Skillet’s John Cooper shared the faith-filled message behind the band’s new single, “Scream.”
“‘Scream’ is that thing of, like, okay, sometimes there’s so much noise. You feel almost trapped inside yourself, or in the chaos of things, and some people have a literal scream,” he said in a video posted to the band’s Instagram account. “But a lot of times with people who suffer with mental health and things, it’s kind of a silent scream. It’s an inward scream, and that can come out in different ways — addiction, alcoholism or just depression or just locking yourself in your room, not wanting to see people.”
Cooper explained that he has also struggled with that “chaos” and “confusion,” which led to “some depression…I just did not expect.”
“I wanted to be open about it,” he said. “Because we can be ashamed about it, and there’s nothing shameful about suffering, and I want people to know they’re not alone in that.”
Cooper continued, “I believe Jesus died for me, and He is the prince of peace. That doesn’t guarantee you that you’re not going to suffer, and that you might not handle it all that well…but God’s tough enough to handle that.”
Related: SKILLET Frontman Opens Up About Pain Behind New Song ‘SCREAM’
In an interview with ChurchLeaders, he called the song “the most, I think, vulnerable that we’ve been in a long time,” adding, “It’s the most emotional, you know, dealing with the hard stuff in life.”
“So that scream for me is, I know my life matters. I know that God can help me and I’m not going to give into this. It’s actually a sign of resistance,” Cooper concluded.
“Scream” is part of a larger project that will be released later this year.
“We went back to Memphis and worked with a producer who knew the band before we’d made our first record,” Cooper said in a statement about making the new album. “Life has taken some great turns, but it’s also taken some painful turns. Now we’re here, and we still have more of a story to tell. The music kept getting heavier, and I said, ‘We’ve got to go all-in.’”
He continued, “I don’t think I’m the only one who’s noticing the volatility of the world and how social media is a cesspool where people are constantly yelling at each other. It’s not helping anyone’s mental health. In this landscape, it’s easy to feel like nothing matters. “Scream” is about wanting your life to matter when the world feels chaotic and overwhelming.”
Skillet’s new single is a reminder that in a world that can feel very loud, God can help you cut through the noise.
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