What does folk music have to do with Aaron Lewis and his metal band, Staind? A lot, surprisingly. It’s what Aaron spent most of his childhood listening to. The exposure to heartfelt folky lyrics that don’t let the sensitive parts of the human experience go unnoticed led to Aaron’s writing style in both his band-related and solo career.

And while you wouldn’t think that sensitivity and heartfelt lyrics would work in the metal world, they’re precisely what set Staind apart from the rest. We don’t know exactly which folk artists we have to thank for his songwriting talents, but we thank them all the same.

Staind, The Band

Before Aaron Lewis struck out on his solo career, he put together the band Staind, which flourished in the ’90s and early 2000s. The band was born at a Christmas party in 1993, where Aaron Lewis met and became friends with Mike Mushok. Once they figured out that they were the right musical match, Mushok brought in a drummer, Jon Wysoki, and a bass player whose time with the band was short.

They put out a debut album in 1996, which sold 2000 copies, though the band was not professionally represented. Just a year later, the group was discovered by the already successful Limp Bizkit, and their success took off.

Aaron’s Solo Career

The band put out album after album together until 2011, when Lewis decided to go into the music world on his own. He chose to let his folk roots shine through, changing his solo genre from his metal band past, to country. Though his solo debut album release was mediocre, his second one hit it out of the park. You may know it fro songs like “Endless Summer” and “Forever,” two of its three billboard hits. With his country roots acknowledged, he leaned into the genre, and it’s where he identifies as a musician today.