Studio Diary: Was in the studio last night... things need to change (May 22nd/2020)

Yep, was in the studio last night, and things certainly need to change! I tried to fit everything and make sure everything has it's place and there some kind of sense of organization a few months ago, but... this current set-up is not optimal to being creative, so... I'm probably gonna have to move some things around and kinda see if there is a better way of setting up my gear, so that it's good for live streams, and it's good for being creative as well... (although, I like the idea of standing at my synth to do whatever playing, sound design, synth tweaking and all that)... we'll see... Not gonna get into all the details, but if you want a confirmation, yes last night I was being creative... in what capacity, well... you are going to have to wait and find out 😉! I will post another update later today, regarding the solution to this situation... just feel my Yamaha EX7 Synthesizer is too far away from my main desk.

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?

Twitch: Self-Isolation Living Room Dance Party PART 2

Yes, we’ll be doing another live stream performance on our Twitch Facebook page here on Thursday, April 23rd/2020, at 7pm till 8pm! We hope you join us, we’ll be playing new songs from the upcoming Twitch album “Databomb”, as well as some older stuff, aaand maybe giving away a quarantine package of sorts 😉

... and hey, we could all use a good self-isolation living room dance party right now! This is the second edition, or rather PART 2! Sooo, break out your drinks (whatever they may end up being), and dance, or mosh, headbang, or start a circle pit in your living room, while watching us perform some Twitch music for y'all!!

If you would like to support Twitch... go and purchase some music here: https://twitch-official.bandcamp.com

OR donate here: paypal.me/twitchofficial Being that a lot of people have lost their jobs or have been laid off, it is totally not required, however... if you feel you need to support us in some way, just share the live feed when we go live!

Missing the Club, the Scene, the Connected nature of being together in one place for the purpose of socialization and celebration...

(Can't remember what show this was, but yeah, enjoying being with friends)

Well, as you may have guessed from that long title, I really miss the club, going out and dancing, going to shows/concerts all that kind of shit! I miss the connected nature of being in one place to socialize and celebrate with friends, to have debates and discussions, and even being able to really show our friends our love for them, by giving them a hug, a pat on the shoulder, a handshake... all that kind of shit. I have been connecting with friends via video chat and such like that, I've also participated in live streaming Goth/Industrial DJ events, even watched live stream performance stuff too... but even though we can still connect that way, it's not the same as being present, being able to physically give someone a hug, being able to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger, or even someone new to the scene... I love the culture, of being able to go to a club or show, and being able to converse, celebrate, debate, dance, watch bands perform, all that kind of shit. I love being with like-minded people, or people of my kind, I love the community... even when not knowing someone, realizing that they are there, and they are a part of the same community, even though their participation in events and shows may not be the same as another person, just the fact that they are there... they show their support for the community/scene, and their similar interest. I miss the solace of hearing loud music, being able to dance, and being with my people! I know I've mentioned this in an Instagram post I made within the last week and a half or so, but I know some of you folks that follow this blog don't follow Twitch on Instagram, so I figured I would kind of post those thoughts here as well, and kind of expand on them.

The one thing about humanity is our social nature, as a human in order to survive, we need to communicate, we need to be connected to others... whether that was talking, or showing each other physical affection. Some people can go for a long time isolated, others not so... I know for myself, I don't do very well with lack of social contact, I suffer a lot mentally, when I can't connect with friends socially and physically connecting. I am an extrovert... so self-isolation is very tough for me, but even that being the case, I've dealt with isolation, and kind of being forced into isolation for a very long time... at least the last 20 years or so. Obviously, I haven't been isolated for that entire time span, but there have been stints of spending a month or month and a half, not talking to anyone (including family), outside of going to the grocery store and chatting very quickly with the cashier or whatever (but that really isn't socialization, that is a transaction, and them making sure I got everything I needed on my list)...

...I will say this time around, it's not as bad as I initially thought this whole self-isolation thing was going to be... yes, it sucks, but being that I have spent a lot of time kind of being forced into isolation... I feel that I'm so used to it now, that it's not such a big deal... now that I look at this whole situation, and my past issues with being forced into isolation... if I wasn't forced into isolation, my first album wouldn't have been written... and the albums after, would not have been written either... when my second album "We Are Here To Dance!" was being written, before I really started to hunker down and work on it... I ended up getting into trouble mentally... but after I started to deal with the mental side... I realized that I needed to work on my music, so in order to cope, I picked a day a week that I would specifically work on music, no matter how I felt (happens to be every Saturday... still is too)! That really helped...

(Friday The 13th, May BLACKOUT! Show)

...Eventually, I would run into more mental health trouble while working on "TCP/IP" and it wasn't so much the writing part that I wasn't focusing on... I was spending every Saturday working on it, but I started to realize that it was time to start working on doing live shows (I hadn't done one yet, and I realized it was something that I have to do)... eventually I did my first live show, and that helped mentally... I actually found inspiration for the album after that, "Welcome"! Of course... before I released "Welcome", I ended up running into mental health problems again... but this time, I eventually realized that I need to be consistent in live shows... I hadn't done another one, since that first one in 2004 for "TCP/IP"... I also held off on finishing "Welcome" cause I was on the search for a guitarist for writing purposes to help me finish the album, and also help out in the live show department, but I could not find one (and there were a lot of flakes... [talk the talk, but don't walk the walk]), then after having a conversation with an old friend and guitarist who did guitars on Twitch's first "Self-Titled" release (1999), and them taking a listen to the album, they figured that there was nothing that was needed on the album... long story short, I did all the guitars myself... and that was enough for the album. So, I eventually released "Welcome" after that friend suggested what was on the album was enough... and with me holding on to this idea that I wanted to perform live, and do it consistently, cause I realized that that was a necessity for me (to stay mentally healthy), as well as consistently writing music... I eventually found people who wanted to be a part of Twitch's live show, and it was 2012 that I eventually ended up starting to play live more consistently... and ever since then, I realized these are things that, well... I have to do in order to maintain my mental health... all of this was born out of isolation. If the forced isolation hadn't happened, I wouldn't have realized any of this...

(Standalone at Terminus)

...So, that brings me back full circle, we as a human species will have to get through this, obviously our normal will look different, but at some point we are gonna need to reconnect... our connection to others comes from being present with others in the same room... but I will also say, I am doing fairly well mentally right now, through all the years, I am realizing, this has been a theme, throughout my life, and I guess, even though it's kind of shitty, I'm getting used to being isolated, even though I'm extroverted... generally good things have eventually come out of the forced isolation (although, it has usually been from a spout of not being healthy mentally, and then eventually realizing there are certain things I need to do, in order to cope and be mentally healthy), aaand I've got alternatives for now, for what I can do to mitigate that isolated feeling... regarding doing shows, and doing music related, or music things, as well as all the other creative shit that I do!

So, yeah... I'm missing the community, I'm missing my friends, I miss the physical connection, I miss the hugs, handshakes, pats on the back, the conversations, the dancing, the live shows... all of it... and I do think it is important, that after this gets sorted out, we throw a party, a very big, let the fuckin city/country/world/universe know that any and every fuckin obstacle will be overcome party! Cause I will need it, and you need it, and they need it, we all fuckin need it!! We need to celebrate, and we need to reconnect!

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


P.S.: We are having a "Self-Isolation Living Room Dance Party" Live Stream performance on our Twitch Facebook page here on Thursday, April 16th / 2020 at 7pm! I would love it if we could connect there, until this shit gets sorted!

Here's the event page for details!

Love ya!!

Twitch, COVID19 & Plans!

Well, I thought it would be better if I write this down… Obviously we all know the situation… it’s good to minimize contact with other humans right now… if you are gonna be around people, make sure it’s small numbers… not huge gatherings, if you can self-isolate… even better. As some of you folks know, if you watched the most recent video we made here! As well as previous videos about isolation… it is very tough for me to be in isolation… I deal with it a lot, have dealt with it a lot over the last… well we’ll just say, there’s been plenty of times that I’ve been forced into isolation, due to not being able to get out with friends, because they are too busy doing other things, or doing their own thing, or whatever, so I’ve spent a lot of time alone. I will say though, if it wasn’t for this “forced” isolation, I wouldn’t have written the first “Self-Titled” Twitch album… Twitch wouldn’t exist if it hadn’t been for that, and now I can say with confidence, that Twitch has existed for 20ish years (we turn 21 this year), and most bands can’t say that! I will also say… being that that has also been the case over the years, I have, what my friends like to call it “workaholic” ethic when it comes to my music endeavor, but in a positive way (not to the point where I’m unhealthy because of it)! So, on that note… You’ll hear some of this and see some of this on our social channels, though blog posts like this, or YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram… and I’m telling you what the plan is here… we are waiting on a couple details (artwork) and just sorting out set-lists for preparation of potential live shows, in support of this album. If things don’t work out in our favor and it is recommended that we have to self-isolate for much longer, we are preparing for live stream performances on Facebook or other platforms (if there is a better way to do it) for people to watch in support of this album!   …I’m not sure the logistics quite yet of the album, I think we’ll be keeping it completely and strictly digital! That is the way the world is moving… and I figure for us that is the best way in going about in distributing Twitch…

...So, on that note, even though this situation seems to be bleak (I truly don’t think it is), and there are opportunities for us and other humans to reach out, and help others…. Whether that’s facetiming/skyping/ or video chat with your friends if they are quarantined or are self-isolating! Stay safe people! Do what you can, and if you are feeling isolated, definitely reach out and chat with friends online through text, and if you are like me who needs some kind of human contact, do facetime/skype, they may not be there physically, but you can still chat and maybe have a beer with them in a virtual space or video chat!! Even me people, if you want to have a video chat, let me know… I’ll definitely be there for you!! Love you folks, once again stay stafe… sometimes we are thrown these curveballs, but remain positive we have survived worse!!

Love your Canadian Goth | Rivethead,

Shayne “Daemon_w60” Lawrence / Twitch

P.S.: I’m gonna try to write or video once a day and post those up on the various social platforms to keep you positive and thinking about ways you can get around isolation… and some of the tips I have used and such in the past, to get you started, here’s a blog with some tips regarding isolation here!

Isolation, and Maybe The Answer to Having A Semi-Social Life...

(Photo courtesy of Katja Moeller)

Well, as you may have read in one of my previous blogs "Embracing The Isolation" here, the last little while I've experienced a bit of isolation, a kind of forced isolation (not really my choice, more of just, not being able to get out with friends as much as I would like to, and also kind of trying to achieve some goals monetarily-wise), and I want to touch upon the subject again, as a couple of days ago, I went for a long walk, and I was thinking about some things I could do to get out and just be in social environments... and I was reminded, that waaaay back in 2001, I used to have this routine, where every Friday, I would hit up an internet cafe, here in Calgary, and surf the net and just be around people, every-once-in-a-while I would play some team based games (Counter-Strike) that they had available as well, I fuckin sucked, I died a lot but, I think just being in that environment allowed me to just be around people, even if I was only there to surf the net. I remember when that stopped, cause I got internet at home, so there was no reason to do the usual internet cafe routine...

...Sooo, I was thinking about it, and I'm like "Maybe I need to do that again..?", so I think I'm going to re-introduce that into my routine... just so that I'm out and around people, even if I'm just doing my own thing... then at least it's an evening that I'll definitely be out, and get in some social time. Not sure where I'm going to hit up yet, but I'm thinking I could spend a couple of hours in a pub or a coffee shop with my laptop, and work on creative endeavors... I mean if I wanted, I could work on writing music (as the software I use to write is on my laptop), or other creative things I want to do... The time I spent in that internet cafe, even though I wasn't really chatting with anyone, it was good to just get out and be in an environment where I could be social if I wanted to... sooo, I think in this New Year I'm gonna try that again and see if it helps alleviate some of this isolation (I know I can't get away from it completely, but at least I'll be doing this)! Not sure what day I'm gonna pick to do it, not sure I'll be able to pick a specific day anyway, as our rehearsal schedule is generally dependent on when my live guitarist is available, and shows can be on weird fucked up days too, but maybe it doesn't have to be a specific day of the week, maybe it's just, a day during the week I have available that I make the decision to force myself to get out and be around people.

(Photo courtesy of Katja Moeller)

If you folks haven't guessed yet, I'm a very social person, and I need a lot of social time... that's why I feel isolated a lot, cause I'm not getting in enough of the social time I need. I think the one thing right now, outside of my job (Mon-Fri) and the one day I have set aside to do music stuff (Saturday), I don't really have a routine thing I do (like I work-out almost everyday of the week, and I do meditate on Tuesday evenings, and spend the evening not doing anything music related [need to have one evening just to relax], but outside of those things, my social schedule is all over the place)... our rehearsal days could be any day of the week, and as I stated above, my guitarist, his work schedule is usually all over the place, so we have to work around it, unfortunately... and we never know what day shows happen (not that I mind that though)... and I never really know when I'm getting together with friends (there have been times I've gone a couple of weeks or longer without actually seeing anyone, except when I have to get groceries or I force myself to hit up a coffee shop or something), so I think I've got to make more of an effort every week to get out and be in a social environment. I guess the other thing is, I feel like this isolation is actually helping me to be productive, and creative, and I want to maintain that level of productivity... so maybe when I do go out to a pub or coffee shop, I'll make sure I'm working on something creative, whether that's music or music related stuff! What do you typically do when you feel isolated? Let me know!

Thank you for reading,

(Your Canadian Goth / Rivethead)

Shayne "Daemon_w60" Lawrence

Happy New Years 2020!!

Well, I can’t believe we are almost here at 2020! I remember being younger, and being that I’m into cyberpunk literature, envisioning that the world would be a very different place. I thought technology would have advanced so fast that we would be travelling to other planets, there would be cybernetics (not just for limb replacement when someone had lost one or was born without one, but also made to make us stronger or faster, or even being able to connect to computers via a brain jack). Some of the tech has come to fruition, there are cybernetic limbs that are stronger and have more functionality than our real limbs (maybe except for actually feeling and nerve endings and such), but they are generally being used, or are, for people who need to replace their limbs. There is a brain jack in development that would allow us to have a physical, mind-to-computer connection (which would allow us to control and communicate with computers and artificial intelligence and stuff like that). It’s kinda funny, all those old cyberpunk stories, manga, movies, and anime… were way off, lol… but cyberpunk literature wasn’t written as something we should be striving for, it was written as a warning. The original authors of that fiction, wrote those stories cause they could see what was happening, and that situation (dystopic society) could very likely happen… and no it’s not a good thing, sure the tech is cool, the idea of a net or grid, that is highly graphic driven and being able to hack into people’s minds (burn out their brain), all that stuff seems really cool, but I don’t think any one of us actually wants that reality… it’s certainly not favorable to the one we have today. So, this is a New Year’s blog, what has this past year been like for me… well to start, we played a couple of shows at the beginning of the year in support of our “Instructions To Your Revolution” EP release in January, then at the end of February I went back into the studio to finish the next upcoming album. I worked literally, almost every day on it to get it done, and I think it certainly is the best album I’ve done so far! This last year I also made some lifestyle changes, regarding my physical health… what most people don’t know, I was overweight for the last... well 10 or more years (probably longer than that, but I can’t quite remember, cause it was so long ago), granted the lifestyle change was more geared for overall health, rather than trying to lose weight… but the benefit of the change was that I lost weight, and am much more clearheaded. I’m back down to my ideal weight range, and as a reward to myself, and also a motivator to never let myself get that physically unhealthy again, I tattooed my stomach. I also traveled out to Edmonton to see my best friend during the Easter vacation… who I hadn’t seen for quite some time. Typically when I travel I write music, but this time I didn’t… I ended up spending my time with my friend, and we both played Skyrim… it was fun stuff, I don’t do that a lot, and I think I needed to do that. As we started to roll into the summer Twitch celebrated its 20th year of existence with a “20 Years of Twitch” retrospective, that spanned the time from 1999-2019! Yeah, we’ve been doing it for a long time now! I also celebrated my 41st birthday, fuck… can’t believe I’m that old now, lol! Still feel young though!! Of course, there was all the other shit that was going on, from friends shows to Terminus Fest… I also managed to get all my synth upgrades for my prized synthesizer… I had to source things from the UK, US, and a couple of other places… but, I can finally utilize my synth to its fullest extent now, and not have to worry about being out of patch memory, or anything like that! I also made a purchase of a prized book called: “Re/Search: Industrial Culture Handbook” that I’ve wanted since I was I think 19 or 20 or something like that… it cost me a pretty penny to get it shipped here from the US… I haven’t read it yet, as I’m waiting for a special occasion to open it up and read it. In November, I made a last minute trip to a city that I’ve always wanted to go to, for a synth expo, and to kind of check the city out as well too! It was waaay better than what I expected, and it confirmed everything I was feeling about that city, I want to live there, lol! I’m sure most of you saw my various photos online of my trip there… so I don’t think I need to mention more here. Also, went to the Alberta Electronic Music Conference for a day to see a very well renowned audio engineer in the goth/industrial scene give a talk (all the questions I had, he answered, without me actually having to ask), it made me really reflect on what I’m doing as a musician, and confirmed some things that I was feeling! Also, I released the first two singles off the upcoming album (“Machine Heart” in November, and “The End Game” in December), and in January I’ll be releasing another single off the album, and then soon after… I’m hoping to release the new album! There’s also some changes coming to Twitch in the New Year, but I’m not gonna get into that right now… you are gonna have to wait for those announcements. So, what has this past year culminated into..? The one theme this year I’ve consistently seen is, isolation… unfortunately, the one sacrifice I’ve had to make this year to get all my synth upgrades, and some upcoming purchases, is going out and going to live shows and events and such. I really haven’t been able to get out as much as I’ve wanted to, to support shows or even just go to the local pub… I’ve been hanging with friends and such outside of those things, but unfortunately that is the one thing that has been the theme this year, I will tell you, I know I can’t do it forever, but for right now… it’s what I gotta do in order to get the things I want… (I’ve also cut out alcohol for the most part, for now, minus the minor celebration here or there)… I do try and make it to the shows/events that I can, but for right now, my attendance is on a limited capacity. I think this last year has probably been my most productive in the music writing department, the EP, the retrospective, and the coming album… I’m definitely starting to reach my goals in that respect. As far as the live show, I’m not where I want to be. I was hoping to start doing shows sooner than later this past year in support of this upcoming album, but I’ve had to push things off a little bit… I’m not sure I’m ok with that, but unfortunately there’s not much I can do about that right now, as there’s some things I need to attend to before I start playing live again (you will learn sooner rather than later what those things are). So, what are the plans for Twitch in the New Year? First and obviously, we plan on releasing our single called “Yeah, Fuck it… Let’s Go!!” in January! Second, we plan on releasing our new album codenamed: “DB” shortly after the single! And Third, we plan to tear this fuckin city a new asshole with live shows and various other shit! So, saying goodbye to 2019, and helloooooooo fuckin 2020! The future is definitely bright… or will it be dark? 😉

(Your Canadian Goth / Rivethead)

Happy New Year 2020!

Shayne "Daemon_w60" Lawrence / Twitch

Embracing The Isolation

Well, while I was in the middle of writing one blog, I was inspired to write this one… Right now, I feel sooo motivated! In my musical and other creative endeavors… what inspired me this time was, well… my current situation… I’ve been feeling a little on edge lately, there’s a lot I want to do in life, and I’ve been feeling isolated lately, and unfortunately, it’s a forced isolation… I don’t really have a choice in it, it’s partially due to just not being able to get together with friends as much as I would like to, it’s also due to some goals I want to reach monetarily, and just not being able to get out to events that I want to due to the funds being allocated to something else. Normally, I would be a little stressed about this, because I’m a very social person, but as of lately, I’ve started to embrace this forced isolation as an opportunity to work on my creative endeavors and get ahead in that sense! I will tell you, after living in this city for as long as I have (21ish years), I’ve started to realize that isolation is a normal everyday thing in this city… I’m coming to expect it… Something that you may not know, is my first “Self-titled” album, that album I was dealing with my first, but once again, a forced isolation, I was so depressed and that album was pretty much born out of that isolation. As I stated above, I’m coming to expect it here, and after all my time here, I’m starting to embrace it… I don’t get to hang with people as much as I would like, I’ve put in a lot of effort in maintaining the relationships that I do have, and unfortunately what I currently have is not enough for me. However, despite that, I’ve put in a lot of effort trying to have some kind of semblance of a social life, but the results of all that effort, well… I’m still struggling to actually have a social life… but as of lately (as stated above), I’m starting to embrace the isolation, and I’m using that time that I would “normally” be out socializing, to work on my creative endeavors… and I’m finding it highly motivating… of course this is only temporary, until I can figure out how to actually get out of this city, but for now I’m embracing the isolation, and getting ahead on my creative endeavors! I may have another album lined up as well, lol... (There’s the one we are releasing soonish, I’ve got some themes for the one after, as well as the one after that one… they even have names now)! No rest for the wicked!



Here’s some tips for people who are isolated, to help you break up, or make use of a forced isolation:

1. Get Creative; If you are isolated but it’s a forced isolation (no choice), work on your creative endeavors (write music, draw, paint, write… whatever it is)!

2. Learn something new; learn a new skill, maybe pick up and teach yourself how to play guitar, or whatever instrument you are interested in learning that you have access to. Or teach yourself new drawing or painting techniques!

3. Another tip to get out and be semi-social: Head to your local coffee shop and work on your creative endeavors there (if possible), for instance when I feel I need to be around people, and friends aren't available to do stuff, I will go to a coffee shop and write new music on my laptop, or write lyrics, or even just get out some ideas of where I would like to go creatively for the next release. I mean, there’s a multitude of other things you can do, take a sketchbook with you and draw, or plot out your ideas for your next painting.

4. OR, it doesn’t have to be a coffee shop, it could be a pub or bar… sit in your own booth or seat and work on things there (Although I would say, careful not to spill your beer on your shit, cause that could ruin whatever you’re working on… especially a laptop [can’t exactly recover very well when the internals of a laptop are soaked in beer])…

Other things you can do, just for general mental health;

5. Go for walks. Getting out for a fresh breath of air and clearing your head-space can be really helpful when you are not able to hang with friends, and you can really come back with a clear refreshed mind from your walk!

6. Workout and stretching if you find you sit a lot during the day at your job.

My final tip is:

7. Meditating! I find meditating very useful for not only clearing my mind, but also for spiritual purposes as well, especially when I’m trying to figure out what are the next steps I need to take for my endeavors and such… also, it really helps with general well-being and such!

I hope those are helpful, and hey if you have any other tips that have worked for you, please leave them in the comments!

(Your Canadian Goth / Rivethead)

Here's to embracing the isolation,

Shayne “Daemon_w60” Lawrence / Twitch


P.S.: The tips are what have worked for me, they may not necessarily work for others, in the end, you gotta find what works for you!

P.P.S.: It's really funny that this evening (December 9/2019) I end up having a conversation, after the fact of writing this blog, about the topic of isolation. Thanks for the convo lady (not sure you want me to mention your name here, but thank you for the conversation)!