Canadian singer, songwriter and producer Devin Townsend will release a new studio album, “PowerNerd”on October 25, 2024.
TownsendThe career of is one of many different eras. He was the leader of DURABLE YOUNG BOYthe pivotal point of the DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT and co-architect of the country duo Victims of Coolwhile continuing his productive and acclaimed solo project. Now the polymath’s newest era begins with “PowerNerd”.
“It was a conscious thing,” Devin says of his brand new album, for which he wrote the music in just 11 days. “I thought, ‘I’ve spent so much time thinking about every aspect of my work – what would happen if I didn’t do this?’ Maybe then I’d have the opportunity to be a little more direct about what I’m trying to do. I really wanted to see if I could break through some of these detours.”
A song that embodies this is the title track of the album, which features a guest appearance by HATE RACE‘S Jamey Jasta. You can watch the video for this fast-paced song below.
But this aggression is by no means the only thing “PowerNerd”‘s 11 episodic titles. “Dreams of Light”is, in comparison, an impressive and dynamic four-minute ballad. “Younger Lover” calms down from an explosive opening to lush verses of synths and vocals, while “Falling apart” And “Jainism” Add texture after texture to the gentle acoustic introductions.
Where “PowerNerd”The music was written in less than two weeks, the lyrics were refined over a much longer period of time into a narrative of strength and healing. “Falling apart”, Devin tells himself to “keep the tension under control”. “You have to believe that things will only get better”, the following song “Gratitude” explains powerfully. These uplifting messages even play a role in the title of the record.
Devin offers the following definition: “I would say a power nerd is someone who has a tendency that society deems weak or worthless, whether it’s empathy or isolation or introversion, and turns that into some kind of personal strength. They’re like, ‘Okay, yeah, I’m sensitive to this, that and that, but man, I’m going to get through this! I’m going to do things with that sensitivity that’s rooted in strength.'”
“PowerNerd” will be available in various formats, including a limited 2CD+Blu-ray artbook (with the album, bonus tracks and Devins very first Dolby Atmos mix), limited 2-CD digipak in O-Card, standard CD, gatefold 2LP and digital album.
The complete track list for “PowerNerd” is as follows:
01. PowerNerd
02. Falling apart
03. Ankle breaker
04. gratitude
05. Dreams of light
06. Ubelia
07. Jainism
08. Younger lover
09. glacier
10. Goodbye
11. Ruby Quaker
The album’s artwork was created by a long-time collaborator Travis Smith.
As well as expressing strength in times of need, “PowerNerd” opens the door to Devin‘s immediate future. Its positivity and conciseness will soon be contrasted by follow-up “The Moth” — described by Devin as “orchestral, exaggerated, dark and uncomfortable” – and the “strange strangeness” of the finale “Axolotls”. Both works have already been written, and together the trilogy will express the overwhelming range of this man’s musical talent.
“PowerNerd” Recording setup:
Devin Townsend – Vocals, guitars, synthesizer, bass and computer
Darby Todd – Drums
Diego Tejeda – Keyboards, synthesizers
Mike Keneally Additional keyboards
Jean-Luc Savoie – Additional bass
Aman Khosla – Additional vocals
Tanya Ghosh – Additional vocals
Jamey Jasta – Additional vocals
Photo credit: Tanya Ghosh
