Databomb: Refuge

“Refuge” is about the Syrian refugee crisis, and refugees in general. The people that are fleeing these conflicts are trying to save their children, and their families. All they want is peace. They don’t want to see their brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, or children die. They are generally good people, they work, they take care of their families... they pray, but despite all of that, they are being forced out of their country, at the threat of violence... they flee to another country... will that new country take them in, and keep them safe, or will they turn them away? Who’s right in this conflict, the ones that are fleeing, or the ones threatening violence? Why is there a cynicism from other countries, and insist they should stay and fight? Praying isn’t working... and ultimately the question becomes 

“Why has our god forsaken us?”

“No one will take us in... will we never find peace?”

“Can you help us?”

If you haven’t heard “Refuge”, you can find it here: https://twitch-official.bandcamp.com/track/refuge

And if you haven’t yet, you can grab the album “Databomb” for a fiver ($5) here: https://twitch-official.bandcamp.com/album/databomb Not only will you be getting some Rivethead tunes you can mosh to, you’ll also be supporting a great charity (Mental Health Research Canada) in the process too!

Databomb: We All Want Peace

Ye, I think the title and subject of this song is obvious... I think everyone out there ultimately wants some kind of peace, not only outside of themselves, but inside themselves as well! I mean there are a few exceptions to this rule, but I generally think people who don’t want peace, are actually misguided and if they aren’t misguided, then they actually have something wrong with their brain, and the chemicals inside of it! At the beginning and at the end of this song there is a sample of a Japanese Peace bell.

Do you want peace? Internally, and externally? Let me know!

If you haven’t heard “We All Want Peace” yet, you can listen here: https://twitch-official.bandcamp.com/track/we-all-want-peace

Aaand, if you don’t have the album “Databomb” in your digital collection, I would highly suggest in grabbing it here: https://twitch-official.bandcamp.com/album/databomb You can grab it for a fiver ($5)!! All proceeds from this album, and matter of fact all our albums will be strictly going to Mental Health Research Canada charity! Not only are you getting great music, but you are also investing in amazing charity that focuses on mental health research!

Ok, Folks! I Am Not Doing This Shit Anymore!!

Ok, folks! I am not doing this shit anymore, I'm not fucking around anymore!!! In the last couple of months, you know, I know, everyone fucking knows the situation! The world is essentially standing still, due to this pandemic. There have been all kinds of things go on between the start of this self-isolation, and social-distancing periods. I mean the murder of black man George Floyd by a police officer in the states, the protests and riots that resulted after that. There's all kinds of political plays going on in the neighbors to the South of us. There's been an absolute lack of leadership, there. There's been well, I'm not sure how to comment on the leadership of our country, but we are certainly doing much better numbers wise with the pandemic than our southern neighbors. Although, the leadership in our Province is well, a fucking gong show... absolute fuckin insanity in the way things have rolled out here (Bill 1 anyone?) It's very concerning as a lot of friends and family are really unsure of how things are gonna roll out... remember this is all during a pandemic... all of this!

I know I am struggling right now, I know I have family and friends that are struggling, so.. that got me thinking, I've struggled a lot with my mental health over the last, well...21 years... it wasn't until these last... well since I started really trying to get Twitch out there and really starting to focus on live shows and performing which wasn't until around 2011-12, which is also when I realized music and performing were essentially keeping me sane! I will say between 1999 - 2004 was where I really struggled a lot! There were a lot of doctors and such getting involved. Most of them didn't know what was wrong with me. Then in fall of 2001, basically just after 9/11... I ended up getting into a bit of trouble. I would say though, even though I got into that trouble... there was a month period where I was talking to doctors... and I finally got the help I needed... and it put me on the path I am on today!! Course there were missteps between 2001 and 2004, but after 2004 I realized I can't do this mental illness thing, it's too stressful! So, I made a deal with myself, as well as some family and friends that when I'm feeling off, to let them know... and reach out (if you need to do this... do not be afraid, tell your close friends or supportive family members, what is going on... and make sure you tell them what you need, or what would be helpful for you)!

Course over the years I've managed to find coping techniques that work for me, but it wasn't until I decided to not do this mental illness thing and really take care of myself, and not fuckin end up in these mental places. Yes, I do have a mental illness, but I absolutely don't let it run my life, for me it was about deciding that quite frankly, I'm not fucking around anymore, I'm not wasting anymore time on this, I have dreams, and goals, and a life to live! So, where am I going with this... after some long and hard thoughts, I'm going to be raising the price of the latest Twitch album "Databomb" to $5 for a digital copy, or if you want to pay more, you can go ahead and do that... every sale of this album from now: July 10/2020 till August 7/2020 will go toward: Mental Health Research Canada! 

Here is what they are about: 

 

We advance outcomes-driven mental health that betters the lives of all Canadians.

Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC) is a national, charitable organization that is dedicated to improving the lives of the 1 in 5 Canadians living with mental illness, as well as their families, caregivers and communities. We do this by advancing evidence-based mental health research that is problem-solving, cost-effective and usable in the real world.

We all have mental health. Mental health is the foundation for our emotions, thinking, communication, learning, resilience and self-esteem. It allows us to form healthy personal and professional relationships, sustain our emotional well-being, and contribute to our workplace and society. Mental illness occurs when a mental health disorder or condition disrupts our normal functioning. By the time Canadians turn 40 years old, 50% of us will have – or have had – a mental illness.

Because MHRC is committed to building knowledge that will have deep impact with Canadians, we place at the centre of our research process those who will use it – people with lived experience. We also consult and partner with other funders and stakeholders, including other mental health organizations, social agencies, entrepreneurs, business and government, in creative and collaborative ways.

Here's why I'm choosing this charity; first: the one thing that has resonated with me throughout this pandemic is my mental health and state, it is the one thing I struggle with, if there is no one to chat to or be social with... and I felt best bringing awareness for this charity and  the work that they do! I think it is very important for proper mental health research so we can better accommodate people who are struggling with their mental health, and to even learn from this pandemic on the effects how isolation affects our mental health, and better the ways we can deal with it! Although, the charities scope is vast... I think ultimately in the end, having better mental health research, will better help us understand human psychology and how to cope better in these situations and ultimately possibly help us find better coping techniques overall, and you know... if we have a better understanding of our psychology, and the way our minds work, and... ultimately what is going to bring us peace (personally), or some kind of peace internally, I think the entire world will be better off for it, and I do think truly humanity will start to have an understanding of each other, maybe learn to accept each others differences and such... and maybe we as a human species will actually find some kind of peace externally... and... yeah... I think you know what I’m getting at!

I hope you folks are well!

Here's the new Twitch album "Databomb"!

Databomb: Instructions To Your Revolution

Ye, some of you may know this, some of you may not, initially when we released this song, it was as an EP appropriately titled “Instructions To Your Revolution”, but this song was also meant to be on “Databomb” as well, so... I’ve felt this for a long time, I’ve always felt that positivity and optimism will change and evolve humanity into a better state! Positivity isn’t just something that falls into your lap, and one day you go from negative thinking and psychosomatic thinking, to positive thinking... positivity actually takes work, it isn’t some slogan for people to follow... it is an attitude and a mindset! I wasn’t always a positive person, there was a period of my life that I was filled with negativity and hate... but after having some severe anxiety, I realized that the negativity and hate, wasn’t serving me... and I started to work on my mindset, and my attitude changed... and gradually went from negative hate, to positive mentality. I really didn’t like being so fucking negative and hate filled... it was actually affecting my mental well-being... when I started to work on it (through taking care of myself physically, mentally and spiritually, and starting to set some goals) my mindset changed, and I started to feel better, and ultimately... after all these years, I’ve found peace, and started to find happiness! It really is amazing what we can do, when we set our mind to it! Course the journey isn’t over... there’s a lot to do, and many goals to reach, but I feel ultimately that positivity will change the world! That is what “Instructions To Your Revolution” is about!

If you haven’t heard it yet, you can find the song “Instructions To Your Revolution” here: https://twitch-official.bandcamp.com/track/instructions-to-your-revolution-2

Aaand, if you haven’t yet, you can download the album here: https://twitch-official.bandcamp.com/album/databomb I mean, I don’t know why you wouldn’t, it’s free!!

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!

Yeah, I turn MATH this year... According to "Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy"

(You'll get the joke if you read the book!)

Yeah, I turn MATH this year! Yes, I turn 42 on this day, July 3rd/2020! So, what does that mean... fuck I had a lot of plans for this year... there were a lot of things I wanted to achieve... some of them I achieved; I released my 9th album "Databomb" this year! I released it despite the current circumstances... I mean, you know, I know, we all know the current situation the world is facing right now. I think everybody was dealt a pretty heavy blow this year... All of us having to self-isolate or social-distance to some degree, due to a world pandemic. I'm not gonna get too into the political situation in our neighbors to the south of Canada, but yeah... that's not looking good. Then the recent protests and riots surrounding the killing of George Floyd by police officers in the States. A very important issue surrounding systemic racism. Like I said, not gonna get into the dire political situation down there... but I mean anyone following current events or even connected on social media, fucking knows what's going on... all while there is still a pandemic with no vaccine. And then the current issues going on in our own country, and even our own province here in Canada. A lot of worrying situations.

("Databomb" was released, May 1st/2020)

Despite all of this shit, I'm remaining positive! Initially, when I was getting prepared to release "Databomb" I wanted to play live shows (in person) at local venues and beyond, but everything changed, and I was forced to do live streams in place of the live in-person shows. I did a series of those, up until the album release. I also did a bunch of experimental videos of the songs off the album, released some of them before the album release, and some after. Also, did a making of "Databomb" documentary style video, and did a series of "Meaning of" videos for each of the songs off the album! We, or well... I  was very productive! We also did some special stuff for the live stream performances as well, that if you didn't tune into them, you will have missed them... and I don't know if I'll ever make these "Digital Quarantine Packages" available ever again. I also ended up pairing down my performance rig, to something more portable, that is easily transportable, as well as easily set-up and torn down really quickly... like were talking 10 minutes for set-up and likely 5 minutes for tear down. I ended up replacing my old failing laptop with a new laptop, and purchasing a relatively small MIDI Keyboard of sorts, for live shows, as well as another piece that, will make it really easy for someone new to come in and play drums, even if they've had very little experience doing it!

Course there was some fallout this year, my guitar decided it was done working for good, and right when I was starting a music challenge... but that situation was remedied. I honestly don't know if I'll ever replace it... I might, we'll see... I also had a video camera mishap, and I managed to ruin my video camera, but that situation is getting remedied as we speak!

So, where are we here... it's my birthday, and I'm still hesitant about really committing to live streams... although, there is something in the works for sometime in July, but I can't get into too many details as it's not confirmed yet. Will I do live streams for now? I really don't know, I think for now, if I'm invited to be a part of a live stream show, then it is likely that I'll do it, but right now... I'm not quite ready to commit. I kinda want to see where things go, and when I have a better idea of what this whole situation is gonna look like, then I'll decide what is right!

(Lot's of inspiration out there these days)

There are other goals and plans I had for this year... some of them I've almost achieved, what they are... I can't say yet! You are just gonna have to wait for those... but I'm sure you'll be nicely surprised! There are also some things I wasn't planning on doing this year, but because of this period of self-isolation, I decided to do them and kind of expand my knowledge... I did do an Audio Mixing Bootcamp online course... some of you may have seen my post in the recent last little while regarding that. I've also done a Mastering Audio course as well! Why? I have the time now, to do these things, and it was something I was gonna do at some point in the future, but I thought now would be the perfect time. 

Keeping a mind occupied during these times is really important for mental health as well, as some of you may have come to learn during this pandemic. We can't be out and about, and this is especially important if you are single, and living on your own. Sometimes your mind wanders or thinks, or even overthinks things, or you start to regurgitate things that have happened in the past, or whatever... Keeping your mind occupied, and learning new things certainly helps with mindset, and mental health! At least it is for me!

(Despite the circumstances, Terminus did happen, but as a live stream festival)

One big thing that isn't happening this year, that has been tradition for me, is the Terminus Festival, I mean every fucking show or fest here and everywhere has been cancelled, or postponed to the following year. I will be honest though, I wasn't planning on going to the fest this year, as quite frankly the money that I was going to spend on going to the fest, I decided to spend on my own musical endeavor and purchase a new laptop... yeah, sometimes you have to make those sacrifices... for me it was well worth it, even if live shows aren't a thing right now, at least I've been able to utilize it for the live streams I have been doing! I will say though, I'm really missing the community... and being able to hang out with goth/rivethead types. I miss the shows, local bands, or larger bands that roll through here on tour! I miss being able to have conversations with like-minded people about music, as a general fan, or even discussing music gear, or just general inspiring conversations! I miss being inspired by live bands and such too! I will say though Terminus Fest did kind of happen, as most of you know, it was a live stream Fest rather than an in-person fest... So, I did attend most of that in the comfort of me own living room.

(Balzac "A Dark Affair"; Currently at the top of my list of favorite coffees)

I guess another thing that happened this year, I realized I love coffee... I mean if you've seen my Instagram account, I post a lot of photos of me in my studio, with a very large cup of coffee! I will be honest, I've become a bit of a snob when it comes to coffee, and quite frankly... why would I drink shit coffee if I don't have to?? I'm not sure where I would rank on the amount of different coffee I've had, but I'm always looking for a good, or an amazing cup of coffee... I'll list some of the stuff I've tried here: Starbucks (various types, this is my go to when there is nothing else available, and I drink this pretty much everyday, brewed in my own coffee machine), Van Houtte (can't quite recall exactly what types I've had... but I haven't had any of it since the first couple of bags), I've also had Kicking Horse (If I'm not mistaken, I've tried almost every type of ground coffee they offer... really excellent stuff, but I think I've found something better...), Balzac Coffee (I had my first and only bag a few weeks ago, the stuff I tried is amazing, and I do intend on drinking more of it in the future), I've also tried Phil & Sebastian as well (not sure exactly what type, but it was decent... I also received a bag of it from family friends for my Birthday, which I plan on brewing my first cup of it this weekend)! I've also had shit coffee too, but that stuff isn't important... just thought I would mention, I didn't go straight to the good or recommended stuff, in the beginning of this endeavor... there was a lot of garbage coffee, some of it I had to throw out, cause it was absolutely garbage.

(Reward for meeting my health goals!)

There were some other things too, last year... I decided I needed to do something about my overall health (mental, physical), and I joined a program called: Healthy Transformations... long story short, I was there more for health reasons than anything, but the plus side to it, was that I lost a lot of weight, and I'm back down to my ideal weight (when I was younger; around 170-180lbs). I also found that this diet (it really is a lifestyle, you eat this way for the rest of your life), really helped with my mental health, I feel a lot more clear headed. As a reward, for reaching my goal, I ended up getting a tattoo on my stomach of a special kind of ant, kind of as a way of not letting myself ever get that unhealthy or overweight ever again (no one, or well... at least, I don't want the tattoo look like shit cause of the stomach stretching cause of being overweight, and then returning to a my ideal range... and then the tattoo looks all stretched and warped)... it's a way for me to maintain my health! I also don't really drink beer anymore... my drink of choice now, when I want to celebrate, is gin with sparkling water.

There were a couple of other things that have happened in this last year, first I made a trip to a city that I've always wanted to live in (for the first time), and it met and exceeded every expectation I had, and I still want to live there! I initially went there to attend a synthesizer expo of sorts... it was a quick little trip, but as I stated, I still want to live there! The week after this trip, I also attended an Electronic Music Conference here for a day... my whole reason for attending was to see a well renowned audio engineer in the industrial music scene give a talk, Dave "Rave" Ogilvie! I had some questions for him, but I didn't even have to ask... he answered them. There were all kinds of other talks that various other speakers that I attended that day, but I was specifically there, for Mr. Ogilvie!

I guess the last piece here is, the last couple of years for Christmas, I've been doing 1 page comics, as a kind of a prequel to a larger story that has been in development for a looooong time! I intend on carrying on with these prequels until the long-format comic is done! I may not have mentioned that to some of you folks, but that is what the plan is... when will the long-format first issue comic be released..? Can't say yet, it's taking a little longer than expected, but... it will get done!!

So, that is what this last year has been, I've got plans for this coming year as well... but you are gonna have to wait and see what those plans and things are all about! As stated above, there will likely be some live streams happening! Something is definitely in the works for sometime in July, but as I said, it's not quite confirmed yet. All the plans really depend on what happens with the pandemic, whether there is a vaccine developed, and if one is, how soon we can be out and about again? Whatever happens, we will be adjusting to the circumstances!

(Your Canadian Goth/Rivethead)

Saying goodbye to 41 and hello MATH (42)!! And, if you haven't read it yet, do yourself a favor, read "Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy", you will not regret it!!

P.S.: Twitch also turned 21 this year, as of July 1st! I mean we celebrated the 20th anniversary last year with a retrospective here, but I can't believe we've been doing it for this long now!