Aaron Lewis discusses how his childhood trauma continues to shape Staind’s music in an interview with Loudwire Nights.
Lewis explained that the darkness in the band’s sound comes from a specific source. He said the new record is a direct continuation of his lifelong struggle with trauma from his past.
“I find myself having to pinch myself and going, ‘Is this for real?’ I mean, is this really, this is my life? This is insane. This is crazy. This is my life. I’m 54 years old, somehow still doing this,” Lewis said. “And all of a sudden playing to a sold-out shed full of kids that are my kids’ age. God bless.”
He went on to describe the nature of that darkness more directly. “That darkness is still there. What that darkness is, a full-grown man of 54 years old that is still trying to navigate his way through the childhood trauma that I had to endure to get to where I was going. This record is a continuation of that without question.”
The comments were made during a discussion about Staind’s new album and Lewis’s continued work with the band.
Staind’s new album, titled “The Space Between The Darkness And The Light,” marks the band’s ninth studio record. The band completed production with producer Erik Ron in spring 2026. The first single from the album, “Ghosts,” was released on October 14, 2026, with the full album expected in early 2027.
The theme of trauma and personal struggle in Staind’s music is not new. Their 2001 album “Break the Cycle” explored family trauma through songs like “It’s Been Awhile” and became a major commercial success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200. Lewis and the band have used their music as a way to process difficult personal experiences throughout their career.
Staind was formed in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1995 with Lewis as lead vocalist and founding member. After a five-year hiatus, the band reunited in 2019 for festival performances and a hometown show that was later recorded for the album “Live: It’s Been Awhile.” In September 2023, Staind released their eighth studio album, “Confessions Of The Fallen,” which reached number one on Billboard’s Active Rock Album chart, marking their first new album in twelve years.
The band continues to connect with audiences across generations. In 2026, their deep cut “Warm Safe Place” found a new audience through TikTok. Staind’s “Break The Cycle” 25th Anniversary Tour is set to continue in new cities in 2027, bringing their music and message to fans old and new.
