Hello everybody. We’re here with Lajon from Sevendust.
How are you?
I am fantastic. I feel great. A little sad that this is the last leg of the tour. We’ve been so busy. It doesn’t seem like it’s been over five weeks already, but it has, and it’s been almost every other day in a different country. It’s a beautiful experience to be back here in Paris. It’s like, wow, I’m really excited.

We’re here to talk about an important subject: your new upcoming album. First of all, One is such a strong title. I read it came from the fact that you felt more united than ever.
Not only that, but I feel like the world needs to be more united as one too. And I think, hopefully, this album can help people understand that’s what we mean. Because over there, it’s so crazy. It’s been a breath of fresh air to be over here, you know what I mean?

Yeah, exactly. And why One? Why not United or Together?
You know, we have a few different options. We always kind of have different names, but One just seemed to fit the best and it was easy. It was like, they’ll get it, you know? They’ll understand it once they hear the album. So I’m hoping everyone likes that. It’s a strong word by itself.

Absolutely. And was it the feeling you also wanted to convey through the first lyrics of the song Unbreakable; “we were meant to be unbreakable, even when we’re at our lowest lows”?
Yes, yes. It’s an uplifting song. I feel like everyone, we’re all meant to be unbreakable, even when they try to break us down. I always look at life as a line and there are always these obscure obstacles in front of us. And either we climb over them, go around them, or break through them. But at the end of the day, we make it through, we’re unbreakable.

I feel this album moves between hope and some anger. But anger in a good way. So for you, is it a rage to move forward and to show that happiness is actually a choice?
Oh yes. Because you think about songs like Is This the Real You? and then all of a sudden you’ve got to try to look at the bright side, like the song Bright Side. Even when things are bad, you still have to try to look at the bright side. And that’s what I’ve always done in life. And I think this album just came together so organically that we didn’t even know it was going to tell the story it’s telling until I talked to someone like you. And then I started thinking, “oh shit, we didn’t even mean to do that,” but it’s happening that way. So those are the best things that happen in life with music for me, when you know it’s real, it’s real.

Yeah. And how do you feel this album shows the Sevendust that you are today?
Oh, my goodness. I’m 53 and I’m the youngest in the band. And I think this album profoundly shows the maturity of us, the fact that we’re not afraid to write about personal things, even when they’re not the best. But at the end of the day, we’re no different than anyone else. And we still go through the same things that everyone else goes through; the wife being mad at you, kids being in trouble, me being in trouble. It’s everything, you know. Luckily, we’re able to put it on record. And I feel like, with us, I see it as art. I see the album as a collage. And we’re just telling the story of things that everyone goes through. It’s no different than anyone else.

And do you draw your inspiration only from those experiences?
Those experiences? Yeah. A lot of times it’s personal experiences, but also things that happen to everyone. Whatever it is, I can’t make a phony song. What I mean by that is I can’t write about something I don’t know. You’re not going to see me writing about dragons if I haven’t seen one, you know.

But that means it really comes from a place of truth and showing your true self.
Oh, absolutely. We have to. That’s the only real way. I get emotional just thinking about it. And every night for me on that stage is a rollercoaster ride, for sure, of emotions.

Is the metal and rock scene today an inspiration for you?
Yes. Rock is going to always be here. And I love the fact that we have the opportunity to continue to play it. And I love to be able to put soul into rock. You know, I’m not afraid to do that. And at this point of our career, I don’t feel like we have to be the heaviest band ever, because we’ve done the heavy things. And it shows, I think, the maturity of the band, because there is a softer side to us now.

You know, we have kids. I think about my daughter. She’s ready to graduate, and she’s already picked the college she’s going to and has been accepted. And I think about my parents saying to me, “You’re going to find out your kids are going to break your heart like you broke ours.” And I’m like, I don’t understand what you mean by that. And then I realize I understand what they meant, because they’re growing up.

I wrote a song for my solo project called 18 Summers. It was because we were at the lake, and my best friend looked at me while my kids were sitting in front of us. She came inside and said, “You know, you only have 18 summers with them.” I said, “Why would you say that?” But it hit me so strongly. I was like, “you’re absolutely right”.

Of course, they don’t have to leave, but they’re going to. And it just changed my life a few years ago. So now I try to make sure I spend as much time with them as possible, really cherish that time, and just let them know how proud I am of them, and how I don’t want them to grow up, but I have to let them grow up. It’s very hard.

I see what you mean. My mom actually told me about that feeling a few weeks ago.
Oh yeah. You never think of it like that. I’m like, “what do you mean I’m breaking your heart?”. And then you see these kids and I’m like, “oh my God, I know my mom and my dad… I didn’t stop growing up”.

I’ve been lucky. My daughter hasn’t had a boyfriend. She’s been on dates and stuff. I think they’re scared of me. The last time a boy came to pick her up at the house, I went outside. He got out of his car, and he’s like a seven-foot-tall basketball player. I was like, first of all, you’re too tall to date my daughter. How old are you again?

And it was funny because right before I went out, I said I’m going to go meet him. And she’s like, “Okay dad.” And I went into my bar and I had this beautiful gun holster. I put it on. She’s like, “Don’t. No, dad.” I was going to go outside like that, like “Hey, how you doing?”

But he was very nice. He said, “Hello sir. Thank you sir.” And I was like, either he’s a good kid or he’s trying to trick me. So she kind of knew. He’s gone now. But I’ve been very blessed that she hasn’t been into the boy-boy thing. I mean, she’s into them, but not like her friends who all have boyfriends. And I’m like, “watch it, she’ll be crying next month and breaking up with him”. And later she’s coming like, “sure enough dad, they’re not together anymore”. I’m like, “see, I told you, keep studying”.

And now she’s graduating with honors. The other day her mom sent me a picture and she got voted for the scholar… what is it? The scholars honor thing. So her robe is like a purple thing with gold on it, and she’s the only one at her school who gets that. The teachers recommend it. So I’m just like, wow, this is crazy. She’s really turning into a young lady. Wait, no. She is a young lady, but she’s turning into a young woman.

She seems amazing.
Oh, yes. My kids are very, very cool. They’re smart. They’re much smarter than I am. I’m like, how do you do this? And I hear, “Dad…” My son is eight. He’s like, “Give me your phone. I’ll show you how to do it.” I’m like, okay, thanks.

That’s the thing with kids nowadays! (laughs)
Exactly. I’m like, “oh, how did you know how to do that?” (laughs)

And to go back to the album, you chose to open this new era with Is This the Real You?. How do you feel this one prepares the listener for the album more than another track, like the title track or Unbreakable?
Okay. So that song was not going to be on the album. I went into one of the rooms in the studio at the house, the mansion, and John was not in the main studio but in a small office room where we had set up a mic and everything. He was like, “Man, check this out. Let’s listen to this song.” We had nothing, we were just sitting there, looking at each other.

He said, “Do you want to just throw something on it?” I said, “Play the song.” No lyrics had been written at all. I just started like, “Could this be something that we’ve got ourselves in?” And it just kept going. I could see him looking at me, and then I went into the chorus, and he was like, “That’s it. That’s all we need.” He said, “Let’s let Elvis hear this.”

And immediately Elvis was like, “Oh my God. I think this is a single.” And that’s just one of those magical moments. I feel like it shows a good side of Sevendust, with both the heavy and the soul. It still has that bounce to it. I’m very proud of it.

Very, very proud of the whole album, but I’m glad that this song has a video. I love the video too, with Tim coming up with that concept, the whole movement of the hand and zooming into the lens. It’s fun and it’s exciting to play.

And I’m looking forward to playing more of the new songs from the album. A lot of times, I feel like some tracks get lost if you’re not a deep-cut fan. But I think if you listen to this album from start to finish, you’ll really understand the journey we’ve been through.

This is beautiful!
So you end the album with Misdirection.
I love hearing John. It’s so funny to see him sing, but it just turned out perfect. And it’s such a personal song. I’ve always said, wouldn’t it be foolish and selfish of me to think that everything should come from just one person’s point of view, being the singer, when we’ve all gone through life together?

Most of the time, during our trials and tribulations, guess who’s there? Us. So we definitely understand each other. And I think it’s a beautiful thing to be in a band like that.

And also, to any kids out there learning something from this: what has kept our band together for so long is that we share everything equally, just like we treat each other equally. There’s not one person riding a bicycle while someone else has a Ferrari, you know what I mean? It’s all even. And I think that helps keep the band together too, because everyone comes to the table with their part, and that pushes you to work harder as well.

I think it's actually good to hear. And I feel like this is kind of an advice you’re giving. What advice would you give to someone who’s starting in the music industry?
To be genuine, to stay real. A lot of times -actually, every time- you don’t have to have the best voice in the world as a singer, as long as you have conviction. Does that make sense? As long as you mean it, then people are going to feel it.

So that’s what I would say: just stay on the grind, keep playing, and just be yourself, be real. That’s the truest thing I can say. That’s my advice. And never give up. Music is a healer, it’s a beautiful thing. Sometimes it can be hard, but as long as you keep at it, you’re going to get there.

On a scale out of ten, how loud do you think Paris is going to be tonight?
Oh, I don’t know, that’s a good question. Because we haven’t been here for 15 years. So I hope it’s going to be one of the best shows. You know, when you come back somewhere after a long time, you kind of second-guess yourself, like, “Oh, maybe they don’t like us.” But to be totally honest, it’s been an incredible experience. So I’d say Paris tonight… I’m going to give them, hopefully, a 10. It’s going to be a great energy. If they give us a 7, they’re going to give Alter Bridge a 10, so it’ll all balance out in the end.

Thank you for giving us some time today!
Thank you!