Mike Shinoda Reflects On Linkin Park's She Couldn't: "We Set The Groundwork For Our Later Evolution"

Though hardcore Linkin Park fans have known about She Couldn't since it was leaked online back in 2009, on August 13 the band officially released the Hybrid Theory-era track to coincide with that album's huge new 20th anniversary edition.

And this throwback has left Mike Shinoda to do some reflecting, taking to Instagram to post his thoughts on the song 20 years on from its initial inception. “She Couldn’t is one of the earliest demos we made when Chester [Bennington] joined the band,” he explains. “Two things stand out about the song, to me:

Read this: The first reaction to Linkin Park's previously unreleased song, She Couldn't

“1.) The programmed beat and focus on synth sounds and vocal loops (rather than heavy guitars) foreshadowed a future of the band many years after Hybrid Theory. In searching for our 'first sound', we set the groundwork for our later evolution.

“2.) The softly-sung 'you’re not alone' refrain reminded me that, although we debuted with a song screaming 'shut up', what most fans came to find out was that empathy and community were just as integral a part of LP’s DNA from the very beginning.”

Mike adds: “Sincerely, thank you for the excitement about the #hybridtheory20 package. We’re so grateful to have had you with us all these years.”

She Couldn't is taken from Hybrid Theory: 20th Anniversary Edition, which is due out on October 9, 2020 via Warner Records – check out some of the amazing bundles you can pick up via linkinpark.com.

“It’s incredible to think it’s been 20 years since Hybrid Theory was released,” say the band. “All gratitude to our fans who made this epic journey we started 20 years ago possible. We dedicate our music to you. We rededicate our Hybrid Theory to you.”

If you haven't already done so, listen to She Couldn't below:

Read this: The inside story of Linkin Park’s Hybrid Theory