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How To Develop Creativity and Excel As A Successful Independent Songwriter In A Changing Industry
Devin Townsend is an accomplished musician, performer, songwriter, vocalist, guitarist, engineer and record producer. He has excelled in numerous creative and artistic endeavours over the past twenty five years.
Now for the first time ever, Devin wants to intimately share his comprehensive knowledge and wisdom on how to harness creativity when writing music & creating art.
Now for the first time ever, Devin wants to intimately share his comprehensive knowledge and wisdom on how to harness creativity when writing music & creating art.
- GenresMusic
33 pages, ebook
Published August 15, 2018
2 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Devin Townsend
6 books37 followersDevin Garret Townsend is a Canadian singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. He was the founder, songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist in extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad from 1994 to 2007 and has an extensive career as a solo artist.
After performing in a number of heavy metal bands in high school, Townsend was discovered in 1993 by a record label who asked him to perform lead vocals on Steve Vai's album Sex & Religion. After recording and touring with Vai, he was discouraged by what he found in the music industry and vented his anger on his 1995 solo album Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing, which he released under the pseudonym Strapping Young Lad. He soon assembled a band of the same name, with whom he released the critically acclaimed album City in 1997. Since then, he has released three more studio albums with Strapping Young Lad, along with solo material released under his own independent HevyDevy Records label.
Townsend's solo albums have featured a varying lineup of supporting musicians and are a mix of hard rock, progressive metal, ambient, and new-age. In 2002, he formed the Devin Townsend Band, which recorded and toured for two of his solo releases. In 2007, he disbanded both Strapping Young Lad and the Devin Townsend Band, taking a break from touring to spend more time with his family. After a two-year hiatus, he began recording again and soon announced the formation of the Devin Townsend Project. This band began with a series of four albums, released from 2009 to 2011 and each written in a different genre. Townsend continued to record and tour under the new moniker until January 2018.
Townsend's trademark production style, featuring a heavily multitracked wall of sound, has been compared to the styles of Phil Spector and Frank Zappa. His versatile vocal delivery ranges from screaming to an opera-esque singing, and his songwriting is similarly diverse. Townsend's musical style is rooted in metal, and his albums are written to express different aspects of his personality.
biography source: current as of August 2023
photo by Andreas Lindmark
After performing in a number of heavy metal bands in high school, Townsend was discovered in 1993 by a record label who asked him to perform lead vocals on Steve Vai's album Sex & Religion. After recording and touring with Vai, he was discouraged by what he found in the music industry and vented his anger on his 1995 solo album Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing, which he released under the pseudonym Strapping Young Lad. He soon assembled a band of the same name, with whom he released the critically acclaimed album City in 1997. Since then, he has released three more studio albums with Strapping Young Lad, along with solo material released under his own independent HevyDevy Records label.
Townsend's solo albums have featured a varying lineup of supporting musicians and are a mix of hard rock, progressive metal, ambient, and new-age. In 2002, he formed the Devin Townsend Band, which recorded and toured for two of his solo releases. In 2007, he disbanded both Strapping Young Lad and the Devin Townsend Band, taking a break from touring to spend more time with his family. After a two-year hiatus, he began recording again and soon announced the formation of the Devin Townsend Project. This band began with a series of four albums, released from 2009 to 2011 and each written in a different genre. Townsend continued to record and tour under the new moniker until January 2018.
Townsend's trademark production style, featuring a heavily multitracked wall of sound, has been compared to the styles of Phil Spector and Frank Zappa. His versatile vocal delivery ranges from screaming to an opera-esque singing, and his songwriting is similarly diverse. Townsend's musical style is rooted in metal, and his albums are written to express different aspects of his personality.
biography source: current as of August 2023
photo by Andreas Lindmark
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 12, 2020
I’m not a musician looking to develop his creativity and excel as a successful independent songwriter; I read this book purely because I’m a fan of Devin Townsend’s music. Also, it was free, and only 33 pages long.
Townsend gives lots of valuable advice on here, which can be used for life in general and not just the music world. Things like not being afraid to fail, being yourself, using your own strengths to make something unique, doing what compels us, and so on and so forth.
This also provides some great insight into Townsend’s own mindset, and as such I would recommend any fan of his to check it out.
Townsend gives lots of valuable advice on here, which can be used for life in general and not just the music world. Things like not being afraid to fail, being yourself, using your own strengths to make something unique, doing what compels us, and so on and so forth.
This also provides some great insight into Townsend’s own mindset, and as such I would recommend any fan of his to check it out.
Displaying 1 of 1 review