I've seen a phrase that was originally coined on the internet as the programmer's credo but it feels appropriate for many things in my life at least - "We do these things not because they are easy, but because we thought they were going to be easy"
It's always seemed like Steve had grown a great admiration for you from afar, so it's amazing to hear you two got together and really connected in a way you never had an opportunity to in the past; there's no time like the present.
I've watched every update every week, Thank you so much for sharing your process with us. I know the long hours, the struggle, the technical issues etc - Will be worth it in the end, because your product is always great, the music, the guitar, the lyrics - Thank you for sharing YOU, with us
The stuff on emotions was beautiful. Recently went through something very hard, and realized how I just intellectualized feelings instead of just sitting and properly physically feeling them was important. Really wise words.
Oh god...my heart just sank for a second hearing the words "swan song". 🤣 Please Dev, I don't want to ever hear those words come out of your mouth again!
like in the past, maybe it's a swan song for what he sees as a chapter in his life. he often has his music act as doors that provide closure or new opportunities to the next stage in life, so maybe this is what he is referring to? But yeah, i'd be sad af too if he called it quits after this!!
You are such a beautiful soul. Above everything like the anxiety, the stress and all the other complications you put yourself through, your gratitude for everything life has to give you is always your brightest, warmest and truest emotion. It's truly inspiring and I just want to say thank you Dev because I am forever grateful to you. Your music saved me and I will never forget that 🤘♥️🤘
I definitely feel that social media and engaging thing. It's about creating balance between work flow and then feedback, but not expecting too much or too little. Thanks for the good vibes Devin, as always
Powernerd thus far has really resonated with me even though I obviously have yet to hear it. Nothing I do creatively is done or complete without my full attention and passion. Simple ideas can get out of hand rather fast.
Anyone else remember his updates back in the day, on the HevyDevy forums? This nail soup story strongly reminds me of Nail Broth, which was the working demo title for Gaia, off Synchestra (2006).
I agree with the early bed, early rise. Its the only time to get time for yourself. coffee, sunrise, even in the city its calm. Looking forward to the new album! i love these videos where you just talk. As I get ready for my 50's, I am searching for new ways to give myself inspiration to write and record again. My bitterness towards work is helping. lol. Been where I work for 25 years now. It bites into your energy!
As much as it vicariously pains me to hear about your balls in a taffy puller, I can't wait to hear the resultant vocals. I am so thankful to you for creating the artistic catalog you have. Your journey, especially over these past 10 years, has really spoken to my own path in life. When you've musically changed directions, I've found those albums to be what I needed to hear. I wish you all the best with Power Nerd, the Moth and every other future thing you set your mind to.
Was working on an IMCU/cardiology department as a registred nurse for five months .. team was toxic. Changing department was not an option and after I quit, it's exactly how I felt. This combinated lack of adrenaline, not being needed anymore and and resulting depression is exactly what happened. It was not my first job and it's always like that, afterwards. Sport and movement is what keeps me before falling down the spiral further, but it's SO hard to make a start alone, when there's 'nobody here' (Terria is usually on my playlist in those moments) I played a small gig two weeks after I quit. We advertised it at little and had a fun show. I can't imagine the pressure Devin and other musicians have to feel while playing every night, with this kind of adrenaline. I still felt like I could perform music forever. But musicians know, it's the 'things beyond things', which are preventing us to do so. A financial plan. The coorporate world of todays transnational music industry. It must have been a joy in medieval times to tour as a Lute player or whatever. Haha. Besides the law of the strongest, plague or horse carriages for touring, haha.
Devin I have listened to you since SYL and the accelerated evolution album cycle but as soon as I heard them albums i delved into your back catalogue and absorbed everything. You have been an incredibly important artist in my life and I always look forward to hearing what you are creating next. I am a loyal fan and supporter of your vision 🤘
It's funny to know someone for decades and having spent a lot of time with them, even in some depth, you still one day learn that they had a whole new side to them that is very impressive to you. And almost unbelievable that it has been in the friend you knew so well, all the time and you didn't see it or know it. Here the nail soup story is a stone soup. Probably German fairy tale or something, like Grimm's stories and others.
I truly think that this is my favorite update so far, regardless of being off the cuff. A lot of it resonated with a lot of people, I think. I know it did with me. Good luck on finishing the album and can't wait to listen to it when all is said and done! :D
Take care of yourself, Dev! We support you in all that you do, but you gotta make sure you put time aside for you. It's great you got together with Steve in person. Life is a trip indeed. Glad we get to go on it with you!
Art becomes all the more miraculous when we can see the human behind it. It becomes near transcendent when that human is such a down to earth and relatable person.
@dvntownsend thanks again, and always for your time. For sharing your thoughts and giving us a glimpse in to your orbit. As always, take care of yourself man. More power to your arm. 💪
I just wanted to say that your vulnerability in these updates is beyond refreshing to hear. It's inspiring to see an artist as tenured as you are still experiencing growth and resonating with the work you're creating. Truly a labour of love. Onward & upward. Thanks Dev!
I definitely relate to that thing about running everything wide-open redline and then when there is no demand for that, you start looking for conflict elsewhere. It’s a huge problem for me with my ADHD. Dopa-mining
I had no idea how much I needed to hear these thoughts untill I did,. Thank you 💖 Devin as always you are an Equalizer to my own essence of creativity, a harmonizer you could say ❤🤘🤘
Cheers Devy. Greatly appreciate these insights. It never comes off as self aggrandizing either. It's just human, and a perspective in the mind of a diverse creative!
Hey Dev, I hope you see this. I've had a life-changing couple of years as well and I just wanted to say your words at 33:23 really resonated with me and I wanted to let you know: Me too, man.
I don’t know if it’s because I was born May 4- ten years after you dev but I’ve always felt that we were on a similar path and you’ve been leading the way. Thank you 🙏
Actually glasses slide down less if they are more secured behind the ears. There are some models that are more shaped downwards at the end piece that goes behind your ears. It really makes a difference. :) also I don't like models that don't have those rubber nose pieces, they never stop to slide. I don't know why they are so fashionable nowadays, they are chunky too
Ironically, I was thinking "I've heard Dev say this before" just as you said that we've probably heard this before... You seem to be on the same creative treadmill with each record, not to make light of the lessons you learn each time, but it's a familiar comfort for you that is becoming uncomfortable. I heard this wise man that looks just like you say "The fastest way out is to go straight through". Go through.
Exercise is now my biggest challenge and never thought that would be a thing. Dealing with trauma is like playing the game superhot, where your adversary moves every time you do, only always three steps ahead. Trauma brings not wanting to be here and I used every drug I could find to dance with deletion. Now my drug is feeling my life force slip away. Its the most exhausting experience facing the unrealized demon that fed every bad experience in life.
Hey Dev! You should try martial arts. It creates very similar pathways in the brain that guitar does. Precise movements, repeated in training. Combine that with stretches and exercise, great for the brain chemistry!
Hey Dev, I really cannot wait to hear The moth! I imagine the album starting with the bare bones (nail and water) an all of your friends coming along and adding ingredients as the album goes, until it climaxes with this huge meal (Last Supper) that’s delicious beyond comprehension. If I’m right then contact me, I have ingredients in abundance ❤
Strong deja vu here, might have said this before. My hospice-moms cat who now stays with me insists on sitting on the laptop speakers when you're speaking. If that's an issue in Sweden, you must have severe cat distraction problems in BC. Depending on the mindset, all can be the good hearted kids they want to be and used to be. It's not for everyone, might be for the slightly autistic, works like a charm over here, whatever floats your toad 🙌 onto the rest of the video.
Sorry to post a question that I know has a very findable answer, but: do any of you know if Dev is writing Powernerd with Atmos? I know he talked about this a bunch of times in previous updates, but for the life of me, I can´t remember if he´s only using it for The Moth or no.
Pretty much one of the biggest badasses of the 80's. Lol. It's amazing the guy you search from "Strapping Young Lad" turned into such a nice looking dude.
Excited to see what Steve Vai and you did if any of that is for others consumption. I loved seing the video I'm linking showing the "joint shifting" technique four years ago and seeing how the guy is still rapidly advancing. He's been the "guitar god" as long as I have memories. One thing about the thought of not being young any longer is that everyone else is getting older with you. We are all just leaves floating down the river in the current. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Ks0EeVGtQCM.html
I love that idea that it was designed to just be simple and straight ahead... And it's apparently turned out less so. Aren't so many things in life like that?
Damn man, stop thinking so much! Record a rhythm guitar track, a lead guitar track, a drum track, a bass track, put a lead vocal on it, add a harmony vocal. DONE! I'll bet the easiest thing you can write will still be amazing and better than most anything out there. All those layers can hide the true beauty of your music, just let it go and free your burden!
not a fan of the ambience that is created by the guitar provided by a company. its just annoying noice... not emotional sounds, situational sounds, or whatever... just effects on top of effects, deployed by a stupid guitar..... distracting from what is the topic...... anyway.... love all of the music
