Devin Townsend Project – Devin Townsend

Devin Townsend draws influence from a diverse range of musical genres, most prominently from the heavy metal universe. Townsend’s extreme musical polar opposites of Strapping Young Lad and the Devin Townsend Project, along with numerous bits and pieces in between have defined not only his musical aspirations, but also express a deep and meaningful ideology.

Doing away with regurgitated questions. Metal Obsession’s Anwar Rizk sat back and gave Devin Townsend the opportunity to speak about his true feelings towards becoming a “rock star”, whilst kissing his ass in the process.

Metal Obsession: I guess the most obvious question to ask first would be. What are your expectations of Soundwave?

Devin Townsned: Its going to be hot! [laughs]

MO: [laughs] That was easy. 

DT: [laughs] I’ve been talking about Soundwave for the last couple of hours in these interviews and the tendency for anyone would be to be intimidated by it, right? Because there are so many amazing bands. What I bring to the table. Not only for Soundwave but in general is just, me.

Like, I do what I do. As uncool as that may be to a certain point. I’m really good at being me. So if I go into it with that perspective and go out there and do what I do. Try to be the best, right? Then I can add another colour to the palette that could be really cool. I just think its going to be awesome!

MO: Australia has always been your biggest supporter. Whatever happens you’ll make a lot of people happy.

DT: Thats the goal, honestly. I mean through all these records that I’ve done recently and these bullshit personal little dramas where I felt like I needed to latch onto the audience for the last 20 years or whatever. It really has come down just to that, man. Its like I feel very happy to have this opportunity to play music and I want to make music that makes people happy. The Ziltoid character and all the other cool stuff. Thats it!

Like anyone who claims to be an artist. I think what my music means to me and how important is it to me, personally. I mean I think its important. I think it means a lot to me, but in the whole scheme of things its just music, you know. Like another band playing more music. So a little bit of perspective goes along way, you know. Through all of these four records (‘Ki’, ‘Addicted’, ‘Deconstruction’ and ‘Ghost’) that I recently did. I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m an entertainer and a musician and I like that people enjoy what I do.

I see Soundwave as a great opportunity for me to put that into action.

Devin Townsend Project performing ‘By Your Command’ at Tuska Open Air in 2011.

MO: Regardless of making others happy. Are you happy with yourself?

DT: I’m happy than I’ve ever been. I have been trying to take some minutes to sit. Not meditate, just sit and stop for awhile. In those moments I’m aware of the fact that I’m a mess, right? But I’m a happy mess. I think at the age of 40 I don’t think I know anybody who is just that. [laughs] Anyone who tries to say that their fine and not a mess. They’re either lying to themselves or others. No one knows what the fuck’s going on, man. I mean you throw kids into the equation and you do your best to get from point A to point B.

I’m very happy. However, I’m not comfortable. The only reason I’m not comfortable is the pace of my life is much faster than I ever expected it to be. I’m a pretty slow moving cow. I find myself in life that I’m [puts on enthusiastic voice] “touring, making records and there is DVDs and there is interviews. There’s kids and soccer practice”…and I’m like “Holy Shit!”. [laughs] I just wanted to sit down and watch a movie, you know. [continues laughing] But would I trade all that? No way! I love my life. Its definitely fast to the point where you just hope you can hang on rather than have it under control.

MO: What you do now is quite astounding. You should be proud of making people happy.

DT: That is awesome to hear, man. I really appreciate that. Because what an awesome job to have. To make everyone happy.

MO: Its hard trying to please everyone. However, you don’t seem like the kind of person to be pretentious or self absorbed. You come across more humorous and humble which is hard to find in an artist these days. You don’t pressure people into believing in something or to buy some fad. Its just an experience with you.

DT: Dude! You’re killing me! [laughs] Its really nice to hear stuff like that. But I was very lucky in the early part of my career where I worked with Steve Vai, Jason Newstead and Geezer Butler. All these people were legitimate rock stars, you know. I’d see their lives and I’d see what my relationship was with all those people, but I never saw that I was true friends with any of those guys. I mean I did as a human, we were all friends….well, maybe not Geezer Butler.

But, you know. All those people, I saw what their lives had become and I learned from those experiences and to every one of those people, I was an asshole. I think my fear of becoming a “rock star” was to be an asshole to those people in ways which were unfair. Now I feel I’m afraid to do anything that hints at that sort of shit. But the downside of it is; the bigger this gets, the more you have to protect yourself from the onslaught of it all. Specifically when people say your reputation develops to a point where they assume you’re the kind of person who will always make time for people or whatever. But then you get a point where you think “What if I don’t want to be that person?”.

What if your done, you’ve played some shows and they’ve fucked you up and then you don’t come out. I think the whole reason behind the rock star mentality growing in some people is because it just compounds itself. It just takes one event, you know. I try to go out of my way to go after shows and meet as many people as I possibly can, right! Its tiring because you can’t be yourself, because you have to be the recipient of a projection in a lot of ways. Say if someone has an emotional connection to your music. A lot of the times its rude not to allow them to tell you what they feel.

When I first started, if someone said something really over the top about a song. My reaction would be “Dude! You have to get a grip, man!”, “Its just a song!” or ” Its an album”. Its like a reflection of not being able to take a compliment. One of my best friend’s said to me the other day. If someone gave me a compliment I wouldn’t let them finish. Its like “Ok! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”. He said “You have to stop that.” You are offending me by not allowing me to say “Hey! I think you did a great job!”. Because what you’re saying to me, by not allowing me what I want to say is essentially saying that my opinion is invalid and I have no idea what the fuck I’m talking about.

Its a defense mechanism you have to put up when people are saying something about music which is more to do with me being a musician, not you personally! So when people are saying something about it. It takes a lot of effort to not let that affect you, you know what I mean? I mean you don’t go home to your wife and say “…by the way. My shit doesn’t stink!” [laughs]

In the real world it doesn’t fly, none of it fly’s. I guess my long winded point, because I’m just fucking exhausted, sorry man. [laughs]

MO: [laughs] Thats ok! Say what you need to say.

DT: The long winded point is. At the end of the show it takes a lot of effort to stay for people, but its also very important to stay for people. But if you get to a point where you think your career is just to get to another point. It seems endless, you know. Just so you can get to the next show the next day. You have to put an end to it. Once you start to put an end to it. That becomes the point where you’ve changed or your an asshole or whatever. Its a fine line between appearing like your humble verses being totally public and personally insecure. At the same time though, what has defined my music for so many years is trying to figure this shit out. Its interesting that this is happening in public. What does that say about my need for attention?

I’d hate to think, right? But at the same time I’m 40 years old and this is where I am and I love it. Its all part of the job and I’m down with it.

MO: Looking back. I’ve always seen SYL (Strapping Young Lad) as a manifestation of aggression. Yet there is a sense of equilibrium now with what you do. You seem to have channeled all that aggression, negativity and whatever else that was in your life and put it on a more positive path.

DT: Yeah! I appreciate that recognition of it too. To be honest I’ve never been emotional to a point where I wear my heart on my sleeve. Like for instances four people in my family died recently and I couldn’t react to it. I was…”Shit!”. Then we had kids and I couldn’t process it. Since we had kids, one of those kids fell out a window, and lived and it was super fucking heavy. All the time I’m thinking “Why can’t I react to this?”. It’s like “What is wrong with me?”. You know? Then I realise its perhaps that I’m not numb to these things. Its just my ability to react to these emotions is a lot more left brain than I had given it credit for, you know. So musically, I represent certain things in life that I’m also entirely oblivious too. You know what I mean?

Well, not oblivious. That’s the wrong way to put it. But unwilling to wear it on my sleeve. Its interesting man. I think if there is anything that the audience can relate to. Its perhaps my analysis of those emotions allowing me musically to represent things that are very emotional. Perhaps more emotional than some other musician’s doing a similar thing to me. Because it doesn’t come out in real life. It all seems to go into the music.

My god, man! I remember going to a psychiatrist once and he was like “Wow! Dude!” [laughs] I’m like “I don’t know what to tell you, brother!” [continues laughing]. “Here’s $80. Can I leave now?” [laughs]

Dude! I gotta go. I’ve got another interview to do. Sorry dude. I’ve rambled on like an idiot. [laughs]

MO: [laughs] Not at all. Its been a pleasure, mate.

Make sure to catch the Devin Townsend Project at Soundwave 2012.

SOUNDWAVE FESTIVAL VENUES AND DATES FOR 2012

BRISBANE: 25TH FEBRUARY – SOUNDWAVE FESTIVAL @ RNA SHOWGROUNDS / SOLD OUT

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=246313265416952

SYDNEY: 26TH FEBRUARY – SOUNDWAVE FESTIVAL @ OLYMPIC PARK / SOLD OUT
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=233867790003182

MELBOURNE: 2ND MARCH – SOUNDWAVE FESTIVAL @ MELB SHOWGROUNDS / SOLD OUT
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=243654682348739

ADELAIDE: 3RD MARCH – SOUNDWAVE FESTIVAL @ BONYTHON PARK
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=279093168779036

PERTH: 5TH MARCH – SOUNDWAVE FESTIVAL @ CLAREMONT SHOWGROUNDS
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=282403391778781

You can also catch Devin Townsend Project, along with Meshuggah and Dredg in Sydney and Melbourne.  Tickets on sale now!

TUESDAY 28TH FEBRUARY SYDNEY, THE FACTORY- LICENSED ALL AGES
www.oztix.com.au

WEDNESDAY 29th FEBRUARY MELBOURNE, THE FORUM- 18+
www.ticketmaster.com.au

Presented by Soundwave Touring

For more info, head on over to www.soundwavfestival.com