Mike Shinoda and the rest of Linkin Park shared how the collaboration between the band and Riot came to be.
With the biggest night of the year for League of Legends (LoL) fast approaching, both esports and music fans are abuzz as Linkin Park is set to perform the 2024 League of Legends World Championship anthem, “Heavy is the Crown,” live at the Opening Ceremony of the Worlds 2024 Grand Finals.
This marks an exciting moment for fans who grew up listening to Linkin Park and playing LoL. The band’s return to the stage is even more poignant following a long hiatus since the passing of lead singer Chester Bennington in 2017.
At Worlds Media Day, Maria Egan, Riot Games' Global Head of Music, sat down with Linkin Park to discuss their comeback, the making of “Heavy is the Crown,” and what’s on the horizon for the band.
Mike Shinoda was candid when asked how the band felt about performing at Worlds. “[I was] so nervous,” Shinoda admitted. “It feels like a different kind of experience, yeah, it's different from our regular concert.”
Linkin Park's return and the making of “Heavy is the Crown”
Egan praised the collaboration, saying that “Riot is really proud to be part of this incredible return to the spotlight.” She recounted her early conversations with Shinoda when the project was still a well-kept secret.
When prompted about the excitement behind collaborating with Riot, Shinoda explained, “we had to let you in on our secret first.” He revealed that he’s known several people from Riot for years, including co-founder Brandon Beck.
“I've had a relationship with folks from Riot for a while… Brandon Beck and I used to talk once in a while, and eventually, I met Christian [Linke] from Arcane,” he added. Over time, Shinoda connected with people from Riot’s Worlds, Arcane, and VALORANT teams, even noting that VALORANT is “one of [his] favourite games.”
As Linkin Park began creating new music, the conversations with Riot about Worlds became “almost natural,” as the band and Riot shared a common creative vision. “There’s a lot of synergy between the way they look at things creatively and the things we’re doing creatively,” he shared.
In response to a question from TechStorm’s Kenneth Lim about what message "Heavy is the Crown" would convey to non-gaming fans, band member Dave replied, “It’s a great question. I think for gaming fans and non-gaming fans alike, our approach to music has always been about connection.
“So with this album in general, and Heavy is the Crown in particular, I think it's already working. You know, people can connect with it, they can know that they're not alone,” he added.
"I think one of the best parts about music in general, at least in my life, is it gave me a connection to be able to emotionally connect with the world around me in a safe and exciting and fun way, to feel community and to feel a part of something that was bigger than myself. So that's kind of like all we've ever wanted to do with music, and with that song in particular, I think people are connecting with it in that way, and hopefully that continues.”
Egan also highlighted the anthem’s success: Heavy is the Crown quickly became the most-watched Worlds anthem, amassing nearly 10 million views within its first day and over 360 million streams. Joe Hahn, confident in the song’s impact, said, “I expect it to go even further… The DNA of Riot, League of Legends, and Worlds fits well with what the band’s been about historically.”
“Our audience grew up playing on Nintendo, then moved to consoles, PC games, and now, you know, games like League of Legends. Seeing that competitive atmosphere and the love for gaming just clicks with us. We love it when fans are enthusiastic about what we’re doing, and with Riot, the passion, storytelling, visuals — it all made so much sense.”
In a light-hearted moment, Mike teased Joe Hahn about the possibility of seeing some Joe Hahn-inspired cosplay, sparking laughter. Emily chimed in, mentioning that Colin Brittain, the band’s drummer, is an avid cosplayer. “Colin loves cosplay. He's really good at it.”
Despite the gentle nudging, Colin kept his cosplay interests under wraps. “Sorry, guys, we tried,” Shinoda laughed.
Heavy is the Crown to have a special Arcane Season 2 version
Egan also revealed that Heavy is the Crown has two versions. The first, already known as the Worlds 2024 anthem, will be joined by a second version specifically crafted for the upcoming season of Arcane, Riot’s animated Netflix series.
During the interview, Mike and bandmate Emily discussed how the second version came to life. “We love the show,” Mike explained. “The opportunity arose to contribute as they were writing for it. I got into a room with some of the music team and wrote a part that connected with Heavy is the Crown. The two elements kind of evolved together, and Emily sang it both ways.”
Emily added, “It was actually harder to sing it the quiet way… really challenging. Really, really quiet.”
What's next for Linkin Park?
Looking ahead, Egan shared how, at the band’s recent show in L.A., the audience was a blend of long-time and new fans. Mike added, “I asked the crowd who’d seen the band before, and who hadn’t—it was about 50-50.” Colin also revealed what’s next: “We have an album coming out on 15th November, which we’re really excited about.” The band also has a lineup of international shows planned, with stops in Paris, Dallas, Bogotá, and Brazil.
Worlds 2024 kicks off at 2:00 PM GMT (10:00 PM Singapore Time, 7:00 AM PST), featuring performances by Ashnikko, Mars Atlas of Forts, Tiffany Aris, and headliners Linkin Park. Fans can expect an epic showdown as defending champions T1 face LPL powerhouse Bilibili Gaming in the Grand Finals.