singles, receiving four GRAMMY® Award nominations, and landing four number ones at radio, Daughtry continue to engage, enthrall, and energize a global fan base with urgent, unbreakable, and undeniable anthems. The group first made history with the release of 2006’s quintuple-platinum self-titled debut, Daughtry. Notably, it stands out as “the fastest-selling rock debut in Soundscan history” in addition to yielding the multi-format smash “It’s Not Over.” Its platinum-selling 2009 successor, Leave This Town, became their second #1 debut on the Billboard Top 200. Next up, 2011’s Break The Spell earned a gold certification in under four weeks. Two years later, Baptized yielded the 2013 platinum hit “Waiting for Superman.” Along the way, they’ve captivated fans at sold out shows in nearly every corner of the globe.

Connect With Daughtry Here- https://www.daughtryofficial.com/

Learn more about Daughtry in the following All Access interview:

Since we are now at the back-end of 2018, how has this year treated this band? What is one musical goal that you have had for this year?

It’s been a great year and it’s taken us all over the world. Honestly our goal was to get this record out to our fans! The reception has been overwhelmingly positive!

How do you think your hometowns have influenced the sound and how you all carry yourselves in this group?

It certainly played a part in the lyrics of “September”. I guess we all carry a lil hometown in us… I think it’s inevitable that we would be influenced by that.

Let’s talk about your newest album, “Cage To Rattle.” How did the process of making it compare to your previous five albums? How did your producer Jacquire King help your goals on this album come true? How did he push all of you?

It differed in many ways… working in the studio together for the first time since “Break the Spell”, working with Jacquire for the first time, the amount of time it took to complete the album… so many variables. I think Jacquire really pushed me and the guys to be “interesting” with our choices in parts, etc… I think he helped us be a better band.

With five albums under your belts, how do you try to reinvent yourselves on each new collection? Is that something that you consider when you first into the studio to record an album?

It’s tricky… always trying to be original, creative, and to outdo yourself in a way without totally alienating your fan base… at the end of the day all we can do is what moves us, inspires us… and hope that our fans are moved in return.”

Your single “Deep End” is currently climbing the charts. Can you talk about the inspiration behind this song? Does it ever surprise you when a single does particularly well?

It actually does surprise me. We’ve gotten really lucky sometimes and not so much on others! Hahaha

Chris, how did your wife get involved with writing lyrics to “As You Are”? Is this something that she has always enjoyed doing?

Deanna has always written lyrics/poems but this is the first time we’ve combined our powers haha. It’s a pretty special song for sure. I can definitely see more co-writes in our future.

As a big Prince fan, I have to ask about your love for his music and how he inspired your song “Stuff of Legends”?

He’s a legend. He didn’t care what people thought of him… We wanted to write something empowering… and with some swag… it’s kinda like a pep talk to myself. Haha

Chris, I am curious to know what lessons you took away from your American Idol experience and still use today? Would you recommend trying out for that show to promising young rockers out there today?

I think everyone’s path or destiny is different, and so is how they get there… with that said I feel like it’s a great opportunity for anyone to get heard… but so is YouTube and Facebook and Instagram…things are very different now than when I was on the show. Musicians and singers have so many more platforms and mediums to get their music out there! It’s exciting.

You are about to wrap a pretty long tour. How did it go? How do you all keep up your energy night after night? Do you families get to come along on tour? What would you say is the biggest challenge about  a tour of this kind? Do you get to sight-see at all in places like Cape Town?

Well I can only speak for myself… I try to workout as much as possible and stay active. I watch what I eat way more than I used to… like waaaay more. Hahaha.. I went plant based back in December and that seems to help a lot! I started using essential oils, crystals, meditation… those are all fairly new things for me but it’s helped ground me and cope with the chaos of the road. Dang I sound like a hippie… I dig it haha. As far as coming back to Cape Town… wow! We’ve been waiting for this moment! We LOVED being there years ago. It was a shock to see how many people love us and we’ve been talking about it ever since! Cannot wait to be back!

Where do you think you are all happiest- in the studio recording new music, on stage performing or elsewhere?

We love creating for sure! But then once that vision comes to fruition, we can’t wait to share it live! So it’s a bit of both… they kind of feed each other… and after we’ve been touring for a while, we get antsy to get back in the studio to create!

We are currently living through a very trying and politically charged time right now so I am curious to know how you all think being musicians and in this band still gives you the most joy in life today? Do you find that your music is an escape to all the current events?

We are so very fortunate that we have a fan base that allows us to live our dream! I know music has always been an escape for me… we can only hope that our fans are able to put aside life’s troubles when at our shows. We want to provide them an escape but also want them to know they are not alone in these troubles. We all go through hard times.”

What musicians would you love to work with in the future? What artists have really been inspiring this group and your music since day 1?

I keep saying it… Post Malone! I think we could do something pretty awesome together! As far as our inspirations!?? Wow! So many!!! Led Zeppelin! Elton John! Live! Nirvana! Soundgarden! Aerosmith! Fleetwood Mac! Rick Astley! The list goes on and on and it’s all over the place haha!

What do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope people continue to take away from your songs?

I want our fans to feel connected to these songs in their own special way! I want it to speak to them… to their soul! I want them to know they’re all accepted and loved and are safe at a Daughtry show! We want nothing more than to bring people together. The End.