Scott Stapp is most known for fronting the popular American rock band, Creed. The Grammy and American Music Award Winning band has sold over 40 million records worldwide to date. Stapp, after several years out of the spotlight returned with his book Sinners Creed in 2012 and just last month released a new solo album titled Proof of Life. 

We would like to thank Scott Stapp for taking the time to speak with BreatheCast. 

BreatheCast: You've had Proof of Life out for a month now today, how has it felt to finally have new music released?

SS: "It feels really good. I'm itching to get out and tour and play the songs. So thats the only thing I'm feeling everyday is I can't wait to get out and jam these tunes."

BreatheCast: These songs definitely feel the most personal or your life, would you say that is true?

SS: "I think that they are the most poignant and candid in terms of expressing my exact feelings as I talk about my journey and recovery process and back to my faith."

BreatheCast: Tell us the story behind your single, "Slow Suicide"?

SS: "I'm basically addressing in that song coming to grips with part of my past and confessing an error in my ways and in the way I was living my life. Then breaking through in the chorus, and expressing that moment of clarity where I just make that decision that I can't live like this anymore. It's talking about articulating choices and decisions that we make in our lives where we may not see the immediate danger in what we are doing but they are slowly killing us on so many levels physically and spiritually."

BreatheCast: You say that your book Sinners Creed helped bring Proof of Life to existence. Do you think the new album have still happened without the process of writing & releasing the book?

SS: "I absolutely think that writing the book helped me process my life and really work through a lot of things that were unresolved in my life that I feel like if I didn't work through in my book I never would've had the clarity to even be inspired to write these songs. So I definitely that without the book the album would not have been written."

BreatheCast: At any point in the last few years did you feel you were done making new music then?

SS: "You know it definitely crossed my mind at some of my lowest points but I think since I realized that there was a purpose within the struggle and there was a message within the mess I was in and had made for myself, thats when the music came back."

BreatheCast: What advice could you share with musicians coming up about all the different things they could face?

SS: "I think in terms of musically, just stay true to who you are. Don't try to conform to any specific style other then what you are passionate about creating. In terms of the decisions that you make, they have consequences. They can sneak up on you. Stay true to yourself in terms of making good and positive decisions. Surround yourself with people that speak truth into your life and put God first in all you do."

BreatheCast: Have you been writing music all of this time, or did you get away from it for awhile?

SS: "I would write in spurts. I would write a lot of my thoughts down on paper, lyrics and poetry, just expressing my feelings. I had really nothing that was motivating me, they were all just outbursts of particular phases that I was going through and trying to rediscover who I was as a human being."

BreatheCast: Do you think you were fighting being a 'role model' in your career before and how do you feel about embracing that now?

SS: "Early on, I definitely didn't want that responsibility because I knew I wasn't. So of course if my life wasn't aligned with that responsibility, then I was opposed to it. Now, I know what comes with the territory and I know how I'm personally living my life. If my life in any way can be an inspiration or an example, then that's good. I understand that there are responsibilities that come with various platforms in life and I've accepted that role. It's more natural now because I'm not trying to be something I'm not. My personal life is now more in line with that."

BreatheCast: How is your relationship with the guys from Creed currently?

SS: "They are doing their other projects and I'm doing mine. I feel that I have done my part in terms of the relationship and have kept my side of the street clean. I pray for those guys everyday and so from my standpoint it's all good."

BreatheCast: Are there any scriptures that you tend to fall back on when you are having a rough day?

SS: "Jeremiah 29:11, 'If you know the plans I have for you, they are not for disaster but plans for good to give you a future and for a hope...' That is something that I have to remind myself all the time during down days or times when I'm frustrated or things aren't going the way that I think they should go. Just continue to have faith and know that God didn't bring any of us as far as He has just to turn us back or abandon us. They may not be our way, sometimes we think we know what God's plan is and then when things start going in a different direction or not as fast as we want them to happen or what not we can get down, confused and frustrated. So I just have faith in God's word and know that whatever it is, God has a plan. 

BreatheCast: What are your touring plans for 2014?

SS: "We just announced a tour that is starting in March. Check out online on ScottStapp.com and my Facebook and Twitter for all the Dates. We start in Texas and just excited to get out and play this record."