Hi, this is Devin. Welcome to my AMA.

[u/DevinZiltoid]

[u/marecko]

Hey Devin. Can I have a beer with you after the concert in LA? I am going there with my GF who knows you as "the guy with giant inflatable penis and vagina on stage"

[u/CahleePants]

Hi Devy! I wanted to let you know that your music has really helped me. I have depression and an anxiety disorder and there have been times a'plenty where I've felt that the world is a vacuous, bleak place. But listening to Ki or Ghost or Synchestra or Terria always helps to remind me how much beauty there is left in the world. And I want to thank you. I know you don't do this for me, or anyone. But your music has made the world a far more beautiful place (for me at least).

Anyways, I do have an actual question. Will there be any special box sets or anything like that with the release of Z2? If so, will there be any commentary?

Thanks so much <3

[u/[deleted]]

HOLY FUCKING SHIT IT'S DEVIN

SOMEONE HOLD ME

[u/ZiltoidZTO]

Hi Dev, thanks for doing this! In an interview with Rebel Access TV, you mentioned that you did a version of What's New Pussycat by Tom Jones during the recording of Alien. I've looked for it but to no avail, any chance it's floating around somewhere?

[u/iamvillainmo]

Hey, where is my coffee?

[u/[deleted]]

Devin, what would you say is your best or favorite project to date? One of your Strapping Young Lad works, Epicloud, Ziltoid, Causalities of Cool? I know you said COC means a lot to you, but is it your favorite?

Also, you're fucking awesome and I love you.

[u/Hanzaru]

Sorry for wall of text but this is really personal.

I wanted to thank you for your gig at Summer Breeze. It was a tough year until now. My girlfriend left me a few months ago and since then, every day feels like a fight for me. For a while I just couldn't see a way to find happiness again. It was like all of a sudden the world I lived in and the place I called home have become evil and hostile things. Everything was cold and grey and things I loved doing and the music I loved to hear weren't doing anything for me or were making me sad. For a while I was afraid of listening to "Epicloud" because we listened to it when we were still together. It was one of those fragments of my life I didn't want to see because they reminded me of how happy I was and how empty I feel now. I started seeing a therapist and just having someone who listens has made things more easy. I met my ex at Summer Breeze festival last year and was afraid of going there again but I've been there every year since 2009 and didn't want to leave this "tradition" behind. I really liked your gig there. It was kind of liberating. At first it entertained me and made me think about different things than her. And when you played "Grace", as cheesy as it is, it felt like a flame that burnt inside of me and that went out when she left me, was at least an ember again. When I arrived home from the festival I felt more sad and empty than ever before because those exciting days of music and partying with friends were over and my life was desolate again. But today I listened to the song again and it reminded me of how I can still go on and will live through moments of happiness again. I burst into tears. I'm still sad but the reason I cried was because it finally made me feel that urge to live again that I missed so much over the last months. It's still a long road home but you have made it easier. Thank you for that. greetings from Germany

[u/mescon]

Hey Devin!

Are there any particular places of the world where you enjoy the tours more than others?

Where would you say you have your biggest fanbase, and why is it the Nordic countries?

Keep on doing what you're doing, thank you!! :-)

(yay Sweden, I've seen you twice... Slussen Stockholm and Brewhouse Gothenburg).

[u/kingofthecrows]

Hey! Do you ever plan on doing another ambient album like the Hummer? Its second only to Infinity and Deconstruction as your finest work

[u/Paperjace]

Hey Devin! My brother and I submitted vocals for the new Z2 album. I think a lot of people have been wondering about this: Will every Universal Choir submission be used on the new album?

Thanks for doing this! I'm fucking stoked for the new album regardless of your answer!

[u/bad_balisong_handler]

Hey Devin, greetings from Finland! (I didn't get to see the CoC show, but I still love the album. Deathscope is the best track on it)

But anyway, enough fangirling around.

So, many of us have noticed that you often use lyrics in songs, that you've used before (i.e. Wrong Side and Color your world), one might say you recycle your lyrics sometimes. But I'd like to know, what is the reason for using specifically the words "Man, boy" in many of your songs.

(And just a little bonus, my girlfriend drew a couple of days ago a quick sketch of you http://imgur.com/aLSOGLu )

[u/I_Voyager]

There's a hole in the wall outside of my door and wasps are going in and out of it. Furthermore, wasps are getting into my basement somehow and dying in their dozens every few days. Do you have any advice on how to fight a home-infestation of wasps?

[u/[deleted]]

Hey Devin, thanks for doing this! Wondering if you'll ever do a Retinal Circus-esque show in the US? Wanted to fly to London but couldn't gather enough money in time. Looking forward to seeing you here in LA!

BONUS: Working on a new guitar pickup with Steve Vai's online marketing director, Andy (whom you may know). I'd love to bring it to The Mayan for you to check out!

[u/bulborb]

Hey Devin. I tried to write a composed, mature, well-written post before this AMA but I just can't... hhnnngg... HOLY SHIT IT'S DEVIN TOWNSEND!!! AAAAAHHH!!! I LOVE YOU!!! YOUR MUSIC HAS CHANGED MY LIIIIIIIFE!!!

So anyway... You answer tons of questions about serious topics, ideologies, music, etc in interviews. what about the personal Dev? What do you like to do in your free time? What is something about yourself that you've never shared before?

Thanks Dev. You da best.

[u/Euronymous88]

Hey Devin. How did you meet Steve vai

[u/[deleted]]

Hi Uncle Devin, so I'm sure I'm asking the question on everybody's lips: When will you be releasing a Ziltoid audiobook compilation of children's bedtime stories?

[u/Viter]

Did you ever write any songs in a tuning and then changed it into another tuning to change the key? Or even from standard -> open c. If so, which ones :D

[u/[deleted]]

He's here, ladies and gentlemen. The god of prog. The Master of Metal. The only creature who can shove his hand up Ziltoid's ass and live to tell the tale!

Mr. Townsend, you are a musical hero to my brother and I. You made music feel fresh to us again, and you repeat this feat with every new album.

MY question is, I once heard that Ziltoid was first invented, because you simply wanted to see how you would look as an alien. Is this true?

[u/[deleted]]

Hi Devin

Did you ever meet Jon Hopkins, I think I remember reading that you like his music. You probably tweeted about it. Immunity is amazing.

You did The Hummer and Devlab, you think you'll ever try to do another electronic album?

What would electronic Devin Townsend sound like now?

[u/Monkey_Knife_Fight]

Hi Devin. First of all, thank you for all of the great music, I've been a huge fan since your early SYL days.

With all of the different genres that you've ventured into, is it difficult to remain focused on one particular style while writing an album? How are you able to shift your sound between albums so frequently?

[u/casualties_of_sloth]

Your ProTools School youtube videos were awesome and also gave a great sense of the scale of your productions. Any plans on sharing more of these, e.g. some song from casualties or z2? I would LOVE that!! Thanks for the AMA!

[u/[deleted]]

Hey Dev! Thanks for doing this.

1. In recent years you've really laid off of producing albums for other musicians - I know there's a few small releases you've done over the past five years, but not as much as you used to. With Ziltoid about to be released, and with you saying this will be the end of an era, is there a chance you could feasibly return to a producer capacity?

2. Secondly, in regards to that first question. Jari of the band Wintersun once mentioned that he planned to reach out to you for help with mixing and mastering his Wintersun albums, as they were too complex for him. Given the current state of that band, is that still an option or did he just never reach out to you?

3. I interviewed you two years ago - and let me just say, talking to your favorite musician for an hour at the age of 19 is kind of mindblowing - but in that interview you discussed a project called OBVIOUSER, and the pole position of your various projects. What's in Pole Position now, after Ziltoid is released?

4. Lastly, what are you doing to relax these days?

P.S. My vinyl collection is really in need of some Deconstruction and Ghosting. Maybe you could talk to someone about getting those pressed? Eh?

http://i.imgur.com/9PbxMs3.jpg

P.S.S (Sorry, editing this as I think of things to ask) Years ago you mentioned being tapped by Bethesda to write some music for their then upcoming Fallout 3. They eventually went in a vastly different musical direction, but did you end up actually composing anything? Is there anything left of those sessions?

[u/gerbilcornhole]

I don't have a question I just wanted to say thanks so much for making me another voicemail after I never received mine. Me and my brother got VIP tickets to your show in Dallas and we are really looking forward to meeting you!

[u/CattleDecapitation]

Devin fucking townsend. Without sounding like a complete stalker/fan boy, I have all your albums and special edition dvds. Your my favorite artist and put out killer live performances. Ocean machine is my absolute favorite album. I have so many questions but I'll keep them to a minimum.

1. The death of music i personally think is one of your best songs and I never see anyone ask you about it. Can you please explain what's going on in the song? it feels like someone is going in and out of tripping out, watching tv, walking around the house, and then getting hit by a car.

2. What is with you in dudes? I think EVERY song has the word BOY, and MAN in the lyrics.

3. Are you going to teach your kid how to play guitar and put him on one of your albums?

4. Do you watch trailer park boys?

5. Ever thought about messing around on Canadian idol?

Thank you

[u/aartan]

Hi Devin! I have been, and still am, a huge fanboy of yours since I first heard the song 'Ants' half a decade ago, and it's an honor to be able to ask you these questions.

1. Am I crazy or are there pigeon sounds in 'Sumeria' at the lyrics 'And this mind commands: Love and acceptance'?

2. Could you please post the entire 'piddle puddle' riddle, but not the one from Ki, but the long version from Pandemic? I know what it says right up to 'When you're yellow...', but after that I can't make it out and I'm dying to know :D

3. Do you still plan on making Obviouser a thing? As a guitarist -wannabe bassist-, your description of what it would sound like seems very tasty.

4. Do you have any particular coffee rituals (french press etc), or do you simply like instant coffee? Any particular favorite brand?

Thanks for your time Devy, can't wait for Z2! Hope to see you play in Serbia one day!