SOUNDGARDEN singer Chris Cornell spoke with ARTISTdirect news recently about a number of topics including his contribution to the new Relativity Media film Machine Gun Preacher called 'The Keeper'. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

ARTISTdirect: On 'The Keeper', it sounds like you're telling a story that belongs to both you and Sam Childers (played by Gerard Butler). What's your take on the song? Is that on the mark?

Cornell: "Well, I would say what you just described is probably the best possible outcome. I don't think I or anybody could write a song about someone else without the author's personality, thoughts, or emotions included. The old adage is 'Every time you paint someone's picture it's really a self-portrait.' I believe in that to some degree. I think you have to be able to relate to it. If you can relate to the person and your interpretation of that person's feelings and actions, then you can write about their experience as if you were them. You can do that projection, and it's not a big leap from you to them. If you can't, then it's harder. In this case, I can understand where the passion and the empathy would come from. Certainly, there are similar aspects in terms of understanding what it feels like when you're struggling with substance abuse and feeling directionless as well as having that clouded mental feeling and having to dig your way out of that. It's not only difficult to dig your way out and just lead a normal life, but to dig your way out, move on, and do something tremendous like Sam did is something I can see the kernels of. It flowers into his story. That's something he did. Beyond that, there's a whole bunch of inspiration. I think the song really sticks with the idea of imagining that Sam Childers is singing it. What is he singing? It's a sort of testimonial to the kids he puts his life on the line for. In that testimonial, the singer is really saying, 'I'm not Moses. I'm not this grandiose savior to be worshipped. I'm just a guy who has faults, and I know it as much as anybody.' However, this person who does have faults and who isn't Moses is going to be here until he dies doing what he does for others. That was my way of being able to really get into the song without saying that I lived it because I haven't."

ARTISTdirect: Is The Keeper indicative of your creative process on the new Soundgarden or has that been much heavier?

Cornell: "Well, no matter what, Soundgarden is always going to be heavier. However, I also think musically the new Soundgarden stuff is different than anything we've ever done. Having said that, I think that's a theme we've always had. I think every time we've made a record it wasn't really that easy to compare it to the previous one—other than that we're the same band. I think may be some moments that are sort of sonically quieter and more stripped-down. On the whole, it's a rock record. That's what we do."

Read the entire interview here.