And that is particularly evident on their sophomore full-length, Stygian Waves, issued on March 28, 2025 by way of the Kscope label. Lifeson spoke to AllMusic shortly earlier than the album’s launch, and defined the way it differs from the group’s first providing, along with chatting about songwriting, facets of his private life, and even just a few Rush-related subjects.
How would you examine Stygian Waves to Envy of None’s self-titled debut?
“The primary album was very exploratory for us. We did not actually know one another very effectively. I clearly knew Andy [who was previously a member of Canadian rockers Coney Hatch], however I did not know Alf that effectively, and I did not know Maiah in any respect. And we actually got here collectively and labored as a staff on that properly, remotely. So, we’d share our information and all of that stuff. Effectively, we made the second report that approach, too. And I believe we benefited from the primary report and attending to know one another a little bit bit higher. And we began engaged on the report proper after the primary one was launched, so we simply flowed proper into it.”
“I believe that this report is extra mature. It exhibits extra confidence on our half. I believe we achieved all of the objectives that we’re after. It wasn’t a lot of in search of issues because it was as soon as the concepts have been set, then we simply adopted by means of. There’s extra substance to this report.”
“I am soloing extra on this report, which is form of a pleasant factor. It is a little bit heavier, I believe. It is a little bit rockier in a approach, however there’s additionally plenty of cool, funky stuff. And I believe the variability is nice. The manufacturing has improved. Not that I had an issue with the manufacturing of the final report, however this report actually sounds nice. So, an exquisite report to hearken to.”
“After which there’s Maiah. Maiah sits on high of every thing else. She’s genius on this report, and he or she’s actually matured as a vocalist, as a songwriter, a lyricist, and as an individual. So, it has been fairly a fairly an attention-grabbing journey for her within the final couple of years.”
Does the album title have a selected which means?
‘No. Stygian waves are from mythology, and are the turbulent waves on the gates of hell. As you move down the River Styx, as you strategy the gates of hell, the water turns into far more turbulent and chaotic. And we prefer to suppose that there is additionally a technique to navigate out of these turbulent waters into one thing a little bit extra calmer and optimistic.”
Two music movies have been issued thus removed from the album, “Not Useless But” and “Underneath the Stars.”
“I am not a singles man, personally. However I perceive that there is some significance, and the report firm feels it is essential to have singles and movies. So, ‘Not Useless But,’ we employed a videographer from Argentina to do the primary video. It is an AI generated video, however my understanding is numerous work goes into it earlier than it ever comes close to a pc. So, this argument forwards and backwards, I suppose it is a digital/analog argument at instances, y’know, on steroids, however I believe it appears superb.”
“And this AI stuff is horrifying, however it appears superb. It is attention-grabbing to have a look at and watch. So, there’s a lot exercise in these movies. These have been the primary tracks that we thought that we’d launch as singles. And the second video, for ‘Underneath the Stars,’ that is an entire totally different strategy.”
“However I suppose they’re efficient instruments to take, get folks’s consideration for moments, however nobody has an consideration span anymore. No one actually cares. So I simply, I ponder about the entire thing. They’re enjoyable to do they usually’re enjoyable to have a look at, however finally, are they a lot of a software anymore? I am actually unsure. I am not the one to ask…though you requested me!”
I discover the music of Envy of None to be fairly cinematic sounding. Has the band pursued doing music for TV or movie?
“We have tried very onerous, and we did get a placement on the primary album for the track ‘Liar’ on a Netflix collection. The identify [of the show] escapes me proper now. Yeah, I believe that that might be superior, as a result of I believe this music may be very cinematic and fairly atmospheric. Loads of the fabric I believe would match nice for, like, ‘Not Useless But,’ for the following Bond film? Wow. What an incredible track that might be for the following Bond film. And we have now supervisors that search out these alternatives. So, hopefully one thing extra will come of that. However I might like to get these kind of placements.”
It is onerous to check the music of Envy of None to any particular different artist, which is an effective factor. Are there any influences from different artists that you can imagine?
“Effectively, I believe there is a comparability to Rubbish, I suppose, as a result of Shirley [Manson] and Maiah are each ladies. However for me, no, I’m going into it simply with a transparent thoughts, engaged on these tasks. And I take a look at them as difficult alternatives for me to play guitar otherwise than I’ve ever performed it, and search for sounds which might be very totally different than customary, conventional guitar sounds. So for me personally, it is a actually nice train in exploration and increasing my boundaries.”
“In the event you ask the others that, I am positive they’d have their influences, however I actually do not know. As a result of we work on it pretty steadily, and we’re all the time centered on it. So you are not getting in numerous different exterior influences, not less than I do not suppose so. All people does not actually wish to copy one thing else. You wish to be unique. However definitely there are flavors of different issues – there is a ’60s vibe that I hear, there is a ’90s vibe that I hear. We’re kind of a little bit all around the map.”
“However I believe we have now a really distinctive mixture in that we’re form of old style musicians and we’re writing kind of, I might say, darker cinematic music. However with Maiah’s voice not being a ‘rock form of voice’ and being fairly fragile, it is a actually nice distinction to what the music is, which is a little bit darker. So I believe in that sense, it is fairly distinctive.
How do you strategy Envy of None songs from a guitar standpoint?
“We get the essential thread of an thought. And often they’re fairly minimal. Relating to me, I do scratch guitars, and I do not do numerous them, however I am going to do the thematic and possibly one secondary form of guitar presence. And I do not spend an entire lot of time. I often simply use plugins and attempt to get by means of it very spontaneously. After which it goes to Maiah and he or she’ll do a scratch vocal, and it comes again to me, after which I begin doing the ultimate guitars. After which I simply break it down in sections between the verses and the choruses and bridges and any instrumental part – very similar to I might have accomplished up to now with Rush music. I imply, that is my components for mapping issues out.”
“After which I form of dive into it. Generally, I begin with an acoustic, and I do acoustic stuff that finally can be electrical, however I discover that I can get a little bit extra natural with an acoustic at instances. And I like taking part in acoustic guitar, in any case. So very often with this report, that was a place to begin for me, and invariably, that grew to become a signature for an additional half, the place it might go into an acoustic part, or not less than supportive. After which I might begin constructing the guitars, often, y’ know, as you possibly can see [shows a large collection of guitars behind him], I received all my stuff over right here. Analog stuff, and the amps, and I’ve a cupboard that is in an enclosure. So I love to do these issues extra analog.”
“However I additionally received, I do not know for those who’ve checked these out but – that is the Common Audio amp pedals that they’ve [Alex displays two pedal models: Lion ’68 and Enigmatic ’82]. They’re form of new. They sound superb! I am a pedal man for positive, however I am not this form of pedal man – like, emulating guitar sounds. However I did the factor for the TONEX, the place they did my entire catalog of amps. Oh, it is unimaginable. And there is a entire new technology, I suppose it is pushed AI, an entire new technology of those sorts of issues that really emulate the guitar sound.”
“Digital guitar, like plugins, all the time sound prefer it’s taped onto the display screen. It does not have the depth – you do not really feel prefer it’s tall or deep or fats. And these pedals do it, and the TONEX does it, as a result of they’ve accomplished one thing in regards to the backside finish of these plugins, which have been missing up to now. They appear to have conquered that impediment. And now these pedals and people plugins like TONEX are an unimaginable step into making it far more handy and nonetheless sustaining an incredible, nice, nice guitar sound.”
Do you suppose Envy of None could play some exhibits in assist of the brand new album?
“Oh, we might like to. We maintain speaking about it. I believe {that a} night time in a smallish theater with a pleasant, refined mild present with two albums price of fabric can be an evening of simply lovely, nice, very emotional music. However, it is troublesome to get the logistics in place. These are very troublesome, difficult instances for us – to do a gig, or gigs, can be a monetary loss. So, it is onerous to get motivated to spend so much of effort and time to do one thing that it may value you to do it. Not less than these are the preliminary responses that that we have gotten. However we’re holding out hope that possibly there’s a possibility to do even a handful of gigs as a form of particular musical occasion.”
Now that you have not toured for fairly a while, how would you describe a typical day these days for you?
“I am an early riser. I am often up between 5:30 and 6:30. I hit the health club on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. At 9:00, I come again. That is my studio in my condominium, and I like to come back again right here and spend time right here. It is my sanctuary. And I by no means get bored in right here. And there is by no means nothing that I do not wish to do once I’m in right here. So, I am going to spend time right here.”
“I play a little bit little bit of golf, and I used to be going to say some tennis often. And I make my very own meals, I prepare dinner my very own meals. I am very aware about my weight-reduction plan and the way I am consuming now, in order that form of fills my day. And as soon as per week or so, I am going to drop by Ged‘s, and we’ll have espresso and discuss stuff. And see my grandkids. And that is about it. That is about my life.”
How are you doing health-wise?
“I went to a clinic in January in Austria, in southern Austria, known as the Vivamayr Clinic. It’s a wellness clinic that focuses on digestive system. In addition to many different issues – they’ve many most cancers sufferers there, they usually present so many various therapies. And it’s extremely calm and quiet – no telephones, no music. It is nearly nearly zenning out and diving into this – ingesting numerous water, tea, there is no espresso, there’s clearly no alcohol. And I went as a result of I had surgical procedure in 2023 on my abdomen, and it left me with gastroparesis, which is gradual motility. So, meals stays in my abdomen for ten or twelve hours fairly than two or three hours.”
“So, I actually need to eat very rigorously, and I’ve to be very selective about how I eat and never cross that line, as a result of it is onerous for me to get again over. Y’know, one mistake prices me two or three days of discomfort. I used to be nauseous for a 12 months. I used to be depressing for just about a 12 months and a half…till I went to Vivamayr, they usually simply taught me the right way to take management of how I am consuming, what to eat, when to eat. And it is simply exceptional.”
“As a result of I am not usually that kind of particular person. I am lazy and I simply do not work onerous in terms of issues I do not wish to do. However this, for the primary time in my life, simply modified every thing, and it has been life altering for me. Since I went to see them, I’ve misplaced about 23 kilos, and I misplaced one other I believe 15 or 20 kilos earlier than that. So I am down near 40 kilos in a 12 months and a half.”
“And if I am cautious and I eat correctly, I can dwell a cheerful, comparatively regular life. If I do not, then I undergo. So, you do not wish to really feel crappy I’ve come to comprehend. You kind of take it everyday, however now I do not wish to really feel crappy anymore, ever once more. So, I’ve change into very, very strict about it. I do not drink anymore, I do not smoke, I do not eat junk. Completely no junk. Gluten free, lactose free. Like, all of that stuff – as a result of that is me. That is what I’ve to do. It isn’t a selection. That is what I’ve to do to take care of an honest, snug life.”
When the Victor album [1996’s self-titled] and Geddy’s solo album [2000’s My Favourite Headache] have been reissued final 12 months, I hoped possibly you’d play exhibits collectively and carry out materials off these albums for the primary time ever. Was that ever a consideration?
“No, however it’s not a nasty thought. We by no means even considered one thing like that. Yeah, that might have been one thing to think about. I imply, I actually wished to remix the [Victor] report. I used to be very sad with the unique combine that I did on it. It was very brilliant. Backside finish actually wasn’t there. So, it gave me a second alternative to try this. And once I stripped every thing down, I spotted that I would gone so overboard once I recorded the report…I had six tracks of guitars taking part in the identical factor. Like, ‘Okay, doubling is okay. However do it’s essential have six tracks simply to have that dense ’90s form of sound?'”
“After which once I stripped all of it down right here, I combined it right here on this room. I took all these guitars out. I simply left one or two guitars in order that was extra direct, cleaner, extra air round every thing. I used to be a lot happier – the underside finish felt higher. A lot happier with the mixes. It is onerous to return 20 years and revisit one thing, or 30 years revisit one thing, that was so essential, however you have gone past it now. However it was an incredible train for me to have a second probability at it.”
Do you ever return and hearken to Rush’s music?
“Not likely. Each from time to time I hear a monitor and…I’ve by no means been capable of separate myself from the man that labored on that music that wished it to be higher. So, every thing that I hear I believe might be higher. I simply deal with, ‘Oh, why did I play that little factor? Or this.’ It is onerous to simply sit again and hear. And I believe that is in all probability fairly widespread for anyone that data music. However, yeah, possibly I am going to have a hear extra usually.”
I not too long ago went again and re-read fairly just a few of Neil Peart‘s lyrics, as a result of I used to be placing collectively an inventory of a few of his finest lyrics for a website I write for. What would you say are a few of your favourite lyrics he wrote?
“Oh, ‘Freewill’ was nice. ‘Nearer to the Coronary heart’ was to the purpose. ‘Xanadu’ was that kind of actually cool interval from the extra ‘fantasy’ period – as a result of it is simply so descriptive and colourful, the lyrics in that track. ‘Subdivisions’ speaks to an entire technology. Yeah, he was a really, very gifted lyricist. He was an incredible observer, and that is the place he wrote from. I believe for the final third of his writing profession – he was extra of an observer, taking a look at issues round him and commenting on them extra from his personal private viewpoint.”
I believe “Dropping It” is certainly one of his finest lyrics ever.
“Yeah. That and ‘The Backyard.’ ‘The Backyard,’ actually, for its time when that track got here out, or when that album got here out [2012’s Clockwork Angels], we by no means would have anticipated that that might be the closing quantity for Rush’s life. And ‘Dropping It,’ boy, it’s extremely, very poignant. All of us face that.”
Particularly as I am getting older, that track form of takes on a brand new which means.
“Yeah, you discover that too, huh? [Laughs] Yeah, I want I used to be the guitar participant I used to be 20 years in the past, however, I am nonetheless working at it.”
Which modern-day music artists do you get pleasure from?
“None. I do not hearken to any fashionable music, to be trustworthy with you. I take that again – I heard a band final week, known as Måneskin. They’re an Italian band. Wonderful. They sounded actually, actually good. I am not saying there is no good music round, there may be. I am simply not thinking about looking for it anymore. These days are over for me, the place I would go to the report retailer and purchase an album and take it house and undergo that entire course of.”
“I do what I do. I would a lot fairly hearken to music I create lately. And I do numerous that, from my very own private use. I’ve reams of stuff that I report that I play within the background, if we’re having a cocktail party or one thing like that. And it is underneath the radar, no person is aware of who it’s or what it’s. It is simply very nice music within the background. Trendy music, pop music, all that stuff, I can not stand it, actually – to be trustworthy with you. It is nearly dancing and leaping round. And I actually do not have numerous respect for it.”
My daughter is a really large fan of Taylor Swift. And whereas that is not the music I sometimes hearken to, once I do hear it, I’ve to provide credit score that she does quite a lot of types. It isn’t predictable – it is not a similar fashion she all the time does.
“I am precisely the identical as you. I am not accustomed to her music – I do know just a few songs. I do know a Taylor Swift track as quickly because it comes on, which is nice. However she’s a participant, and he or she’s a author, and the best way she took care of her crew, like, what was it, $90 million in bonuses or one thing for her crew? [The figure was reported to be $197 million] A protracted tour – it was a few years. However she thinks like we all the time thought.”
“And once more, I am not a fan of that form of music – I believe it is effectively accomplished and I give her credit score for it. However I give her tons of credit score for being the person who she is, and dealing with herself the best way she does, and the big affect that she has. Very, very optimistic affect she has on her so loyal viewers. It is unimaginable. I’ve complete respect for her.”
Future plans?
“Effectively, I am gonna end this cup of tea and have one other one, and go on and do one other 50 interviews right this moment, and for the remainder of the week! I am nonetheless engaged on a documentary on the Nice Lakes with a bunch of individuals – some guys from Barenaked Women, from the Rheostatics. We have been engaged on this for some time. It is an attention-grabbing venture, as a result of we get collectively and we jam, after which we begin pulling stuff out of these jams after which constructing from these. And numerous the jams, as we progress, get higher and higher and higher, and stand alone as elements.”
“I am working with a younger feminine artist on a few of her stuff. I do stuff with Marco Minnemann now and again – I’ve one venture right here on my desktop with him. So, I am taking part in rather a lot. I play daily. I play earlier than I’m going to mattress for an hour, as an absolute. However often, I am getting not less than three or 4 hours of guitar taking part in in daily. So, it is all good.”
