Studio Diary: Feeling Good About Being Creative!!

(Another excellent evening... inspiration?)

Ye, another evening in the studio, lot's of ideas... making a lot of progress... learning so many things right now! I am feeling good about being creative again! The directions this creativity is going is... well... you'll just have to wait to find out! Doing things this way, I think if I can pull this off, will be the new way of doing things! Exciting!! I'm glad I gave this a bit of time to start, the inspiration is different, and what I thought was gonna go one way, has now changed. Although, it is funny, cause if I had started this sooner, rather than doing it now, things have completely changed... although, I do feel time really is a luxury, so in the future, when something wants to come out, I'll let it, but I am thankful I waited a little bit on this!

A little side note: The other evening I had a dream that the lead singer from Dope Stars Inc. was testing me on my cyberpunk knowledge, cause he figured I was becoming a cyberpunk and I had to pass the test, if I didn't, I wasn't a true cyberpunk. I will tell you, lately I've had various feelings about cyberpunk, and dystopia... but I'm not gonna get into that here (will some of this inspiration bleed into what's coming... we'll see...).

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?

The Meaning of the song "Dirty City" as well as "Dystopia For You?" off our upcoming album "Databomb"!

Twitch announces "Databomb" release date and artwork!

Yes, you read that right, Twitch will be releasing our album "Databomb" on May 1st/2020! The above image is the amazing cover artwork from Liam Hayes of Logo Monster!

If you missed our last album announcement, here's the tracklist for "Databomb":

1. Blue Screen Of Death
2. Instructions To Your Revolution
3. Activate
4. Save The Freaks
5. We All Want Peace
6. Databomb
7. Refuge
8. Dirty City
9. Machine Heart
10. Dystopia For You?
11. The End Game
12. Worldwide Maniac
13. No Face
14. Death Cult
15. Yeah, Fuck It... Let's Go!!
16. The Cloud
17. The End of War / The Beginning of Humanity

Also, if you want to be the first to know on Twitch going-ons (album release dates, track lists, artwork, first look at music videos, merch and all that kind of stuff), sign-up to our mailing list here! You'll get our latest single for free, for signing up.

The Making of "Databomb"

Here is a little video about the making of the upcoming Twitch album "Databomb"!

Twitch announces "Databomb"

A Databomb is a piece of information that is designed to change or render useless the person or governing system receiving it!

Tracklist:
1. Blue Screen Of Death
2. Instructions To Your Revolution
3. Activate
4. Save The Freaks
5. We All Want Peace
6. Databomb
7. Refuge
8. Dirty City
9. Machine Heart
10. Dystopia For You?
11. The End Game
12. Worldwide Maniac
13. No Face
14. Death Cult
15. Yeah, Fuck It... Let's Go!!
16. The Cloud
17. The End of War / The Beginning of Humanity

Dreamtime in Shayne's Dreamland... part 1: The War

Well, not many of you know, but ever since I was young I've kept a mental record of most of my dreams while I'm sleeping, I generally remember most of them. I've always been able to draw meaning from them... and if it doesn't happen the first night of a vivid dream then it's usually the third night in a row, that the meaning will come to me... Whenever, I've had problems or issues in my life, I've always found that a combination of meditation and studying my dreams has really helped me make decisions or helped me realize certain things, or let me know there is something that I need to do, or something that I need to address. Our minds are amazing things... it takes all the information that we've processed all day, and at least I've generally found, I've been able to take meaning from the dreams that I've had, and maybe learn something, or take action on something that I need to do. I know a lot of people say dreams could be just that... nothing more that reflections of our daily activities... but believe it or not, if you listen to your dreams and what your mind is trying to tell you about your daily activities (maybe it's work [I hate work dreams; as that means I'm getting stressed out, and will eventually wake soon cause I'm worried about work, and what I should be doing is relaxing], or maybe it's interactions with your friends, and conversations you've had with them throughout the day or week, or maybe it's other stuff like creative endeavors and possible directions that you've been stressing about and you are not too sure which direction... there could be all sorts of things... and it's all purely individual based cause each of us has a different job, we have different friends, we have different aspirations and goals in your life)... but when we are sleeping your brain doesn't shut off... it's actually working on problems while you sleep sub-consciously...and what I've found by studying and interpreting my own dreams (a long time ago, I was trying to interpret dreams by using dream definition book [ie: if you dream a certain animal, it means this certain thing], but I found it was never helpful, none of it's definitions were true for me, and I realized, every single "Dream Dictionary" type books is based on the writers definition of what these things mean... so, I started to listen to my own dreams and define themself)... and generally if the meaning does't come in the first dream it'll resolve itself, after a 3 day cycle, and I'll wake up with the answer! And, that leads to "Shayne's Dreamland: Part 1: The War!"

This dream started off with me doing a little wandering in the around and moving into this house (If I'm not mistaken it was a house I was living in with parents or brother... and a friend showed up (yes, Jordan Jaundice showed up in my dream... he wanted me to take care of his dog for a little while, so I agreed to do it, while I was taking care of his dog, I was looking outside, and people were preparing for war in our City (I think it was Calgary), cause of all that shit is going on in politics lately (with the election here in Canada, and in the US), I was afraid, cause I didn't want to pick up a gun, and possibly have to fight my neighbors or fellow Canadians, and I really don't want to use a gun, cause I have no fuckin idea what I'm going to do with it... when Jordan Jaundice got back... because I was sooo worried about this war, and I could see neighbors in the area planning and stocking up on weapons (think the neighbor right across from us had a modern military canon, the type that you sit in and pull ze trigger to launch some kind of missile or whatever). So, I told him I need to protect myself, and he handed my this shitty small revolver... then when he was about to leave again... he took his dog, looked over the dog, and I knew he wasn't gonna trust me with his dog (in real life I love all animals and I love dogs especially larger dogs; Huskies anyone??), but I also felt a little bit of relief because I new I would have to take care of him and have the added stress of having to dog sit, and also protecting myself if a war does happen... the dream got a little more vivid at this point, and I was starting to think the dream was real, and I hear this voice saying "You're getting closer" as I was heading into this upper room of the house, an I realized I was in a very deep sleep, and generally when things get vivid like that, it's time to wake myself up, so I shook (I literally force my body to shake) myself out of the dream and woke up!

...So, I suspect the next couple of days I will have a couple more vivid dreams like this and the meaning will be revealed to me (as that is usually what happens if it's not revealed sooner)...

... I will tell you my initial thought's I think I'm worried about politics, polarization, us vs them shit that certain conservative governments are trying to push forward...as a way of dividing people into us vs them, in order to divide us and make it easier to control us... cause that is what polarization is... and if you look at politics around the world, and especially here in Canada and in our neighbors in the South... a lot of the conservative agenda has been to push this idea that polarization is happening (I have another theory why they are pushing that idea, but that is a conversation for another time), and I'm slightly worried about the coming Canadian election, as if things don't go well, there's no telling what will happen. However, maybe I'm off on this... we'll see in the next couple of days... maybe there is another reason for this dream... I will keep you folks informed on this dream cycle and let you know if there is any meaning that comes to me in the next couple of days!


P.S.: At some point here, I'll also go into a little more details on the definition of what I mean by "Dreamland" as suggested in the title of this post!


What have you folks been dreaming about lately? Do you take meaning from your dreams..?

Thoughts on Dystopia: RANT TIME

**BEGIN RANT**

Well, it seems like a lot of people out there are saying we are currently living in a dystopia because of current politics and what is going on in the world right now. And it seems as though people are almost romanticizing the idea... Truthfully speaking, I love cyberpunk fiction. However that form of fiction was written as a warning to not tread the path laid out in those stories... it was meant to be a warning to not end up in a dystopia. (EDIT: Dystopia isn't fun. When the fiction was created, it was meant to be a warning for us not to end up in that situation! William Gibson was intelligent enough to know that this could be a possibility if we don't do something about the situation we are in... what I am saying here, is if he was intelligent enough to see and know that, then we are intelligent enough, to not end up in that situation!) I also think we are not living in a dystopia... and quite frankly, I'm willing to do anything, so we don't end up in that reality. And, here's my point, if you truly don't want to live in a dystopia, go out there, get involved in a local charity, or a cause of some kind... stop fuckin saying we live in a dystopia, and start actually doing something about what is going on around you and your fucking communities... I actually view being in a dystopia, is not a good thing, it's not an intelligent thing... I think we as a human species are more intelligent than to let something like that become a reality! If you truly don't want to live in a dystopia, get out there, get involved in your communities, make the world a better place, cause if you don't, we'll certainly end up in that reality!


By saying we live in a dystopia, means you've already given up, and you are ok with what is going on around you... you've thrown in the towel, and accepted that it is not possible to do anything about the world situation, the political situation. You think when we went to war in World War II that we thought that nothing could be done about that whole situation..? People gave their lives so we could have our freedom... and they changed the world for the better for us! It is not impossible, if we put our minds to it, we can change the world!

Once again; as with the last rant: Violence should be the last resort!!

**END RANT**

Note: I know I've ranted about this before, but I want to get across the point, you have the power to change things! No matter how big or how small! If it wasn't possible, what is the fuckin point, we might as well lay down and let the world end... Sorry folks, that's the reality of life, if we can't affect change within ourselves and ultimately influence others to take action... then why live?! Each one of us has the ability to change! You are not fated to do anything, society isn't fated to do anything... You always have a choice, and you will always have the ability to change, and in doing so, you influence others to take action! That's all I gotta say.

EDIT 2: I removed something earlier… and censored my blog a little bit… and now I feel I should have left it in, with a bit of an explanation… so I’m putting this back in it; the reality of Dystopia, is that corporations rule… Government pays lip-service to the people and capitalism has run rampant, with no checks and balances. Secret wars are going on, mega-corporations are taking out competing corporate executives by hiring, hired-guns, or anyone that is a threat, or could pose a threat… everyone carries weapons, cause no one knows who’s next and is not sure who is competing against them for the same space. Violence is normalized… no one is safe. What I had taken out of the blog is, I don’t want this to happen… and quite frankly, the idea of me picking up a weapon, whatever it is… to protect myself is something that I don’t want to do (violence actually makes me physically sick; one of the reasons why I can’t watch horror movies anymore, or even watch violent movies and shit, or even the news for that matter, cause there is too much negativity, and too much violence)… I believe in peace… maybe not a true peace (we still have to be able to defend ourselves, cause unfortunately there is people out in the world that want to hurt you), but I definitely believe in peace! I also believe that we will overcome the current world situation, by accepting each others differences (that doesn’t mean you have to believe what I believe, but accept that we are all different… and as long as you are not infringing on anyone’s rights, or going out there hurting someone [I believe we all have a right to life], and you can change and grow within those beliefs then that is for you)… This can all be done without violence, I believe we will overcome it without violence. What I was getting at in this blog Rant is; there seems to be a lot of people in our community (especially, the goth/industrial community), that are saying that we are living in a dystopia, and the idea is almost romanticised… and what I am trying to articulate is… if you truly think we are in a dystopia, or we are on the verge of becoming a dystopic society here in Canada or even the U.S., is go out there and get involved in your communities, donate time to a charity or worthy cause… whether it’s volunteering at the local drop-in centre or raising awareness for mental health issues. Do something to circumvent the dystopia! It’s one thing to say we are living in a dystopia, or are on the brink of becoming a dystopia… but if you are not taking any actions to circumvent it, then we will truly end up in that situation, if you truly don’t want it to happen, go out there and get involved in your communities and make the world a better place! I realize it’s one thing for me to rant about it on the internet and social media… but I’m already, working on the making the world a better place part ;) ! We can’t make the world a better place, unless all of us are doing it together!

I hope I got my point across!


What are your thoughts?