Korn’s Creative Process: Ray Luzier Breaks Down the Band’s Approach
Drummer shares insights on Korn's collaborative songwriting, innovation, and the impact of live performances.
- Ray Luzier praises Korn’s willingness to experiment, from dubstep collaborations to returning to analog recording.
- Highlights Jonathan Davis’ role in bringing fully-formed songs like “Never Never” to the band.
- Describes the energy of live performances as irreplaceable, with fans singing along to both new and classic tracks.
Korn’s drummer, Ray Luzier, has been pounding the skins for the band since 2007, and he’s got plenty of stories to tell. In a chat with Modern Drummer, Luzier reflected on some of the band’s most memorable moments, from their biggest hits to their more out-there experiments. He’s clearly still got a lot of love for what they do, especially when they dive into fresh territory.
“I love making a new record and touring behind it. Now that I’m part of the band, getting to write with them, recording a track, and then hitting the stage to play those songs live—it’s the best,” he said. But make no mistake, the classics hold a special place. There’s a thrill in revisiting those older tracks that never fades.
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The creative process with Korn usually revolves around collaboration, but Luzier recalled moments where things veered off-script. “Sometimes, Jon will just walk in with a fully fleshed-out idea. Take ‘Never Never’ from The Paradigm Shift, which went to No. 1. That was all Jonathan. He brought the whole thing to us, and we were like, ‘Wow, this is catchy. What now?’ And he just shrugged and said, ‘Do whatever you want.’”
The drum track on that one? Jonathan had already laid down a simple programmed beat, so Luzier opted to keep things stripped-down. “I didn’t want to overplay it. It’s such a beautifully melodic song that it didn’t need anything flashy. Sometimes the best decision is to hold back.”
Korn is no stranger to pushing boundaries. In fact, they’ve practically made a career out of it. Luzier talked about their controversial foray into dubstep with 2012’s The Path of Totality. “We went full-on dubstep. Skrillex, 12th Planet, and a bunch of other DJs became part of our world. It was a huge left turn for us, and it didn’t sit well with some people. It made a lot of them angry, but at the same time, we gained new fans who were into that sound.”
Experimenting is Korn’s bread and butter. They’ve dabbled in so many different styles that it’s hard to keep up. Luzier pointed out how each album has its own vibe, whether it’s the heavier edge of The Serenity of Suffering or the more introspective The Nothing. Their latest release, Requiem, brought things back to basics.
“We went old school on that one. Analog recording, just getting in a room and jamming. That’s where some of the best moments come from, watching these roots turn into fully-grown songs. And when you see the crowd singing the words back at you, whether it’s 500 people or 50,000, there’s nothing like that energy.”
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For Luzier, the essence of Korn lies in their willingness to experiment. Whether they’re topping charts with catchy singles or alienating half their fanbase with a wild genre switch, the band isn’t afraid to take risks. “That’s what I love about this band,” he emphasized. “We’re never afraid to try something new. You can’t replace that live feeling—people connecting with the songs, feeling the energy on stage. It’s the best part of what we do.”
At the end of the day, Korn has spent decades evolving, and Luzier seems to be just fine with keeping things fresh, even if it means ruffling a few feathers along the way.
A star-studded night featuring Evanescence, Gojira, and other special guests at the BMO Stadium.
