Linkin Park’s Joe Hahn has addressed claims that a “feminist agenda” was behind the band’s decision to hire Emily Armstrong as their new vocalist. He discussed the topic in a recent interview with NME.
Hahn spoke about the band’s choice to bring in a female singer to replace the late Chester Bennington for their comeback with the album “From Zero.” He addressed whether the move had led to any backlash or misunderstanding.
Asked, “Have you had to deal with any misconceptions or stigmas since introducing a female singer that maybe you didn’t notice before?”, Hahn responded:
“No. I’m sure it’s out there. Maybe it has come and I’ve just ignored it. There is a lot of noise out there, and me just being older and a little bit wiser, I try to simplify my life, or at least what’s going on in my head,” Joe Hahn said.
He went on to explain how he processes outside criticism and the reasoning behind the band’s decision.
“All that kind of stuff just goes in one ear and out the other because I know that we’re doing something pretty cool. We’re not doing it to please people. We just know that it’s the right thing to do for us, and in turn it’s going to be the right thing for so many others out there,” he continued.
Hahn also dismissed the notion that the move was politically motivated.
“There’s no agenda from us as far as, ‘Oh, we want to be a feminist this and that’. We just see people as human beings that deserve to walk in wherever they feel like everyone else is going,” he added.
Linkin Park continues to tour and promote “From Zero” with Armstrong as their new lead vocalist.
The comments come as the band’s decision to bring Armstrong on board remains one of the most closely watched storylines of their comeback. That storyline traces back to the moment the lineup change was first revealed.
Linkin Park officially unveiled Emily Armstrong as its new co-vocalist on September 5, 2024, during a livestreamed event that doubled as the band’s first major performance in seven years. The same broadcast introduced drummer Colin Brittain and confirmed the band’s return following its extended hiatus after Chester Bennington’s death.
The band tied Armstrong’s arrival directly to the announcement of “From Zero” and an accompanying world tour, both unveiled at that same September 2024 event. Mike Shinoda and Joe Hahn have since spoken about how Armstrong and Brittain shaped the songwriting process behind the record. The pair’s presence in the studio influenced the direction of several tracks.
Armstrong, previously the frontwoman of Los Angeles alt-rock band Dead Sara, became the first woman to hold a lead-vocal role in Linkin Park’s history. Her transition from Dead Sara to one of rock’s most prominent bands marked a significant turning point in her career and drew widespread attention across the music industry.
Since her debut with the band, Armstrong has performed alongside Linkin Park at major festivals and events, including a headlining slot at Download Festival and a guest appearance with “America’s Got Talent” finalist Nene Royal during the show’s Season 21 finale. The band’s continued touring schedule underscores how fully Armstrong has been integrated into the group’s current chapter.
