DEVIN TOWNSEND - "[A.I.] Is Inevitable ... This Works Great For Me."
TLDRIn a revealing interview, Devin Townsend discusses his journey as a musician, his recovery from alcoholism, and the impact of his experiences on his creative process. He shares his thoughts on AI, its creative potential, and how he integrates it into his work. Devin also talks about his signature guitar tone, his approach to touring, and the importance of staying true to oneself in the ever-changing landscape of music.
Takeaways
- 🎶 Devin's journey of success is marked by personal growth and achieving aspirations he had as a younger individual.
- 🚗 Devin reflects on the humble beginnings and the transition from a struggling musician to being interviewed in a Corolla.
- 🏥 Devin's recent life has been busy with friends' health issues and the mundane tasks of life, which sometimes keep him away from his creative space.
- 🍂 Devin talks about the challenges of sobriety, especially the first year, and the profound lifestyle changes it brings.
- 🧘 Devin's approach to addiction recovery involves recognizing the void that led to addiction and focusing on filling that void in healthier ways.
- 🤖 Devin views AI as a tool rather than a threat, and he finds it creatively interesting, especially in music and visual arts.
- 🎸 Devin's guitar tone is distinctive and powerful, and he has noticed a shift in modern guitar tropes, preferring a smoother mid-range sound.
- 🎹 Devin has recently become fond of certain pieces of equipment that have become indispensable in his creative process, such as the Axe Effects Orion and a Yamaha keyboard.
- 🎶 Devin's early solo work was influenced by his emotional state at the time, and he doesn't shy away from his past work, even if it's different from his current direction.
- 🚫 Devin has no regrets about not revisiting his past work with Strapping Young Lad, as he feels it's not where he's at currently.
- 🎵 Devin's approach to music creation is to follow his creative inclinations, which align with his current life circumstances and emotional state.
Q & A
What does Devin describe as the biggest challenge after becoming sober?
-The biggest challenge Devin faced after becoming sober was the social aspect, as he had to adjust to the absence of alcohol-related activities and rebuild relationships without the crutch of alcohol.
How does Devin view the use of AI in his creative process?
-Devin sees AI as a sophisticated tool that can be creatively interesting. He uses it for visualizing concepts, refining ideas, and exploring new avenues in his work, such as orchestrating with AI-generated music.
What was Devin's approach to handling the negative emotions from his time in Strapping Young Lad?
-Devin channeled his negative emotions into his music, which led him to create heavier music. However, he later realized that being good at something doesn't necessarily mean it's the right path for him, leading to a shift in his musical direction.
How does Devin's current guitar tone differ from modern trends?
-Devin's current guitar tone tends to avoid the modern trend of a clangy, mid-range heavy sound. He prefers a smoother upper mid-range and a sound that has a soft attack, which is different from the gang-like sound that is popular among younger players.
What equipment has Devin found indispensable recently?
-Devin has found the Axe Effects Orion, a small amplifier with a load-balanced output, to be indispensable. It allows him to create a hybrid sound using his favorite effects and an IR. He also appreciates the SSL unit that acts as a channel strip for mixing and a small Yamaha keyboard for identifying notes.
How does Devin feel about his past work with Strapping Young Lad?
-Devin is proud of his work with Strapping Young Lad and cherishes the experiences he had with the band. However, he acknowledges that it was a different phase in his life and he has moved on to different creative pursuits.
What was Devin's initial reaction to being dropped by record labels?
-Devin was initially frustrated and angry when he was dropped by record labels. This led him to write heavier music as a form of expression and to prove himself in the industry.
How does Devin's personal life influence his creative process?
-Devin's personal life greatly influences his creative process. He tends to create music that reflects his current state of mind, whether it's chaotic, balanced, or angry, which allows him to produce work that is authentic and meaningful to him.
What is Devin's perspective on the potential of AI?
-Devin views AI as having a lot of potential and believes that fearing it is unnecessary. He thinks AI should be approached as a tool that can be used creatively and effectively, rather than being seen as a threat.
How does Devin manage his time between his creative work and other life responsibilities?
-Devin struggles to balance his time between creative work and life responsibilities, such as family and yard work. He wishes he could spend more time in his studio creating but acknowledges that life often gets in the way.
What advice does Devin have for dealing with the fast-paced nature of social media?
-Devin advises distancing oneself from social media's constant stream of outrage and trends. He believes that focusing on one's own life, family, and creative work is more important and that being constantly outraged is not conducive to productivity or mental health.
Outlines
🎉 Meeting Devin and Life Achievements
Devin reflects on his life achievements, mentioning that he feels successful now that he's being interviewed while the interviewer is in a Corolla. He talks about his aspirations from his youth and how he's managed to tick them off his list. Devin is currently in his studio in Vancouver, Canada, and discusses the challenges of balancing creative work with life's responsibilities, such as caring for a friend with cancer and dealing with yard work. He also expresses his desire to spend more time in his studio, as he has many ideas waiting to be explored.
🍷 Sobriety and Personal Growth
Devin shares his journey of sobriety since 2018, highlighting the profound lifestyle adjustments that come with the first year of being sober. He discusses the social challenges of giving up alcohol, such as losing connections based on partying and the need to consciously cut certain people out of his life. Devin believes that addiction fills a void, and recognizing this void helps in managing the need to escape through substances. He appreciates the positive impact his sobriety has had on those close to him.
🤖 Embracing AI and Futurism in Creativity
Devin talks about his interest in futurism and sci-fi themes in his music. He shares his thoughts on AI, viewing it as a sophisticated tool rather than a threat. He finds AI creatively interesting and uses it in various applications, such as visualizing concepts and creating music. Devin believes that fearing AI is unnecessary and that it's better to ride the wave of technological advancement rather than being crushed by it. He also mentions his preference for staying away from social media to avoid being influenced by its constant fluctuations in sentiment and focus on his work instead.
🎸 Guitar Tone and Modern Music Trends
Devin discusses his famous guitar tone and his approach to guitar sounds. He talks about the evolution of his guitar tone from the 80s and 90s to the present, mentioning different amplifiers he's used. Devin critiques the 'clangy' sound popular among younger players, which he feels lacks a smooth upper mid-range. He explains his preference for a crunchy tone with a soft attack and how he adjusts his equipment to achieve the desired sound. Devin also mentions his recent equipment acquisitions, such as the Axe Effects Orion amplifier and an SSL plugin, which have become indispensable to his creative process.
🎵 Solo Material and Strapping's Legacy
Devin talks about his solo work and the differences between his early solo material and his time with the band Strapping Young Lad. He discusses the emotional and creative journey that led him to create heavy music, including the challenges he faced with record labels and the formation of his own label. Devin shares his realization that success in a genre he wasn't fully passionate about could lead to long-term dissatisfaction. He emphasizes the importance of authenticity in his creative process and how his life experiences shape the music he creates.
🙏 Gratitude and Future Endeavors
In the final part of the conversation, Devin expresses his gratitude for the opportunity to share his experiences and thoughts. He appreciates the influence his music has had on others and looks forward to the next phase of his career. Devin talks about his intention to remove himself from external influences and focus on creating something truly unique. He ends the conversation by thanking the interviewers for their time and interest in his work.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Aspirations
💡Creative Life
💡Recovering Alcoholic
💡Futurism
💡Social Media
💡Guitar Tone
💡Mental Health
💡Addiction
💡Authenticity
💡Solo Material
Highlights
Devin's life achievement and current situation, being interviewed while the interviewer is in a Corolla.
Devin's aspirations and accomplishments, checking off items from his younger years' list.
Devin's current location and work situation in his studio in Vancouver.
The impact of a friend's cancer diagnosis on Devin's availability for work.
Devin's struggle to balance creative life with yard work and other responsibilities.
Devin's journey as a recovering alcoholic and his over 5 years of sobriety.
The profound lifestyle adjustment Devin experienced in the first year of sobriety.
Devin's observation on how people's perception of him changed after becoming sober.
Devin's perspective on the social aspect of addiction and recovery.
Devin's approach to filling the void left by addiction and managing the need for escape.
Devin's creative use of AI and his views on its potential and application in his work.
Devin's thoughts on the fear of AI and its inevitable role in the future.
Devin's strategy for staying focused and avoiding the pitfalls of social media.
Devin's description of his current work-life balance and the challenges of being creative amidst life's demands.
Devin's famous guitar tone and his take on modern guitar tropes.
Devin's preference for a specific mid-range sound in his guitar tone and his critique of the 'clangy' modern sound.
Devin's recent indispensable gear acquisitions and their importance for his work.
Devin's use of the Axe Effects Orion amplifier and his reasons for choosing it for touring.
Devin's creative process and how it has evolved over time, from Strapping Young Lad to his solo work.
Devin's decision to not reunite with Strapping Young Lad and his focus on his current path.
Devin's reflections on his early solo material and its connection to his emotional state at the time.
Devin's thoughts on exploring new genres and styles in his music, driven by his current life and emotions.
Devin's philosophy on following creative inclinations and the importance of authenticity in his work.
Devin's gratitude for not being bound by past successes and his freedom to explore new musical directions.
