Far from His “Last Hallelujah,” SCOTT STAPP Sheds Light on ‘The Space Between The Shadows’

We’ve all been there. And maybe we are still there. Perhaps we’re feeling lonely. Perhaps we’re feeling down. Maybe it’s a lack of direction. Or it could even be a dreaded uncertainty about the future. But, oftentimes, if we look within ourselves, we can understand ourselves better in order to move forward into a more positive headspace and strive for something better.

And it’s not just regular, everyday people. Even some of the most successful individuals, who one would assume would have everything they could possibly want or need in life, can find themselves in this state of insecurity. If you have been a fan of mainstream alternative and hard rock for the last 20 years, then you require no introduction to singer, songwriter and musician Scott Stapp. Stapp has had a career even his peers could only dream of. He has seen the highest levels of professional success, both as the lead singer of near-legendary hard rock group Creed and as a solo artist.

Creed is really in a league of its own in terms of rock n’ roll success stories, beginning with 1997’s revelatory debut, My Own Prison, which introduced the world to the band that would come to define the sound of late ‘90s, early 2000s mainstream rock. However, little did the band know, that they would be the biggest rock group in the world only a couple of years later, after the release of My Own Prison. 1999’s Human Clay completely redefined the rock n’ roll landscape. Suddenly, Creed were on the cover of every music magazine in the world, on nearly every radio station, even crossing over to the pop stations and winning award upon award. Twenty million copies sold later and Creed were literally on top of the world.

This is the visualizer video for Stapp’s new single “Gone Too Soon:”

2001’s Weathered again racked up commercial accolades and garnered several hit singles, including “My Sacrifice” and “One Last Breath.” But suddenly, and perhaps unexpectedly, Creed was no more. Stapp began to suffer from depression and addiction problems, as his personal demons from a traumatic past began to affect him. Some of this played out publicly, which doesn’t require rehashing. After much reflection and work, Stapp was able to get his personal difficulties in order and eventually release 2005’s The Great Divide; a reunion with his Creed bandmates even followed in 2009. But this didn’t mean that Stapp was suddenly “all better.” That’s not the nature of depression and addiction and anyone who has experienced such issues would not require an explanation as to why. Depression and addiction is a lifelong battle, but that doesn’t mean that life has to be difficult or unfulfilling.

The headlines that Scott’s personal issues garnered in the press actually ironically ended up being some type of blessing in disguise for the talented singer and songwriter. It was in 2014 when Stapp received a call from the music industry organization MusiCares, a non-profit organization with 30 years of history behind it, an group which helps musicians in coping with personal, financial and medical problems. In MusiCares, Scott discovered an inspiration to help overcome his battles. Along with the assistance of the organization, the enormous support of his wife, family, and many fellow musicians was all instrumental in overcoming a five-year journey towards redemption.

Scott discusses his single, “Wake Up Call:”

This journey has all culminated with a new solo album and a new outlook on life. July 19th saw the release of Stapp’s new album The Space Between The Shadows, his first recording in six years since the release of Proof of Like, via Napalm Records (order options can be found here). While not exactly a concept album, The Space Between The Shadows is a manifesto of sorts that brings together six years of lessons, personal growth, and reclamation that for anyone who has struggled for periods of time in their life would know has been a process that has been anything but easy.

This is six years of dedication, hard work, and internal growth scattered through twelve songs that is an incredible journey of ups and downs. Within these lessons found on the record, listeners will be able to find hope and solace in hearing someone who understands and can relate to their own individual circumstances. They will relate with their own frustrations, gather hope, and find victories and losses that make them think, “this reminds me exactly of the way I’m feeling right now.” Upon its release in March, the first single “Purpose For Pain” introduced listeners to a universal message of finding meaning during life’s darkest days, a general idea that continues throughout the rest of the album.

The latest single off of The Space Between The Shadows, the recently released “Gone Too Soon” is something we, unfortunately, all will feel at various points throughout our lives. The song was inspired by the recent deaths of Chris Cornell and Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington, among others, both of which hit Scott right where it hurts. Scott was deeply affected by seeing not only two of his musical peers of the late ‘90s and 2000s gone, but also just because of the simple fact that they were “gone too soon,” a feeling any fan of either musician also felt.

The album The Space Between The Shadows was released on July 19th, 2019, via Napalm Records:

Both deaths were heartbreaking and a lot of those depressive feelings that hit Scott around the pinnacle of Creed’s success resurfaced. Along with observing news stories about the rising suicide rate of U.S. military veterans, drug overdoses among many young people, and the continued epidemic of school shootings combined to hit him like a ton of emotional bricks. But rather than allowing this combination of negativity send him back to those dark places he once resided in, Scott exercised his undying creativity and wrote an excellent song that stands out as one of the many highlights contained on The Space Between The Shadows.

With success always comes failure. In all facets of life; from going to school, building a professional career, forming personal relationships, joy is also sometimes befallen by devastation. Scott Stapp has been on an incredible musical journey now for over 20 years and counting. He has climbed to the highest heights and fallen to the lowest lows. But through it all, he has never given up. Sometimes hope is all that we need. It is the outlet to unbelievable triumphs and fulfillment. It’s really all about remaining committed to yourself and your ideals and these are all the things that have fuelled Scott Stapp forward in his continued journey of redemption.

The Space Between The Shadows is a lesson to keep fighting, keep moving forward, to not stop, to keep your eyes on the goals that lay far away in the distance. Life is sometimes messy or uneven and Scott Stapp can attest to that. But he can also attest to being a man of commitment and perpetual drive. Even 20 years later, the enduring phrase “can you take me higher” has never been more relevant than it is today.

Scott breaks down his single, “World I Used to Know:”

Scott Stapp Tour Dates:

07/27 – Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ
07/30 – The Palace Theatre – Greensburg, PA
08/01 – Feast of the Blessed Sacrament – New Bedford, MA
08/02 – The Wilbur – Boston, MA
08/03 – Aura – Portland, ME
08/07 – Manchester Music Hall – Lexington, KY
08/08 – Cannery Ballroom – Nashville, TN
08/23 – Perham Hall – Zillah, WA
08/25 – Revolution Hall – Portland, OR
08/27 – Triple Door – Seattle, WA
08/29 – PIG OUT IN THE PARK – Spokane, WA
08/31 – Fort Randall Casino & Hotel – Lake Andes, SD
09/06 – Las Vegas, NV
09/07 – The Canyon Montclair – Montclair, CA
09/08 – The Canyon Santa Clarita – Santa Clarita, CA
09/13 – The Cave – Big Bear Lake, CA
09/14 – The Canyon – Agoura Hills, CA
09/15 – Coach House Concert Hall – San Juan Capistrano, CA
09/19 – The Space Between The Shadows Tour w/ MESSER, Sunflower Dead – Rutland, VT
09/20 – Eastern States Exposition – West Springfield, MA
09/21 – STRAND CENTER – Plattsburgh, NY
09/26 – Capitol Theatre – Clearwater, FL
09/27 – Broward Center for the Performing Arts – Ft Lauderdale, FL
09/30 – Scott Stapp – Decatur, GA
10/03 – Florida Theater – Jacksonville, FL
10/04 – Hard Rock Live – Orlando, FL

Scott digs into his single, “Gone Too Soon:”