Interview:
1.) Who are the musicians in KI, where did you find them and what did they do before?
Ki is the first of 4 albums in a series of albums under the moniker
'Devin Townsend Project.' Each album is essentially a different 'band'
(or collection of session musicians) playing my music. They were chosen
based on what the theme of the album is, and the vibe that the album is
trying to project. The album Ki is very specific in this quartet of
albums in that 1) It controls it's anger throughout the album barring
one song (Heaven Send), and really is an exercise in having little to
prove.
For drums, I went to a blues club way up in the North of Canada and
saw Duris play, I am very conscious of drummers and the energy they
bring to the bands, so I watched him to see what he was going to play
for the drums fill in the song. He kept staring the tom down throughout
the song, sizing it up... when the opportunity came, he just went
'BANG'. One big hit in a 2 bar spot — perfect. Then he looked at the
drum like 'What are you gonna do about it?' That's the vibe I wanted
for the drums here. Nothing to prove, but strong and a bit angry. Duris
has played with many, many people. Off the top of my head, Heart,
Jefferson Starship, The Powder Blues, Tommy Chong, The Temptations he
even jammed with Hendrix. The list is endless, he is an older cat (62)
but he's heavy.
Jean, the bass player, is the department manager of the bass
department of the biggest music store in town. He plays in a Beatles
cover band, and spent years playing in cruise ships all over the world.
Name a style and he can jam it for hours. When I went to the store for
the first time, we had no idea who each other was, and he treated me
like someone who I would want to be friends with — a solid, good soul
who truly loves bass. His technique is accomplished and the fact that
he had never played heavy music made him and Duris perfect for the
project. An objective perspective on the music is what it needed.
Younger metal heads playing this music would have made it a much
different beast, so finding folks who were older and more settled was
the whole goal when searching players out.
Dave Young is the Keyboard player for the Devin Townsend Band, and I
have been playing with him for years. He is the most schooled musician
out of all of us and can play any instrument. He knows theory and can
read. Keyboard players typically annoy the hell out of me but Dave is
more of an Ambient musician. He fills the spaces with fitting but
unusual note choices simply by watching where I am on my fret-board. He
is intelligent and centred and the most obvious choice for this. Dave
co-wrote 'Terminal' with me.
2.) Is KI a band, a project? How do you see yourself?
Ki is a project, one of four. The next record in the quartet is an
entirely different cast of characters. The whole point is to have the
RIGHT people for the job, no square pegs into round holes. At the end
of the 'DTP' (Devin Townsend Project) when it gets played live, (which
it will) I will choose one group of people to represent it all. But,
for the albums, the aesthetic of each record partially depends on the
folks involved. So yes, Ki is a 'Project band' :)
3.) What was the reason for forming KI, when did you start working on that idea?
I quit many bad habits in my life after SYL ended. I felt depressed,
angry and unhealthy and was not satisfied with living the rest of my
life that way. I quit all drugs, alcohol and a host of other
'addictions' that were controlling me and my world. It took three years
to formulate the DTP and to write Ki. I had to re-learn how to create
without drugs and through that personal transformation, I learnt a
great deal of things. Ki was very hard to do, to break the musical
constipation so to speak, but now that it's here... watch out... I have
lots to say that now I'm in control of myself.
4.) Who wrote the songs, who produced and who mixed the record?
I wrote everything on ki, except for 'Terminal', in which Dave Young
had a hand, and 'Ain't Never Gonna Win' which was a live jam in the
studio. We jammed A LOT of things, and when the box set comes out next
year, we will include many of those spur of the moment, magic jams. I
produced, mixed and engineered the record. The drums were recorded at
The Factory Studios with the engineer there, Sheldon Zaharko. I spent
the last three years — while figuring out my world — producing many
bands and learning how to mix and engineer. I'm happy to say I've
learned a lot.
5.) Please put the music in your own words? What is the common
ground to your previous releases, and what is the major difference?
Ki is a subtle, severe album. A challenge in some ways. As the
'Intro' to the story (the story being the 4 records) it needs to set
the stage. The point to the music is that the whisper is louder than
the roar in many ways. Ki is (on the surface) quiet and unassuming.
Whenever it begins to lose it's temper, it stops. It does not let it
go, it is avoiding that temptation, as that sort of anger is really
gratifying but ultimately just leaves me unhappy. Ki is about control,
and although it is not an overtly 'Heavy' album, it is heavy
thematically. On these four records, it starts with Ki, which is
essentially a cross section of all the albums, but the idea is that it
is not here to impose itself. It just does it's thing. Like a little
a.m radio playing in the corner. Many folks have been waiting to see
what I do next after SYL and Ziltoid, so after careful consideration, I
wanted the first record to be quiet and subtle, however fear not chaos
fans... the next 2 records in the quartet are progressively heavier,
and the third album, 'Deconstruction' is the heaviest music I've ever
created. So with Ki, I wanted to make it a bit of an appetizer. I know
myself, that as I get older, a steady diet of Chaotic music does little
more than give me a headache. So with Ki, I wanted to re-introduce
myself in a way that says "I can make chaos like you've never heard,
but for starters, please get comfortable." The common ground to my
previous releases would be my voice, but even my guitar playing has
changed. I use primarily a clean tone now (no distortion) and in terms
of the sonics, I have used very little compression and it is not
mastered very loud. The term 'Ki' loosely means 'Life Force' and,
therefore, in almost the antithesis to my previous albums, there is no
real editing or triggers on the drums. Much of the music was recorded
'Live off the floor.' I wanted to preserve the energy flow without
worrying so much about mistakes.
6.) How would you describe the philosophy behind KI, musically, lyrically, artistically?
Ki appeared after I quit drugs. I found myself angry at drugs in all
honesty. I spent many, many years stoned out of my mind, making music
that although clever, was a misrepresentation of what I truly feel I
wanted to say. Once I started 'clearing up' I found that reality in
many ways is much HEAVIER than the drug world. It has sharper edges and
less release, but the point with Ki, is that I feel I needed to clarify
a lot of things I've said in the past musically. I believe in
spirituality, and that life force is much more intense when I
participate in it with a sober mind. Although Ki is a relatively quiet
and unassuming album in and of itself, when folks hear 'Addicted'
(record 2) and especially 'Deconstruction' (record 3), I have a feeling
there will be a percentage of folks who will appreciate Ki even more
than they do from the get go. The whole idea is to listen to Ki for
what it IS rather than what it is NOT. There are leagues of people in
my world that refuse to accept music from me that isn't destructive and
chaotic. For them I am writing 'Deconstruction,' but for myself, and
many people my age, that element of chaos becomes very tiresome if it
is not juxtaposed by some sonic 'space.' So Ki is a sober introduction
to an (admittedly) epic musical undertaking and as such demonstrates
some highs and lows without going to extreme in either direction. I
assume that fans of my heavy heavy output will be far from 'blown away'
by this album, but in a way, that's the point. I appreciate Ki almost
more than any of the records, and am very proud of what it stands for.
7.) Is the album a concept work? Are the songs lyrically connected? What are the lyrics dealing with?
It is part of a larger concept, and I think once the 4 albums are
all completed, not only will Ki be the introduction, it will also be
the moral. Everything I do is connected, lyrically, musically and
otherwise. I have a hard time writing without metaphor. The theme of
aliens is present on the record, but again, as a metaphor. An obvious
image that implies those thoughts that haunt us that ARE us, but we
have a hard time dragging into the light. Elsewhere, the lyrics are
pointed towards my new-found ability to say NO. In the past, I have
been so insecure about myself and my music that I found myself agreeing
to things for the sake of acceptance or whatnot. As a new father, and
as a sober adult, the answer to many things now is 'no', and not loudly
either. I feel that although the person I am today is shaped by my past
(including my past music and drugs etc) what I need to do with my
talent now is to represent exactly who I am in a clear world. I am not
'pure' and I am not 'evil', I am just me, and I'm absolutely fine with
that.
8.) Could you please take 2 or 3 songs and describe them in details — maybe the most important and the most unusual ones?
'Coast' is the intro to the story, quiet, dark, haunted and
unsure... it builds at the end with 'the voices' and then seemingly
stops, but the story progresses through 'Disruptr and Gato', slowly
becoming more aware of the mistakes and consequences. Again, it doesn't
really 'let it go' throughout these though. Right when it feels like
it's going to explode, it just stops and takes a deep breath, but
indeed, under the surface, it is furious and murderous. When 'Heaven
Send' comes though, it does indeed LOSE IT at the end, in a way,
burning the past. The last chorus finalizes that tentative nature of
the past, yelling BURN, and 'Face your chaos, know who you are.' Then,
as is the case with the rest of the record, every time it presents us a
crushing moment, it is followed by something relaxing. The tension and
release in life is integral to music, and in my past, there has not
been much release. If everything is 'suspended' then you are always on
eggshells. The end of the record is special to me The song 'Ki' is a
big build up to a climax that in some ways represents a personal
breakthrough, cresting in 'Quiet Riot' which basically sums up the idea
that, although I am 'damaged' I'm fine, and have chosen to make my life
better.
9.) Please make one sentence about the unusual cover artwork.
The entire artwork is 3d, and comes with a little pair of 3d
glasses. I live in the South Coast of Canada, and I believe in terms of
spirituality, the native cultures of the world have it really down.
Nature is 'God', in all it's subtlety and terror...and we are all a
part of it, whether or not we want to be. The mask on the cover is
based on native north American and Chinese paintings. It is not
authentic, and is just meant to be 2 faces in one.
10.) Will you play live with KI, are there any concrete touring plans right now? What is the plan for the future?
When all 4 records in the DTP series are done, and the box set is
released at the end (8 records including a dvd), I will play selected
shows throughout the world. I will not be climbing into a van and
playing clubs in the middle of nowhere though. I am going to assemble a
sober team of incredible musicians to play ALL the records, perfectly,
to many people. You will see me soon, and get ready for the next 3
records in the series, Ki is a subtle introduction to a sprawling
theme. Please enjoy, it's good to be back.