Slipknot’s Clown Discusses Cristina Scabbia’s Role in Look Outside Your Window
Shawn “Clown” Crahan has revealed how Lacuna Coil singer Cristina Scabbia came to appear on two tracks on Slipknot’s long-awaited project. Crahan spoke to Rolling Stone about the guest vocals and the recording process. His comments shed new light on the album’s origins.
How Scabbia joined the sessions
Crahan said Cristina Scabbia was invited through her relationship with Jim Root. Root and Scabbia dated from 2004 to 2017. Crahan asked Root if she could contribute, and Root agreed.
Scabbia recorded two parts. She performs on a spoken-word piece titled “Cristina” and on the song “Is Real”. Crahan had her write an Italian poem about dying batteries she described as Cannot be recharged.
Recording details and reactions
Crahan and Root worked with Scabbia to develop conviction in her delivery. He kept the original Italian text and liked hearing her read it naturally.
Corey Taylor reacted strongly when he heard her vocal on “Is Real”. Taylor had already recorded vocals for the track. Crahan said Taylor was surprised and impressed when Scabbia shifted from the poem into full singing.
Personnel involved
- Shawn “Clown” Crahan – percussion, co-founder
- Corey Taylor – frontman
- Jim Root – guitarist
- Sid Wilson – DJ
Open lab approach and unreleased material
Crahan said the group used an “open lab” approach during downtime in the All Hope Is Gone sessions. The method was inspired by producer Rick Rubin, who worked on 2004’s Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses.
The band carried the open lab into later work. For We Are Not Your Kind they recorded 21 songs and 27 interludes, using only three interludes. That left 24 additional interludes in the archives.
Release history and current status
Look Outside Your Window was first announced in 2018. It faced repeated delays because of touring and other recording commitments.
Crahan said the album will be released on Saturday, April 18, for Record Store Day. In 2024, Jim Root told Filmogaz.com he had once threatened to leak the record to force its release. Slipknot have no tour dates listed for 2026 and are writing a follow-up to 2022’s The End, So Far.
