DEVIN TOWNSEND PODCAST #8: Synchestra, The Hummer & Devlab
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- Опубліковано 7 чер 2024
- More of this stuff. Hope you're hanging in there =)
(0:00) - Synchestra as a reaction to Alien
(6:53) - Themes of Synchestra
(8:39) - Studio techniques
(11:53) - Notes from Africa
(12:48) - Reactions to Dev’s work
(24:54) - The mission of Synchestra
(27:46) - Vampira
(29:45) - Mental Tan
(36:58) - Judgement
(42:05) - A Simple Lullaby
(45:10) - Sunset
(46:20) - Personnel / Writing Synchestra
(52:15) - Recording
(1:15:06) - The Hummer
(1:18:43) - Devlab
(1:25:14) - Concept of The Hummer
(1:27:35) - Dev’s mindset in this era
(1:30:31) - Triumph
(1:32:33) - Baby Song
(1:34:42) - Writing themes
(1:36:25) - The name / Imagery
(1:40:25) - Relationships between albums
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Hallo friends, i am old (58y)man..my fav Singers are all older..Peter Gabriel, Robert Plant,Ian Gillian,Freddy Mercury.they touched me..and then i find not one,who can do it over Decades..And then ,a few weeks ago i find Devin(in Pandemic with Floor Jansen)and my new journy beginn. Dev is awesome 🤗
Synchestra is one of my favourite records
Simon Oliver same, it’s my fav dev album only because it was what got me into him
I was going to post this message but you beat me to it. Can't wait to listen to this episode.
mine too! my fav from Dev!
Same here. It was my first album of his and had just come out when I first heard of Devin and saw DTB live, so I went straight to Synchestra to see what it was all about. It's always been really special to me and I still love the sound and style on it.
It's amazing. Gaia is one of my favorite Devin tunes
I absolutely love Babysong. The rhythm changes, the massively groovy middle part, the crystalline pianos sprinkled in there and Devin's catchy vocal melodies. Extremely infectious song!
my first introduction was the live version from The Retinal Circus, literal goosebumps
Synchestra is one of my favs! I lose my cookies whenever I see you perform anything live from that album.
the idea behind The Hummer is the same as with cat purr. vibrating low frequency is supposed to have healing qualities, that's exactly why cats purr. so this also shows that you're a cat person Dev!
1:11:58
Sounds of the Underground in Toronto was the first time I ever saw you. I remember going for Opeth and DevilDriver, and hadn't really heard of anyone else or had them on my radar, but then you guys came on. I was right at the front of the GAs.
I was absolutely blown away by almost literally every second you were on stage. After the set I turned to my buddies and exclaimed it was incredible, and a guy a few rows back yelled "THAT'S STRAPPING YOUNG LAD BUDDY".
I still cherish seeing what ended up being your final show in TO with SYL at the Opera House. I lost my voice completely, and collapsed on the sidewalk after the show was over for a good 10-15min breather.
Though I still prefer the heavier stuff regardless of which band or avenue it comes from, I'm one of the fans in the boat that listens to all your work. Just keep being genuine to yourself. But you go over that nicely in these podcasts already.
Synchestra is by far one of my favorite albums ever. Love all of it but especially the first 3 songs
The first half of synchestra is some of his strongest material in his discography. Unfortunately there’s a lot of filler on the second half of it
@@ehoc42 no there isn't! everything is gold on this album.
@@ehoc42 for me, the album kicks off from Mental Tan onwards
@@Marol2137 agreed, the second half of the album is the best part for me personally. Gaia, Pixillate, Judgement, A Simple Lullaby and Sunset are like a journey I get to go on each time I listen.
I do love this album. But Gaia, Judgement, and a Simple Lullaby seem like filler to me. Especially a simple lullaby
I’m so happy you talked about Devlab. It’s one of my favorites of yours. It’s so abstract and completely resonated with my mindset at 19-20.
Dev: Synchestra is a very hard album to find.
UA-cam and Spotify: Have Synchestra.
PLEASE DON'T STOP DOING THIS
Coming back to this after a few days, I really enjoy hearing Devin talk about mixing and how he handled Synchestra himself, and the response / judgement he felt he maybe received from pro level audio guys. Maybe it's nostalgia, but I prefer the sound and production on a lot of his older material, including Synchestra, compared to newer "high end" modern mixes that come out today. I like it when each album sounds totally unique and different, and is clearly the result of the particular vibe, budget, experience and setting that made it. Even if there are drawbacks and minor things that aren't "up to par". Technical details don't (and shouldn't) matter to most listeners when the music and sound creates an atmosphere and tone that makes that album special to them. I personally love how Synchestra sounds.
Devin talking about the sleepy dreamlike qualities of Devlab resonated so strongly with me.
Every night for over a month now I have been having these bizzare and vivid dreams and when I wake there's this emotional momentum that continues and fades suddenly.
It's not unsettling or scary but I wonder if this will become a normal part of my life; that every night in my dreams I'll be presented with a journey that matters until it ceases to exist when I wake up and start my day and go on a very real and tangible journey through my personal and professional life.
I never cared about adding subwoofers to my car stereo until I listened to Alien and Synchestra...
These album have been pivotal in helping me understand my emotions and grow. Thank you for all that you do Devin!
Well i thought i was going to bed. Guess im eating snacks in bed for the next couple hours
I'm up at 5am here in the UK... got a hungry newborn who needs feeding and these podcasts are a great way of passing time during a sleepy feed aha
I won't go to bed on time today
Thank you for continuing!! I look forward to listening to this :):)
Dude I am really glad that The Hummer actually got to see the light of day. Can't tell how often I've listened to it since I discovered it in Feb 2019. That time I did some analyses in a lab for my Phd project which means I spent 3 days from 8am to 2am-ish surrounded by buzzing machines trying to collect as much data as possible and I already went in there with a massive sleep deficit. The Hummer gave me a sense of peace amidst the chaotic anxious thoughts circling in my head (am I doing this right? can I use the data? how do I not destroy the machine? etc.), so massive thanks for sharing that. Btw, right now Guitar Improv #2 is doing a similar thing for me.
Sp long story short, you can put out literally anything (including these podcasts) and its positive effects will always BY FAR outweigh any negative response you might get from a few sad narrow minded people out there... keep going, please. cheers
YES so stoked! Devin, I love your candor and honesty and introspection. And I love Synchestra, one of my faves in your whole discog. Criminally underrated album . Thanks, Dev.
Thanks so much for continuing these Dev, they're incredible!
I love how varied all his music is. No matter the mood, there’s something. Rather than “which artist do I listen to?” It’s “Which Devin album do I listen to?”
Yay! Youre back much sooner than expected so awesome dude
Loving every minute of it. Take care good Sir.
Really enjoy these podcasts, thanks for continuing to produce them! The peek behind the curtain is fascinating and much appreciated
Thanks again Dev
Thanks for the podcasts, man.
Thanks again for this buddy. It' so inspiring to hear someone being so open and brave to revisit one's path, it really helps to put our shit into perspective as well. And we're having a lot of time to think about those thinks currently. I know I am.
Always thank you for these podcasts, from Nagasaki. Great album Synchestra
I appreciate all the layers of Devin's music
Synchestra was the first time i ever heard your music and is still one of my favorite albums. Thanks again for these podcasts devin.
I love how different every record is, I think that’s the appeal. There is a mood for every record. Keep on moving.
So fun, these are.
I for one can appreciate the effort you've put into all of your work. Even when you're struggling in life, your work ethic is leaps and bounds ahead of most musicians.
Let This Hummer Roll! DevLab 4 Life!
I always loved the way that synchestra seamlessly went from song to song, even more so than your other albums. It felt like a journey.
Ah Dev, I love these podcasts. I've said it before, but these are really helping me with my own thought processes.
Also, Synchestra is one of my fave albums of all time, from any artist.
Thanks for that x
Another episode already!! Happy day good sir! I really hope you continue to make music.. I would love to hear more of your brilliance. Also seeing you and the band " Riverside " is on my bucketlist. But do what makes you happy.
Love this podcast, really interesting to get some of the background of a lot of the music that I know and love
Thanks Devin!
As someone working on some mixes for a solo project, your comments on the frustrations around technically trained producers/engineers/mixers looking down on people who don't know the "correct" way to do things despite knowing exactly how you want it to sound was a major relief. While there's always more to learn to help get the sound I want, and I shouldn't always ignore that, If it sounds good to me, and fits with what I set out to do, then that's enough. No need to overthink it.
These podcasts have helped in more ways than one.
Cheers, from Australia.
" The hummer " is my companion for so many things , it's resonnate in every sens of the term , very meditative ....splendid .
Just so you know, Synchestra is my favourite album of all time. It's a BRILLIANT masterpiece.
So cool to hear you talk about the recording and mixing proccess Dev! I could use some inspiration about now. Keep it up!
Thank You again for this one!!
Also, the background music is pure medicine 🙏🙏🙏
The bg music (maybe not exact, but very similar) is up as separate tracks called "Devin Townsend Guitar Improvisation"
This is so trippy, but charming and informative too. Loved it :). Synchestra's sunny sounds have a special place in my heart.
Now knowing that Sunset is symbolically a metaphor for Devin needing to play out his change occurring in my state and knowing how incredibly epic our sunsets are....just makes me SO happy.
Thank you once again and as always for giving us this incredibly deep, thoughtful and HONEST retrospective look at your creative and ultimately, human, journey.
The second time I listened to the hummer, I was listening with my best friend who hadn't heard the album before but is a huge fan of devins work. It took him a while to realize the track was playing. We were enjoying the night and talking when he suddenly realized what he was hearing wasn't room ambience but the hummer album. I had to physically prove to him that the track was playing. It was a very magical and entertaining reaction. Needless to say, that album has a special quality thats very enchanting. We listened during a very chaotic time when something that meditative and calming was just what we needed.
We love you Dev 🤘
Another podcast so soon? What a luxury. So pumped for this Saturday's concert! My cat and ziltoid puppet is ready.
Life saver podcast
I was going to try to say something real cool and profound about how this is the best podcast... I just can't seem to find the right words for it... Love you Dev!
I wish Dev have done more simple acoustic songs like Let It Roll, it's really one of a kind in his vast discography(besides some of Ki stuff). I mean songs that anyone can just take their acoustic guitar and play/sing right away at home and not feel like they really need more instrumentation. I even did a full cover of it, heh. Though I clearly understand that Dev's songs are more of an antithesis to musical simplicity and that's why we love him too.
Pixillate live, in ‘by a thread’, is transcendent
POOOOOGG LOVE YOU DEV
DEVIN POG
March of the Poggers
Synchestra is still, to this day, my fave Devin album! It is so complete in so many levels.
Thanks for sharing your toughts Dev.
I think I say this on behalf of most of us, but after so many time following you we consider you a close friend and really care about you. No pressure, no compromises just as friends do.
synchestra was my first devy album. it has a special place in my heart. fucking love you devin townsend!!!
So much love for these podcasts!
And since I’m really not a podcast kinda person that says a lot.
The podcast for people who don’t like podcasts! 😂
It’s great...and that pleasant voice...☺️
love this album so much
I don't know why Babysong doesn't get the recognition it deserves! I love it, and it is my favorite on the album. Perhaps it resonates so much with me because I became a father around the same time. And that ending! It gives me goosebumps every time to this day! Love the rest of the album too, and easily one of my favorites! Btw...you should have done Vampolka with the Empath vol1 tour crew live...it just seem so appropriate! Synchestra was also the first Devin Townsend album I was waiting for. I knew about you since the Vai days of course, but somehow took a precious long time to check out your solo stuff. Hearing you on the Ayreon album was the kick in the butt I needed to buy some records. So I basically bought Ocean Machine, Infinity, Physicist, Terria and Accelerated Evolution all at once. So as any fan can imagine I had high expectations when Synchestra came out, and I was not let down.
The background music is just beautiful 🥰
I love you man 🦋❤🦋
I vastly prefer how the Synchestra mix sounds to most of what the professional mixes sound nowadays - I think the way the mix feels is part of song writing to an extent and plays a huge part in conveying the emotions and atmosphere.
is time now for another Ambient stuff Dev, enough with this massive huge productions. go Dev
When he mentions operation mindcrime.. my heart sings! 😍
I love you so much thank you
I fall asleep and meditate to the hummer a helluva lot. Devlab is a mixed one for me, some very odd trips and experiences with that album.
Synchestra is one of my favourites, love the vibe of it, would you ever consider a re-release?
Well that was one fast click
That was one fast nut
I love you man!
The Hummer was one of my favorites.
While I would definitely classify myself as one of those "technical" engineers (which often involves an element of OCD), I learned early on the most important rule: "If it sounds good, it is good."
Keep on making it sound good!
There are very few artists that can do what do. If not even a few. Thanks.
I listened to hummer last night to see if it would help me sleep. it did, not cuz it's boring, but cuz it's soothing
i'm a creative in visual art but i really see myself in some stuff you said here. about your music, i haven't listened to everything you did and i don't like everything you did, but i like the change. even when i need a moment to get accustomed to certain records.
I found one in a used CD store! Love Synchestra!
YES YES YES!!!
I love you Dev 🙂
"This album marked a turning point for me." me too dev. this was my intro to you. this album changed my life in very tangible ways. especially my art
Back again so soon? I love it 😁
Synchestras track flow is unbelievable, it came out when I was in college and the car ride used to be 3 songs at a time. We would get these little snapshots of the album in 3 song increments but hearing the album in quarters somehow worked! I cant to this day listen to the album without mentally compartmentalising the tracks into my college trips with a car full of good friends... To study music no less
Sounds of the underground in Tulsa, OK. was my first SYL / Devy experience! What a bad ass show.
After listening to 2 of your podcasts I am kind of surprised that you were and are so serious and concerned about your music and the effect to the audience. I am listening to almost all of your stuff through the decades and even saw you live with SYL in Germany, Essen Zeche Carl, where you shredded your strings a couple of times, but it was an epic experience anyways. Throughout all your albums and projects I always saw and accepted you as an extremely talented and versatile artist, which liked to entertain and even as a person who didn't take things in the music (industry) so seriously. You and your music appeared to me as a great journey through many genres and you enjoyed it and liked to share the joy to metalheads and others like me. I like the tough stuff but I love all kinds of music and that's why I can embrace almost everything you did so far. Again, wondering and surprised to hear you talking about your music in such an open way and letting everybody know what was or is behind it. Quite touching and interesting. Wish you all the best of luck for your future and I guess I will keep on enjoying your music
Dev's starting to think about Lightwork in this podcast. It's really nice to get insights into the creative process and how ideas gestate over time and output into great albums.
wow!!
Devy I doubt you'll read this saw you back in 2010 in New Orleans with cynic and between the buried and me you were touring KI and it was an amazing show thanks for all the music and these podcasts I believe this is the cassette you had maybe Synchestra Daydreams by Ed Van Fleet 1983
I'MMMM GONNA MELT YOU GUYS
That feeling you Getz when he says
"Dev out"
Without change, there's no progress......The best truth. Change is also the only true constant. Thanks for the reminder. I almost gave up on trusting anyone, including family...but after a recent experience, reality was changed forever and now I know I must trust life's tests. Cool things have been happening.
However, the coolest thing recently is this MIT mathematics interview/discussion that wraps up Beautiful Geometry that explains EVERYTHING, from Eric Weinstein of The Portal and regular guest on Joe Rogan a lot. This is a Lex Fridman interview. He was blown away by this...and it is artistically beautiful. Imagine we are Artificial General Intelligences making a Super Intelligent God (all this as a Mobius Strip), that in turn makes us all over again to make a different variation of that God. The mechanics of dimensions above our observable 4 serve as the tools and artists to form this one/us. After this, you feel like a powerful Jester on the path to graduating. Yet, we can stink and muck up the upper dimensions through mediocrity and cutting corners down here. Here is the video...LOVED IT.... ua-cam.com/video/vdW9XDBuxjU/v-deo.html
Finally we get to the Hummer. As I stated in one of the first podcasts Dev posted I had been curious as to the motivation behind making The Hummer. The answer was surprisingly simple. The Hummer was Devin Townsend's sonic medicine. There's nothing wrong with that. 😊
Thanks again Devin. I want to ask for more but you've already exceeded expectations with this. We love you and take care of yourself.
the first 3 tracks are one amazing song
I'm 51...when I was in my high school years I so wanted to fit in and share a certain label with like minded peers. Now I just don't get anyone wanting to be boxed into one label alone ("metal head "). I just like what i like and avoid the labels. Being boxed in and avoiding other genres of music just is unfortunate. Listening to your music is like going to the museum, it's all art, something. There may be a few things on the wall that I completely love, and others that I respect but aren't my taste. And then I go back to the museum and find that what I once loved, just doesn't do it for me, but the other, suddenly rocks my world. It's ok, change is good, it is a learning process for us, too.
^ best comment!
that story about finding out your aura was brown was beautiful and informative
I finally downloaded Synchestra months ago (Amazon) but haven't really dug into it, other than the live versions on other releases. Oh man. Am I gonna take a trip now with this album. I've dug Dev since the Vai days but somehow this one didn't hit a nerve back then.
I love synchestra.
hey Dev fyi, Synchestra is up on Spotify too :)
@15:46 that used to be me in my younger days i only would listen to SYL and really heavy stuff then a few years i revisited and really got into Alien and got really hungry for more material and DTP really took me by surprise, i now am a devout fan to the point i listen to podcasts and enjoy hearing how you felt about the whole process, previous podcast was deep i had no idea the shit you went through Devin.
I love your work, honesty, jokes, and silly puppet fetishes hahaha, i really look forward more podcasts, also i think i now have more respect for artists that can evolve adapt and basically grow as human beings instead of staying caught up in a product that's been created.
deep peace and love. ;)
It's funny because it's the opposite for me.
I knew and loved DTP, and didn't know SYL. First time I heard SYL, I couldn't listen to it. Not because it was too harsh (I mean it was one of the reasons) but mainly because I wasn't at that phase in my life.
I've had a really shitty environment to grow up in, and I bottled up lots of anger as a result even though I was in denial about it. To me,anger was the enemy. But through therapy,I learned that negative feelings are okay ,that burying them inside is kinda the worst thing to do and that I could refine my anger and transmutate it into a strong resolve to make my life better. But nothing I was listening to really resonated with that new found anger...until I came back to SYL.
The new age "Synchestra" casette mentioned, isn't that the "band" called Synchestra? The album is called "Mother Earth's Lullaby".
People can be very unpleasant.
There are artists, genres, albums, lyrics, creations in general that I don't like but I know why I don't like and I have nothing against that production or work and don't go out criticising them or their works I love less.
I really like to understand artists and their character.
Most artists I follow I would love to have the time to discuss things with them, be around them in their circle, discuss views, ideas opinions about life and our world or just have some fun. I see them as guides or iluminated friends even when I realise they are also struggling or trying to understand or just living day by day. Once I saw them as unreachable gods but I'm starting to see them as myself or some sort of extension of our humanity.
It is important to be true and humble, I like complexity but I also like simplicity. I like to recognise, and I could never recognise enough, the efforts of artists like Devin.
We all work to achieve/ accomplish objectives, and somewhat to recognise them ourselves as much as others.
Create and share to serve and fulfil.
I've heard tons of music, starting with classical growing with stuff like queen, michael jackson, judas priest, pink floyd, vangelis, metallica, marilyn manson, pearl jam and so on... Even on commercial channels... unfortunately radio and tv are going down which only makes harder to find awesome stuff but somehow gives us some sort of elite feeling.
Anyway... Stay strong! Outlive this... May you reach your life objective and may you have your deserved and needed recognition. Thank you for your amazing energy, character, quality work, openness and share and for growing along the way with us. \m/
POGGERS
DEV POG
Hey Devin, I found the album you mention called synchestra in 2 minutes... the album its called mother earth lullaby
I listened to The Hummer on 10gr nutmeg (yes, the spice). I was sitting in front of my pc with my eyes closed, totally hypnotized, automatically moving my body in circles, not on purpose, my body was just flowing. That was amazing, it was so perfect for the mood of the trip. I ended up recording a track with a feedbacking mic and some presets
What does 10 grams of nutmeg do to a person anyway?
@@Torchbearer666 it's definitely not a great substance overall, but it puts you in a very febrile-like mental state, very weird, but there are probably other substances that gives you a much more refined experience even if you want a fever delirium, I would guess any other delirant would do a much better job
Synchestra was the first one I heard after ziltoid. Ziltoid, synchestra then infinity. Synchestra is one of my favourites still.