Inspiring Music Conversations, Winter, and Intentions for the Future!!

(System Syn "The Privileged... such a great track musically!!)

Another conversation with another musician friend and another inspiring night! There's a lot of music talk these days, and a lot of exciting and great conversations about music, gear, mixing, mastering... all that kind of stuff!! Even talk of discovery of industrial bands, EBM projects, Industrial Metal bands, all sorts of different projects and endeavours... 

... A few weeks ago, I had mentioned to a co-worker... that I have a feeling this Winter is going to be good... I don't know why I feel that way, I just have a general sense and feeling that the season, is going to be good... maybe that is just my intention moving forward, but despite the situation, I'm not letting this pandemic get the better of me, and sit in worry and despair... this Winter is going to be good, and nothing is going to get in the way of that! Life is already too short, no sense in sitting in shit, might as well make the best of the situation and enjoy life to the best that I can right now. I know some of you may not feel the same sentiment, but out of all honesty, what you put into life is what you get out! I want this Winter to be good, and productive... and inspiring... there's no reason why it can't be that!!

(A friend introduced this to me tonight! Great Power Noise artist, Imminent Starvation)

I will be honest, this has been my most productive year creatively... I have a lot of projects on the go... and so many, that I actually feel slightly overwhelmed, but... I've decided not to take anything else on creatively, until I get through a large portion of these projects! I've felt sooo inspired lately, although, I will also say... today (Dec 20/2020) I finally started to write again, it felt weird cause it had been since Halloween since I had written, and before that... it was early June the last time. I do feel a little out of practice and anxious, cause there were a lot of doubts about what I was working on Today, but... tomorrow I will take a listen to what I had, and add or tweak accordingly... maybe this project will get done sooner than later, and I'll have a couple things in the tank... and maybe, just maybe I can focus on the next endeavor... we'll see...

(Korn's song "Can You Hear Me" is really inspiring me right now... although maybe not this version, but this seems to be the only one blogspot will allow me to use...)

... it is tough during these times, to know what to do, cause... are we going to be able to do live shows in the near future, or are we gonna have to still do the live stream performances... how long is this period of self-isolation gonna last for... I know what I want, but is that gonna happen... I personally am planning for A, B, and C... maybe we'll have to do a bit of column A, and B... live shows, plus live streams... that's kinda what I'm planning for (option C)... obviously, like everyone else, I would like a workable vaccine... so we can get back to maybe not a normal, but definitely back to doing live shows... although, I will be honest... I'm, in a way, kind of thankful that all that has happened... happened. It's given me a lot of time to think about what I want, and what steps I want to take, moving forward, whatever that looks like!

(Here's your answer!)

Life is too short folks, might as well set yourself up for success whatever transpires or happens!

What do you guy's feel?

Your Canadian Goth/Rivethead,
Shayne "Daemon_w60" Lawrence / Twitch / Trippingonacable Records

P.S.: Here's another great song that came up the conversation tonight!! 

An Inspiring Music Conversation About Hardware Synthesizers!!

(My main synthesizer: Yamaha EX7)

Last night I had an excellent conversation with a longtime friend and ex-bandmate about hardware synthesizers... and all kinds of other music related shit! The conversation really got the creative juices flowing, and I was highly inspired!! That is one thing I've certainly missed during this whole period of self-isolation, and social-distancing... the conversations about music, music hardware, and all kinds of other music related shit... stuff that is really inspiring! It's sooo, refreshing to have those kind of conversations again! It got me into thinking about my own synth, and the things I want to do musically with it. There are sooo many ways I'm currently not utilizing my synths... and there are certainly ways of using it that I want to utilize in the future... just for the simple fact that it would be a great challenge to see what I can do with those features! Lot's of inpiration, and lot's of future plans and ideas!

Latest Inspiration... Aesthetic Perfection!

(Mr. Daniel Graves from Aesthetic Perfection)

Well, lots of shit going on right now, lots of inspiration... I happened upon a replay of Daniel Graves' (Aesthetic Perfection) latest YouTube live stream "Watch Me Work" for October 2020 a couple of days ago, and basically it was a live stream of him working on possible future music, and out of all honesty, I found it inspiring... I think it was really just seeing a part of his process and how he works on music and shit... Normally these things are reserved for his Patreon members, but he decided to do one for folks not on his Patreon.

It was really interesting, and as I stated above I did find it highly inspirational, he was playing with a new synth that didn't work exactly as expected, and he was forced to find work-around's to get the sound that he wanted out of it... it kinda reminded me of the early days of when I was just starting in music and how there was a lot of experimenting in the process, just trying to find my voice and sound... and how I had to find work-around's for what I was doing, in order to write my first songs! Not that he was just starting out, I mean Daniel has been doing this for many years now, but it did remind me of that... it's also inspired me in how I'm currently utilizing my main synthesizer... and the possibilities of what I can do with it in the future...

...Yeah there's a lot of inspiration right now!

Here's one of Aesthetic Perfection's songs that I'm digging right now:

Hope you folks are doing well!

Stay safe, stay positive!!

Shayne "Daemon_w60" Lawrence | Twitch | Trippingonacable Records

Really Digging System Syn Right Now

Not sure why, but I'm really digging System Syn right now, not only their recent album "Once Upon A Second Act...", but also their older stuff too! I'm really enjoying the production values on each album, and the sound design! For some reason the music is really resonating with me right now, maybe not even the lyrical content so much... but I just love the way everything sounds, and the way the songs are constructed... the music seems to be helping me get through this period right now... and I'm actually finding it really inspirational! I feel the majority of his music, is very clear sounding... like there's a level of clarity in the mixing on the albums... and everything, all the different sounds and instruments really stand out!  

I will be honest, the first time I came across System Syn was at a gig here in Calgary, at a now long lost club from the days of yore... they played that night, as well as Imperative Reaction... I actually really liked Clint's performance... and it wasn't until many years later, that I actually ended up seeing a video of them performing their song "Abrasion Collar"... and I think out of all the stuff that they've put out, that has to be one of my most favorite songs by them... but, a little while later, I ended up finding out about Clint's side-project Fake... and I really dug the only album that came out from that project, and I think if I remember correctly... I actually purchased the Fake album, before I picked up System Syn's debut release "Premeditated"! A short while later I did end up picking up System Syn's debut album and I've picked up every subsequent album after that! I'm pretty sure I have every System Syn album and release (outside of compilations, and remixes they've done for other artists)... although, I don't think I have all of them in physical form...

(Clint Carney of System Syn)

...I know I mentioned this in the blog about System Syn's new album "Once Upon A Second Act..." here, that I think the production team of Ted Phelps and Clint Carney... have really made these albums stand out... I think Ted has had production credits on every System Syn release if I'm not mistaken... and I think that they make an amazing team... every System Syn album has been solid!

I know Clint doesn't really reveal too much about his lyrical content on the albums, in interviews he typically let's the listener decide what it means to them... but I am curious what his lyrics are truly about, and too be honest, I would kinda like to get into his mind to understand what he sings about... I honestly think it would be really cool to have a chat with him about his inspirations and even his other creative and artistic endeavors!

To me it's really interesting hearing the directions an artist or musician goes on their albums, and to be honest, when I listen to albums... I listen to the sound design and the sampling and the way things have been produced, cause I'm quite interested in what were the artists/musician thinking when they were writing these albums. What are they trying to evoke in their expressions on these songs... sound-wise and even lyrically. The thing that I get from Clint's albums is that... there is a level of maybe, well... I would call it experimentation... cause his songs tend to be dancey, in some instances, but in others some of the way things are sequenced and programmed they certainly seem to be in an experimental fashion, cause they may not be entirely dancey in their production.

I guess the important thing, is that these albums and songs are really getting me through the whole situation right now... and I'm finding them inspiring... maybe not so much in the musical style aspect of my own endeavor, but definitely they are keeping me going and motivated in my own endeavor!

I hope this blog finds you folks doing well, and I hope that you may find inspiration in this stuff too!

Stay positive,

Shayne "Daemon_w60" Lawrence | Twitch | Trippingonacable Records

Industrial Accident: The Story of Wax Trax! Records CD

("Industrial Accident: The Story of Wax Trax! Records" Compilation)

Well, I went and purchased a new CD at a store here in Calgary called SAN K JTURI BUKS! Great little spot for books, comics, industrial music (If I'm not mistaken, they are official Wax Trax! Records dealers), all kinds of movies... and just rare stuff (they are in Eau Claire Mall, if you a curious to go check them out)! I initially went to this store to hang out with a friend who works there and just chat for a little bit, but I ended up picking up this "Industrial Accident: The Story of Wax Trax! Records" compilation CD! I had already ordered the Documentary, and I figured being that I had done that, I might as well pick up the compilation CD that goes along with the film! So, what is on this CD... My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, Revolting Cocks, Ministry, KMFDM, Front 242, Chris Connelly... and a bunch of other stuff!

(Interior)

Being that I wasn't old enough to really appreciate what was on the Wax Trax! roster when I was younger and when these songs and bands were coming out (I was waaaay too young, and industrial music wasn't really on my periphery at this point in time), I will say for what is on this compilation, and knowing the bands now, I would say this is an excellent collection of songs and definitely displays the major bands and some of their pioneering and most iconic sounds that were on the label!! This also reminds me of my baby bat or young years as a goth... and being at events in my young adult years in my home city, and being exposed to these bands for the first time... and really loving this stuff!

(Tray Art)

It wasn't until many, many years later that I really started to appreciate what came off this label, and even really start to dig into some of the music off this label! If you watched this video here, you would know that... I would say, yes all the bands definitely sound different, but I will also say, a lot of the bands that came off this label... there was a similarity in the sound quality of the music, maybe not so much in sound design, but definitely in the way it was mixed and mastered! I also think another reason why there was a similarity in that aspect, was because Al Jourgensen had a big hand in a lot of the bands that rolled off that label, and quite frankly, a lot of the bands were side-projects of Al (Revolting Cocks, Pailhead, 1000 Homo DJ's, etc)...

(Back Cover)

So, yeah... listening to this CD, there is definitely almost a nostalgia, when hearing this kind of stuff in my early baby bat days and being at goth/industrial events in my home city, but there's also appreciation for this stuff that I hadn't had in the past, because I was too young to really appreciate it! There's also a lot of inspiration, and a lot of almost "wonder", as too be honest, some of this stuff... this is the first time hearing it! So, yes!! If you are into industrial music and don't know who Wax Trax! Records is or know of the bands on this label, or just haven't heard these particular tracks that are on this compilation... pick it up! There is a lot of history here... and if you have watched my video regarding the documentary "Industrial Accident: The Story of Wax Trax! Records" I will say it again here... watch the documentary!! You will not regret it, you will learn more about this transgressive genre and where it came from, and you will learn about this pioneering record label that spawned the careers of many of today's well known industrial bands!!

Databomb: Save The Freaks

(Our new album "Databomb")

The song "Save The Freaks" started as an idea, a loooooooooooooong time ago! There were some sound aspects that I had in my mind, that I thought that would be kinda cool to put in a song, and maybe perform too! This song is basically about being a freak/goth/rivethead/etc... and ultimately in the end accepting yourself for who you are and learning to love yourself. For me that involved exploring my dark side, the darkness within me. And personally, I don't think anyone truly knows themselves until they explore their entire being, and that includes our darkness. For me ultimately, in the end... I realized I loved the darkness (literal and non-literal), I love dark things, I love graveyards, I love cyberpunk literature, I love vampire fiction, I love the moon, I love going for walks at night, I love goth and industrial music... ultimately after exploring darkness, I realized that within darkness, you will find light... or even create it. I think the whole keyword here is "love"... these things I love, and these are the things that bring me happiness! As a piece of commentary, the dark doesn't have to be dreary or sad, or depressing, it can be a place of happiness, a place of love, a place of understanding there is beauty in it. That is what "Save The Freaks" is about!!

Here is "Save The Freaks"

If you haven't yet, you can download the album "Databomb" for free on our Bandcamp site here!

The Joy that is "Life Is Peachy" by Korn

So, yeah... I do realize this album is probably their most angry album, but I will say... this album... every fucking song on it is solid!! I don't think there is one song I don't like, and listening to it lately... really enjoying it!! I do think their first "self-titled" release is probably their strongest, but there are a couple of songs on it that I feel are kind of filler. With "Life Is Peachy", absolutely every fucking song is solid! The other thing I like about this album, is that... it seems every fucking song runs into the next one, and it feels like a very consistent record between the tracks. Everything seems to fit together nicely! I'm not sure why the songs were placed the way they were on the album, but it feels very natural! Even the quality of the mixes and mastering, and the general quality of the audio is excellent as well! I feel it is very clear!

The track list is excellent; when "Twist" kicks in and it kind of sets the tone of the album... then "Chi" kicks in immediately after... there's all these weird sounds on the tracks, weird noises and shit... which have been created with guitars. Personally, I think it's awesome! I will say from a sound perspective, I find this album... well noisy, but not in the white noise sense, I find it noisy in the sense that there is a lot of interesting distortion on the guitars and as already stated, the weird noises and shit! It feels very crunchy I guess! Even the vocals, Jonathan Davis' vocals seem to have some kind of distortion on them, likely they're not, but there definitely a nice crunch to them (it could actually be the choice of mic they used for the recording of the vocals). I will also say, even though I found this album noisy, everything seems to cut through in the mixes... which to me makes this album even more interesting cause, despite the noise, everything seems to fit in place and makes the overall sound of the album better!!

As most of you know, Korn is a huge influence for Twitch! And, I love going back to these earlier releases and really just listening and not only just enjoying the album, cause of the sound quality of the mixes, but finding inspiration within these tracks and applying some of this to my own endeavor!! There's also a lot of memories associated with these albums, a time and place of where I was at and my first time actually listening to this album. I think when I first heard this, I was in my first band Adam Hates You! at the time... and I remember seeing the music video for the song "A.D.I.D.A.S", it was fucked... seeing the band in a morgue and writhing around and all that kind of shit... it's kind of funny, cause that song is about well, their use of the acronym is: All Day I Dream About Sex... and the video is of them in a morgue. If I'm not mistaken, that was the only song off that album, that saw a music video treatment, but such a great song!!

Even though their first "Self-titled' release was explosive from the get go, this album seems more focused and refined in the sound! Yet, still explosive!

I will say here; outside of the genre nu-metal... I don't really listen to any other metal genre... unless we are talking about industrial metal... then that is whole other beast (Fear Factory anyone?). I will be honest here, I was tempted to put something in here about sound design, but out of all honesty, I think most metal bands, don't really do a lot of sound design type stuff (unless there is major use of synthesizers; ie: Industrial Metal)... I will say though, there is a certain quality of sound here... not necessarily sound design aspects, but certainly in the way the album was recorded, mixed, and mastered!

Love this album... and I will say, out of all honesty I think my favorite tracks off this album are "A.D.I.D.A.S." and "Wicked"!

What do you folks think of this album?

P.S.: Hey we released a new album called "Databomb", you can download it here!

Studio Diary: Night... Structure?

(Night... Structure?)

Yep, today's session (June 9/2020) was excellent! Very productive, got everything done at around the 8:30pm mark! Today's track was, once again a lot of fun to make! This whole process has been a lot of fun, and I'm really enjoying the new things I'm learning, and new ways I'm doing things! 

It's very exciting, and I will say this again I love working with my synth pretty much exclusively for this challenge! Moving forward... for future albums, I'm exclusively gonna be using my hardware synths (Yamaha EX7, and DX100) for all sound creation, outside of guitars!

I will say this again too, even though I don't really have the luxury of time, and once I'm done writing one album, I should move on to the next... I will say, I'm glad I did take the time away from writing/recording for the length that I did (10ish months). The sound design and programming is vastly different than what I had initially envisioned, and I think this album will be better for it! I will also say, even though I don't like the isolation, it has truly been an inspiration! After a certain point of this period of self-isolation, my ideas and thoughts around what I was gonna do for this has changed... and like I said, I think this is better because of it!

I've also got a lot of new ideas for performance aspects and the live show and all that kind of stuff! When this challenge comes to a close, the way I do things musically, will be vastly different from what I normally would have done things! The one thing that is sticking in my mind? Get the ideas out, as they come out!! Personally, I feel the songs are better off this way... and is waaaay more natural, than sitting for hours deliberating on things that ultimately don't matter in the communication of the song!

Sooo much inspiration out there! So much to do, so much to learn! Loving every minute of this!!

Studio Diary: WeeoooWeeoooWeeoo!

(WeeooWeeooWeeoo! What is this..?)

Well, another productive evening in the studio!! Once again knocked off another song! Making a lot of progress these days!! The song for this session (June 8/2020) was taken from concept to completion today! Once again, the vocals were the last thing to do, though this time around, the session was coming to a close around 8:20pm... so it wasn't quite the end of the night, but did vocals, and song done!!

So far this challenge has been a lot of fun!! I'm getting things done a lot quicker than I normally would, which ultimately is making me think that, my normal process, does not need to be as long and drawn out as it is, at least for some of the stuff I do! I have made it a goal to write at least one song per day during this challenge... it really forces me to really only utilize the tracks and not get too fuckin detailed with shit. A lot of the tracks I've written out of this process have been very minimal, I think the highest track count I got to for a song was near 18 tracks (I think)... The other thing is, is after a track is considered finished, I'm not going back to them to listen to what I have done, I just get to a point, where I feel the track is done, and finish things up, and then move onto the next song! I'm also writing the songs one at a time, typically in the past when I was working on an album, I would start a track, and work on it, till I get to a point where I have no new ideas, so I set the track aside, start a new one... and kinda work that way, and then when it felt right, I would go back to the unfinished tracks and eventually finish them. The process sometimes took weeks or months, sometimes there was a lot of listening too, but now that I'm trying to do a song a day... I'm just focusing on one song at a time, trying to get my ideas, as soon as they come out... which is helping me finish the tracks, cause I'm not really messing around all that much, everything is more focused, and I've found when getting my ideas out in this fashion, it is actually a lot easier to finish songs!!

I will also say here, I'm not recording any (new) guitars on my own, and actually, I'm using royalty free and creative commons samples for various guitar parts, as well as stuff that I recorded a long time ago, in the past that I've never used before (thank fuckin christ I built a guitar sample bank, with a bunch of stuff that I wasn't sure what to do with)!

This process has been a lot of fun!! The challenge so far has been very eye opening, in what I'm capable of, and there has been a lot of learning (I know I've already mentioned this, but... I'm just having a lot of fun, and when this challenge is done, I can't wait to share this stuff with you)!! Ultimately, this challenge will end eventually, and I'll have to figure out what the next challenge is (already have an idea, but I'll get into that another time)!

Studio Diary: Light everlasting?

(Light everlasting?)

Ye, today (June 7/2020) was a very productive day, have knocked off two songs! Today's session was full of happy accidents. I was initially gonna create a neat little arpeggiated sequence, but as I was playing, this recorded bit started playing in the background, but at a higher speed and pitch... when listening to it, in context of the song, it worked with the song, and fit exactly what I was going for! Sometimes these little happy accidents happen, and the results end up being amazing!

I will say, the first song I worked on today... I was intentionally going in one direction, but as the song started to take shape, it turned into something entirely different! I'm loving this! I'm loving this challenge, I'm loving the output and stuff that is being written, the way it's coming out, and all the learning in the process! I'm well ahead of where I want to be!!

Sooo, much inspiration out there! 

I will say this again folks, I know a lot of you typically don't do something creative, unless you feel inspired, but I will be honest, sometimes you just have to sit down and pick up the pen/brush/pencil, play guitar/keys/drums what have you, and put it on paper/canvas, record/write etc... it may not look/sound perfect, it may be crap, but at least you are doing something, and sometimes that's all it takes! I know for myself, as of lately, I've been doing something creative every day, and sometimes I don't feel like it, but if you wait until you feel like it, it may never happen or get done. You gotta do these things despite your feelings! I know I've found, after years of doing this consistently (at least once a week), the ideas come out much more quickly, and easily, and sometimes it's inspiration, and sometimes it's just me going through the motions. The last little bit I'm gonna say here, I know some of you folks have heard me say this before, but I will say it again, ultimately life is very short, if we are lucky we live to 100... 100 years isn't actually all that long... think about the last 10 years, how quickly did that go by? I think you are getting what I'm saying!

Hope you folks are staying safe and are well!

Studio Diary: So, I achieved a very nice goal today!!

(Achievement unlocked, part one! Lightshift... dark!)

Ye, so today (June 6th/2020), I achieved a writing and production goal in my music endeavor. Today I took 2 songs from concept to completion, and even started a third song today! I am extremely happy with this achievement! I wasn't sure I was gonna be able to do it, but I did!

Once again, I will say, this entire challenge and process has been very fun, very inspiring, and there is a lot of learning that I'm doing in the process! The way this is rolling, I'm loving this!! I will say it again, this whole process reminds me a little bit of the early Twitch days when I was using Tracker software to write my first album (as well as my second)! This is all coming out quickly, and I'm getting it down as it comes out, it's lending to intuitive songwriting, and I truly understand why certain music producers do things in certain ways!

I've kind of gotten into a rhythm now, and we'll see what tomorrow brings, I would love to get out another 2 songs tomorrow... we'll see...

So, much inspiration right now!!

Studio Diary: Is there light?

(Is there light?.. Photo courtesy of Natalie Torosian)

We are officially over the halfway point now, in the songs and tracklist... I wanted to do 15 songs, I'm now sitting at 8 that are done! These tracks have been coming out every 1.5(ish) days, so I'm not at the point I want to be (I would like to do 1 per day), but I am waaay the fuck ahead of where I wanted to be initially, so for me that's a win!

Today's session, was very intuitive, very quick... things came out quite quickly, I didn't over-complicate the song... I got down what needed to get down, and as of lately, it seems as though... the last thing I do, is vocals, just before 9pm (9pm is the cut-off point for doing vocals, as I live in an apartment)... for some reason lately... it's usually 10 - 15 minutes before 9pm, and I record the vocals, in one take! Not sure why it's happening that way, but for some reason that is the way it's happening! Then I'll go in and quickly edit them, put them through an Effects Bus, tweak the effects to taste... and song done! Obviously, if I need to, I'll carry things out a little longer in the tweaking stage, but generally 9pm has been the time I finish the song and get vocals!

So, what is the overall feeling of these sessions?

I'm loving every minute of this! I like the workflow, I love working with my synth a lot! Outside of a couple of things, all the sounds are generated by my synthesizer, and yeah... loving working with my synth in this capacity! It's really helping me to get out ideas quicker, and understand the internal architecture of my synthesizer and how it works! Initially, when I started this challenge, I was worried that I may not be able to meet the challenge (I hadn't actually touched my synth in like 10 months, so I was worried that I would be fumbling around trying to figure shit out, when I should be productive), but after working with my synth a bit and re-familiarizing myself with the way it works... it wasn't such a struggle to pick it up and work with it in the capacity that I am!

This has been the most fun I've had with it, since I got the thing... but I'll get into that another time! Loving this shit!!

Love you guys!

Studio Diary: Today was almost not the day... but inspiration prevailed!

(Today was almost not the day... but inspiration prevails, and just getting the job fuckin done!!)

Ye... today (June 1st/2020) was tough... my vocals were not where I want them, but I pushed through and got them out. I was getting a little frustrated today, I felt like I was getting into the same head space that I was in before I did this challenge, and the ideas weren't coming out as quickly, but once again, powered through those feelings and finished this fuckin song! I did spend a bit more time on it, than the other songs that I've done, but I couldn't take this track any further, and I said fuck it, finished things up, tweaked things here and there, did the vocals, manipulated them a little bit, and song done!! This track is definitely different, but I think I got across what I wanted to!

I've shut everything down for the evening, and will start the next song tomorrow! Overall, despite the difficulties of finishing this track, I finally got to a place where I feel it's done, and I'm just going to leave it the way it is.

Studio Diary: Today was not the day...

(Despite not feeling it today, lot's of inspiration out there, and was still productive!!)

Ye, today was definitely not the day to be as productive as I would have like to have been. I had some drinks last night, while enjoying the Terminus: Isolation live stream, and was a little tipsy by the end of it... and I woke up today, with quite the hangover and just wasn't feeling it today... Also attempted to do vocals, nope! Just not happening. I have noticed that during this period of self-isolation, that drinking right now, is just not the same... and quite frankly, generally after the evening of drinks... the day after, I generally feel like shit, and unproductive. So, I think while this self-isolation shit is going on, just gotta stay away from the alcohol. Of course, there is one exception to that rule, which is, if I'm performing a live stream... then I'll have a glass of something, as that helps calm the nerves, but outside of that, that's it!

Despite not being as productive as I would have liked, I still got some stuff done, and added some layers to a track that I'm working on! I think tomorrow evening, I'll be able to knock this song off, and get the vocals done, and be able to move to the next song! Once again, I'm very excited about this whole challenge, and I'm definitely doing things and thinking outside the box when it comes to writing this music! Lots of inspiration, and learning a lot of new things, and I will say there's a lot of things I'm realizing about my process, and why a lot of other industrial musicians, or musicians in general do things the way they do... in regards to organizational structures, and setting up your recording environment to get out your ideas as easily as possible!

After this challenge is done, I will likely do some other blogging or vlogging or something like that, getting a little bit into the process, and how my process has changed, and how I went about doing the things I did.

I keep coming back to Wax Trax! Records!

(INVA//ID; modern dark electro-industrial reminiscent of Wax Trax! era bands)

I keep coming back to the Wax Trax! Records back-catalogue. There are modern bands that are inspired by the Wax Trax! roster of bands and ultimately hearing these bands brings me back to the record label's catalog. Once again I will say, for some reason the bands on the Wax Trax! roster, not only do I keep coming back to, but feel inspired by! Out of all honesty, I'm not really sure why, I just really enjoying stuff that has come off that roster, and once again, feeling really inspired by. I guess there is a certain sound to the bands that were on that label, like you can hear the mixing and mastering and just general sound that came off that label for the bands, and at least I find there is a similarity. It may have been the fact that Al Jourgensen played a very important role there. It could also be the fact that almost everything that came off that label, was done in an in house recording studio... and the bands and side-projects, they were all hanging around when other bands on the label were recording their music, so there would be this, cross-pollination between the bands. It's funny cause, it's actually a lot of the modern bands that I'm listening to these days that are actually drawing me back to the Wax Trax! roster. Like, the bands INVA//ID or Cocksure... the style and sound design is very reminiscent of the Wax Trax! sound (granted Cocksure is an obvious one, as Chris Connelly was in the band Revolting Cocks and that influence is definitely there), Malekko is another one (once again, fairly obvious why... Paul Barker is the main songwriter for Malekko, he also was Ministry's bassist for, well a loooong time, as well as vocalist for his other project Lead Into Gold), but I find it interesting that there are these modern bands that when they are writing their albums, the sound design is specifically and intentionally done in a way that is reminiscent of the bands that were on Wax Trax! Records... and quite frankly, I'm glad there are people/bands/artists that are doing that, cause A) I like their music, and B) It reminds me of the Wax Trax! roster and I find it highly inspiring!

(Revolting Cocks)

I just love the history, I love the stories, I love the sound, the bands... all that, and just listening to the music from that time and trying to decipher how they went about in creating those songs, and the sound design... yeah inspiring! And, when hearing modern bands do that, it's like hearing a piece of history, but a modern take on it, which is also inspiring!!

What is keeping you inspired these days?

Studio Diary: The Night Loves You!!

(The night loves you!)

Well, I got done what needed to get done today, the process was still fun... and I'm very productive. I will say though, today I was feeling anxious for some reason, not sure why. Like normally, when I pour my morning coffee... and have the first sip, I feel good and relaxed, but today for some reason, before I poured my coffee, I felt anxious today... not sure why... I couldn't really place my finger on it. I'm thinking maybe I feel a little time starved... (there's a reason for that, and I'll let you know why in the future... right now is not the time)... However, even though I felt time starved... I was still productive, and got everything done that needed to get done today!

Once again, I'm really enjoying the process right now, and it truly reminds me of the early days of Twitch, maybe not sound-wise, but definitely in the sequencing and programming kind of way. There was a part of me that felt, for at least part of the creative process today, that I needed to change things up a little bit today, so I cut up and fucked with a drum loop that I was playing with... it definitely payed off! I will say again, I'm really loving the process... and it's forcing me to think about music differently, and really get my ideas out, as they come out! In the future it is very likely that I'll work in this kind of fashion moving forward... sooo inspired!!

I hope you folks are staying safe and doing well!! I know they are starting to open up things where we live, and I know some of you are worried what this is gonna look like... are we gonna be able to remain safe, or is this whole situation gonna get worse... I'm remaining hopeful and positive... but the numbers, ultimately will tell us the tale.

Whatever the situation, love you!

Studio Diary: The Mishap...

(Love the darkness!)

Yeah, was in the studio yesterday... bein all creative and shit, and I was doing some filming... then at the end of the night, I end up tripping over my fucking video camera plug... the camera crashes into the ground, and... well... let's just say, this last week has not been good for gear... video camera is now fucked.

I will be replacing it with something new obviously, at some point... just frustrating, when a person is trying to be productive and creative, and shit like this happens. I will say, it was an older camera (a step before HD), but the thing I liked about it was, because it was an older camera, the file sizes of the videos were easily manageable, and quick to load. Granted the quality of the video wasn't the best, but it did the job. Yeesh, I get this is a first world problem, but frustrating none-the-less.

On a plus note, I have been doing some things in the studio, there have been a lot of realizations in my process and how I'm starting to think, the process I had before when writing stuff, needs to change. Like I said in a previous studio diary (here), things have been changing, and this new process first of all reminds me of the early days of Twitch, when I was doing stuff in a Tracker type program, and yeah... it's been a lot of fun right now, and it truly is helping me change the way I think about writing. Depending on how this goes, my writing process may change permanently, cause the way things are coming out right now, is really inspiring, and... well... you'll just have to wait and see ;) 

We did just release an album called "Databomb" if you are curious what it is about, you can check it out here (and hey, just fucking download it, it's free)!

Anyway, thank you folks for all that you do, and your support,

Shayne "Daemon_w60" Lawrence / Twitch

Studio Diary: Things don't need to change... (Update)

(What's in this dark photo..? Inspiration? Maybe...)

Ok, so... I feel right now, with what I'm doing in the studio... I really don't want to take the time to move shit around right now. I'm actually really enjoying and liking my set-up the way it is. My synth is a little far away from my desk, but I don't mind right now, and I'm liking standing at my synth, rather than sitting. Also being that, I'm kinda doing something creative in that respect... like I said above, don't want to interrupt the creative process right now... I also feel kind of inspired with the current way things are set-up and such... soo, yeah... gonna leave it for now.

So, we are doing something different with our creative process right now, and it feels good... I will say the stuff I'm doing right now, and the way I'm doing it is definitely a learning experience! I hope this works out in my favor and I can meet this challenge! It almost reminds me of the old days of using tracker software to get things done, but also kinda new too, cause it's forcing me to make decisions and... well... when this is done... you'll know!

It's 2020... No excuses! Time to start your Industrial Music Project!

(Skinny Puppy in the early days)

Yep, I think that title says it all! It's 2020, matter of fact we are just about halfway through the year... and there should be no excuse! It's time to start your industrial music project!! First of all, let's get into the mentality of it... This year has definitely been rough, we are seeing a pandemic that has essentially stopped the world. Everyone around the world is experiencing a lockdown, or a period of self-isolation of some sorts. I personally have been in self-isolation here in my province in Canada for 2 months... so, what does that mean... First of all, if you were working, and are now not, now is the perfect time to start on your endeavor! Second, time is very short, if we are lucky we might live till we are 100... that actually isn't a lot of time if you think about it... so what better reason do you need to start!

I know some of you folks may not even have the option of purchasing gear right now, as there is no delivery service, or even curbside service. So, what does that mean for musicians, or people who are just starting out, or are considering starting an industrial music project. If you can't order gear, or go pick it up... look at all the options, and resources we have online! I mean, if you have a computer and an internet connection, you are already ahead of the game! There's some software out there, that is capable with the soundcard that already comes with your computer... so, here's a couple that I suggest to get started with, first is:

Jeskola Buzz Tracker: this is a tracker based program and it is Windows based. I personally have used Jeskola Buzz, and have written a couple of albums with it. It comes with built in synths and a tracker style sequencer and all kinds of other stuff! Here's a video about Jeskola Buzz Tracker (*Just a quick note this is an older video from an older version of Jeskola Buzz, but it gives you a general idea of what it is about! This video is also quite comedic!)

You can find a download of the latest version of Jeskola Buzz here! There are all kinds of YouTube tutorials to help you get started with this software or any other music software out there! So if you are stuck, or just want to see more of what these pieces of software are about, YouTube is the resource to find that kind of stuff!!

Audacity: now I personally haven't used Audacity in my own endeavor, but it is another option for at least recording audio and editing or modifying that audio! If you are using Jeskola Buzz Tracker, and you need to do vocals for your tracks... Audacity would be the way to do it! Here's a video about Audacity:

You can download the latest version of Audacity here!

Garageband: now I've only used Garageband very briefly, but if you are a Mac user and looking for something to get you started in your industrial music project, this is the free option that I do believe most Mac's if not all have already loaded onto it. This is basically band in a box, everything is included to get you started, and if you are looking for a relatively affordable upgrade from Garageband for your Mac, Logic Pro is the answer (when it is time to upgrade, and you feel a little more serious about your musical endeavor)! Here's a video about Garageband:

You can find Garageband on most, if not all Mac's, and if you do not have it on your Mac, then go to the App Store and download it (I think even in the App Store it's absolutely free)!


There are also demo versions of some of the pay-for Digital Audio Workstation software out there, but they are usually limited in what they can do... but I'll list a couple that you may find useful:

FL Studio: this is the current software I've been using to write most of my albums these days (although, I have a fully featured version), and I think it is quite excellent software and would recommend eventually getting a full version of it (if you feel this is the right software for you)! You can find a demo trial of it here!

Cockos Reaper: This software I've been using these last few years for running my backing tracks for live shows. This software is fully featured, you can record and sequence and all that kind of shit with it! You can find a demo of it here!

Ableton Live Lite: I've played with the trial version of this software, that's about it! However, Ableton is a great piece of software, and even though it is made for live performance, it is and can be used for recording and sequencing and all that kind of shit! You can find Ableton Live Lite here!


I figured for this blog, I would just suggest the "Free, don't need anything else to get started recording and sequencing software" out there, cause I know some of you folks may not have mail or delivery or really anything available to you... So, I hope that this was helpful and you are now on your way to becoming that underground industrial music artist!

(Twitch: August 26/2016 @ Lord Nelson's Pub, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.)

If you are already an established or even smaller industrial music artist, and you have suggestions as to other free options out there, please leave them in the comments! Anyway, thank you for reading and I may make a small series out of these blogs... we'll see!!

*Note: Just want to make a quick note here, I'm sure you're wondering how to do vocals when you have no way of getting the vocals into the computer, or you don't have a microphone to properly record your vocals. I think I want to stress here, be resourceful. When I wrote my first song, I had no way of recording vocals, I didn't have a mic, but I had these really old pair of headphones, and I thought "Why not plug this into my computer soundcard, and sing through them..?", I didn't know if it would work (these were really old like 1970s headphones), but I plugged them into the back of the soundcard, and sang through the headpieces... and, it fuckin worked, course my vocals came out all distorted and shit, but at least I got them, and it worked for what I was doing! So, nowadays... you might be able to use a shitty pair of headphones, or the headphone mic on your earbuds or whatever... be resourceful. I mean, if your computer has a mic on it, or you have a webcam with a mic, that might be another way of doing it! So... if there is a will, there is a way!!

Musical Choices that are Keeping Me Mentally Healthy During this Self-Isolation.

(Cyberpunk Seoul)

Well, my latest musical choices have been keeping me inspired, motivated, and energized! It's interesting the musical listening choices I have been making during this pandemic, and period of self-isolation. Now, initially I was trying to stay away from music that was typically Cyberpunk themed, cause initially focusing on that and listening to the lyric content kinda stressed me out, and quite frankly being that dystopia may be a reality or possibly could be a reality, just focusing on that aspect it was initially stressful, but as of recently, I accidentally turned on Blush Response... and at first I was like "Nope. Not the right music for right now.", but I let it play through a little bit of the song, and I wasn't stressed out anymore, I was actually enjoying it. Now that is definitely not a commentary of where I think things are going... I still think that dystopia is bad, and I do think we need to do whatever it takes to not end up in that reality... but for some reason I'm finding music that has cyberpunk themes inspiring right now... and I will be honest, I haven't really been listening to a lot of the old standards that you would think would help with maintaining a healthy mindset. Like, even though Nine Inch Nails has released their new "Ghosts: V - VI", I truthfully am having a harder time listening, at least to side VI, cause it really is too dark and depressive for me, cause I do think musically, it captures at least part of what I am feeling right now, and I feel like, to maintain mental health, I just have to avoid listening to it (truthfully speaking, I haven't listened to a lot of NIN in these past 3ish months... the most I've listened to them was a few days ago, when a DJ here in Calgary, hosted a NIN night on Twitch.tv, that is it). 

(Deckard Cain)

There is a select list of bands that I am listening to right now, like I said... not the usual standards to help maintain a healthy mindset (which right now, I don't feel is helping maintain my mindset), but new stuff that I typically wouldn't listen to... here's some of the bands I've been listening to these days: Dope Stars Inc (I absolutely do not know why I'm listening to them, normally in the past I wouldn't have, but I feel like their music is really resonating with me right now). Blush Response (like I said, initially when listening to them, it was actually causing stress, but for some reason now, I'm really connecting with it). Chrysalide, Atari Teenage Riot (anything that is typically labeled Digital Hardcore). Cocksure. Cubanate. Cyanotic. Encephalon. Era Nocturna (not entirely sure why, but I feel her music is kinda this calmness, and currently what fits on the playlist that isn't heavy or hard). Covenant is also on this list (but, thematically their music seems to fit and is helping me stay focused, even though they are kind of an old standard... "Dreams Of A Cryotank" seems to be really helping with my mindset). Fear Factory is also on this list. Julian-K (their latest album "Harmonic Disruptor" is excellent). Paul Barker's Malekko is also on the list (just purely from a sound design aspect, for some reason this is fitting into the list). Nevada Hardware. Some noise stuff as well like; P.A.L., NeedleSpit, Stahlschlag and Wychdoktor. Panic Lift is also on the list. A band called The Rain Kills Quietly (dark industrial techno type stuff, for some reason really helping out with the mindset). Skinny Puppy (I realize they are an old standard, but they are on the list as well, and I'm finding their music really helping with the mindset). I realize this band may not fit into the industrial side of things, actually these next couple of bands don't, and they are kind of old standards, at least for me: Slipknot (only a select couple of tracks), as well as Sepultura (once again, a select couple of tracks), and Korn... now these bands are on the list, cause they are heavy, and seem to capture a part of what I'm feeling right now. Standalone and Hate Dept. are also on the list. Yes, also my own project Twitch is on the list. Venus In Aries. Wumpscut. And finally even though I haven't listened to a lot of Nine Inch Nails in the last little while, after the NIN night on Twitch.tv that a DJ from Calgary hosted, I added them to the playlist, cause it really has been quite some time since I've listened to NIN, and I realized I was missing them (but that was really only in the last couple of days here... so yeah, it's been a while)!

(Out for a walk during this period of Self-Isolation and Social-Distancing)

So, that seems to be the playlist recently, and what has been keeping me mentally well, focused, and highly inspired in my own endeavor. You can listen with us here!

What music has been helping with your mindset and keeping you inspired, and motivated during this period of self-isolation?