Chris Taylor Brown has spent nearly a quarter-century at the forefront of Trapt’s hard-hitting journey, yet he still sounds like a kid discovering rock music for the first time. After catching their set at Boardwalk Rock last weekend—where “Headstrong” once again ignited the crowd—I reached out to ask about Trapt’s origins and what lies ahead. Chris was generous with his insights, tracing that initial spark back to a small California venue.
He remembered growing up in Los Gatos, California, and being a sophomore in high school when he first saw a band called Dredg opening for Papa Roach at the Cactus Club. “We were sophomores at that time,” he wrote. “We were also fans of Metallica, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Rage Against The Machine, Deftones and Incubus at that time, but watching the energy of that Dredg and Papa Roach show live at a small club definitely inspired us to start Trapt the most.”
That raw intensity remains central to Trapt’s creative process. When I asked how the band has balanced their gritty sound with catchy hooks—especially since “Headstrong” launched them into the mainstream—Chris explained that they still lead with the music. “We always start with the music first. The point has always been to create a piece of music that inspires lyrics. We also don’t want to make the same song twice or copy anyone else, so if we write anything that reminds us of anything, we scrap it.” In other words, Trapt’s songwriting formula remains simple: hunt for a spark, build something entirely new, and let those riffs guide the words.
Whispers of a heavier new LP have been circulating, and Chris confirmed they’re real. “We are close to halfway finished with a new album and yes, there will be some of the heaviest Trapt songs we have done when the new album comes out. We’re making songs that are not just heavier, but have a new sound we are absolutely loving.” He went on to explain that Trapt tends to alternate between harder and softer records, saying, “It just depends on what I, as the singer/lyricist, have going on in my life.”
Trapt’s recent evolution isn’t happening in a vacuum, though. The band has weathered its share of online controversies—bans, cancellations, and algorithm-driven silences. When I asked how those viral moments affected their engagement with fans, Chris didn’t hold back. “Well, when the biggest social media apps in the world collectively decide that you don’t get a voice, you stop using it. Haven’t spoken about anything but music in years at this point, and we don’t interact with trolls anymore at all.” Between 2020 and 2022, Trapt watched Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter ban their accounts, cutting off more than a million followers. “The whole 2020 plan was just to see if ‘the opposite opinion’ of what mainstream media puts out there is allowed, lol. We proved it is not. You just have to make your music and perform for your fans and keep your mouth shut if what you’re saying is not mainstream media approved.”
That philosophy—letting the music speak for itself—has kept Trapt focused on what truly matters: the live experience. In Chris’s view, performing for fans without distractions is the ultimate reset. As he laid out his next big goal, his energy was unmistakable: “Finishing our new album by mid next year and, at that same time, announcing our 25th anniversary tour dates for 2027 (playing our first album in its entirety as well as a few songs from other albums, probably a new song or two as well).”
For a frontman whose journey began in a dimly lit San Jose club, seeing Boardwalk Rock’s stage lights illuminate thousands of arms raised in unison is a reminder of how far Trapt has come—and how much further they intend to go.
