“It’s not because I’m trying to make a statement on spirituality,” Townsend says. “I think that I’m trying to make a statement on the fact that I believe spirituality to be a massive part of life that none of us have any understanding over – even those who claim to. I think that there’s a real value to surrendering to that I-don’t-knowness of it all, that helped me artistically with this name to use that as an analogy of getting over things in general.”
Transcendence, like all of Townsend’s work, has been both a process and symbol of his desire for creative evolution. The current album’s theatrical metal with symphonic elements is the latest in a long line of styles, arching from his work in legendary extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad to his recent foray into country with Casualties of Cool. Currently on an international tour, Townsend understands the importance of allowing expression to occur organically.
“I don’t go out of my way to try and learn things,” Townsend says. “I try to follow the path of least resistance so I can not get embroiled in all sorts of dramas at every step of my development. But life often has different plans, and it puts you in these positions of learning big lessons. Music for me has always been how I express that. It seemed to be the one way that I was emotionally available, to really let it all hang out, so each record has been side-by-side with moments of personal development.”
A man of many talents, Townsend considers this to be the most collaborative of his efforts, involving the input and participation of the Project’s band for a mature and harmonious sounding result. His willingness to compromise and open what has been a crucial element in his expression to suggestion presented itself as a humbling opportunity for self-reflection last year while writing an autobiography.
“I was forced to look at the patterns that my life had created for itself based on all of the things that I’d done,” Townsend says. “Take a good hard look at whether or not these were things that, if I didn’t like, how would I change it. How would I modify these behaviours so those things that I clearly didn’t want to keep happening, wouldn’t? One of those things was controlling other musicians and how they interpret my music, and what is my music, and whether or not I should let go of control – all of these things. The energy that comes from that dialogue and the willingness that all of us have to analyse our own motivations creates a really palpable thing”
With each album he produces representing a period of his life, Townsend encapsulates emotions and memories forever and then shares their passion with the world. He finds the concept objectively weird, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. When it can aid in so many ways, music is too powerful a tool not to be used.
“I think I ultimately want to help,” Townsend says. “I think there was a certain point in my life where – maybe more recently than I would even like to assume – you get to a point where you think, ‘Well, is that it? Is this what we do with our lives?’ Do we protect ourselves and never stick out at all, just barricade yourself against the world and do it yourself, hoard all of your belongings and shoot anyone that comes near you? Or do you try and see if there’s something more to it?
“Maybe by making music, if you have a willingness to become a more actualised version of yourself [and it] results in music that’s that cathartic for you, then perhaps that catharsis can help others. That became – not even in an altruistic way – a really good by-product for me. When I have to be away from home, away from family and what have you, it’s something that I feel is worth the effort. I think had I continued with Strapping, and gone out and spent my life being on the road saying, ‘Fuck you all,’ I don’t think that’s something that I would feel – at this stage in my life – would be something that I’d have any interest in.”
It seems for the future, Townsend’s unstoppable, conquering his creative desires one at a time. He’s already decided to create and perform a symphony, and expressed a wish to play bass in another project. With a catalogue of ideas stretching years in front of him, one can only be excited with where his aspirations shall take him next.
“Left to my own devices, I wouldn’t want to interact with anyone, ever,” Townsend says. “What trumps that for me is my desire to grow. I’m not trying to become enlightened. I’m not trying to become superhuman or whatever. I just truly love it when I’m calm and happy, and in control of myself amidst the chaos of it all.
BY JACOB COLLIVER
