And that is particularly evident on their sophomore full-length, Stygian Waves, issued on March 28, 2025 through 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, elements of his private life, and even a number of Rush-related matters.
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 properly. I clearly knew Andy [who was previously a member of Canadian rockers Coney Hatch], however I did not know Alf that properly, and I did not know Maiah in any respect. And we actually got here collectively and labored as a group on that properly, remotely. So, we might share our information and all of that stuff. Properly, we made the second file that manner, too. And I believe we benefited from the primary file and attending to know one another slightly bit higher. And we began engaged on the file proper after the primary one was launched, so we simply flowed proper into it.”
“I believe that this file is extra mature. It reveals 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 had been set, then we simply adopted by. There’s extra substance to this file.”
“I am soloing extra on this file, which is type of a pleasant factor. It is slightly heavier, I believe. It is slightly rockier in a manner, however there’s additionally a number of cool, funky stuff. And I believe the variability is sweet. The manufacturing has improved. Not that I had an issue with the manufacturing of the final file, however this file actually sounds nice. So, an exquisite file to take heed to.”
“After which there’s Maiah. Maiah sits on prime of all the pieces else. She’s genius on this file, and she or he’s actually matured as a vocalist, as a songwriter, a lyricist, and as an individual. So, it has been fairly a fairly an fascinating journey for her within the final couple of years.”
Does the album title have a selected that means?
‘No. Stygian waves are from mythology, and are the turbulent waves on the gates of hell. As you stream 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 strategy to navigate out of these turbulent waters into one thing slightly extra calmer and constructive.”
Two music movies have been issued thus removed from the album, “Not Useless But” and “Beneath the Stars.”
“I am not a singles man, personally. However I perceive that there is some significance, and the file firm feels it is vital 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 a number of work goes into it earlier than it ever comes close to a pc. So, this argument forwards and backwards, I assume it is a digital/analog argument at instances, y’know, on steroids, however I believe it appears wonderful.”
“And this AI stuff is horrifying, nevertheless it appears wonderful. It is fascinating to have a look at and watch. So, there’s a lot exercise in these movies. These had been the primary tracks that we thought that we might launch as singles. And the second video, for ‘Beneath the Stars,’ that is an entire completely different strategy.”
“However I assume they’re efficient instruments to take, get individuals’s consideration for moments, however nobody has an consideration span anymore. No person actually cares. So I simply, I’m wondering about the entire thing. They’re enjoyable to do and so they’re enjoyable to have a look at, however in the end, are they a lot of a instrument anymore? I am actually undecided. I am not the one to ask…regardless that 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 exhausting, and we did get a placement on the primary album for the tune ‘Liar’ on a Netflix collection. The title [of the show] escapes me proper now. Yeah, I believe that that will be superior, as a result of I believe this music could be very cinematic and fairly atmospheric. Numerous the fabric I believe would match nice for, like, ‘Not Useless But,’ for the following Bond film? Wow. What an awesome tune that will be for the following Bond film. And we’ve supervisors that search out these alternatives. So, hopefully one thing extra will come of that. However I’d like to get these form of placements.”
It is exhausting 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?
“Properly, I believe there is a comparability to Rubbish, I assume, as a result of Shirley [Manson] and Maiah are each girls. However for me, no, I am 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 are very completely different than commonplace, conventional guitar sounds. So for me personally, it is a actually nice train in exploration and increasing my boundaries.”
“If you happen to ask the others that, I am positive they might have their influences, however I actually do not know. As a result of we work on it pretty steadily, and we’re at all times centered on it. So you are not getting in a number of different exterior influences, no less than I do not suppose so. Everyone would not actually wish to copy one thing else. You wish to be authentic. 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 form of slightly all around the map.”
“However I believe we’ve a really distinctive mixture in that we’re type of old fashioned musicians and we’re writing form of, I’d say, darker cinematic music. However with Maiah’s voice not being a ‘rock type of voice’ and being fairly fragile, it is a actually nice distinction to what the music is, which is slightly 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 concept. And often they’re fairly minimal. In relation to me, I do scratch guitars, and I do not do a number of them, however I am going to do the thematic and perhaps one secondary type of guitar presence. And I do not spend an entire lot of time. I often simply use plugins and attempt to get by it very spontaneously. After which it goes to Maiah and she or he’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 like I’d have carried out up to now with Rush music. I imply, that is my system for mapping issues out.”
“After which I type of dive into it. Generally, I begin with an acoustic, and I do acoustic stuff that in the end will likely be electrical, however I discover that I can get slightly extra natural with an acoustic at instances. And I really like enjoying acoustic guitar, in any case. So very often with this file, 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 no less than supportive. After which I’d begin constructing the guitars, often, y’ know, as you possibly can see [shows a large collection of guitars behind him], I obtained 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 obtained, I do not know in the event you’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 type of new. They sound wonderful! I am a pedal man for positive, however I am not this type 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 era, I assume it is pushed AI, an entire new era of those sorts of issues that actually emulate the guitar sound.”
“Digital guitar, like plugins, at all times sound prefer it’s taped onto the display screen. It would 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 carried out one thing concerning the backside finish of these plugins, which had 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 awesome, nice, nice guitar sound.”
Do you suppose Envy of None might play some reveals in assist of the brand new album?
“Oh, we would like to. We hold speaking about it. I believe {that a} evening in a smallish theater with a pleasant, refined mild present with two albums value 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 exhausting to get motivated to spend so much of effort and time to do one thing that it will price you to do it. Not less than these are the preliminary responses that that we have gotten. However we’re holding out hope that perhaps there’s a chance to do even a handful of gigs as a type 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 gymnasium on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. At 9:00, I come again. That is my studio in my condominium, and I like to return 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 after I’m in right here. So, I am going to spend time right here.”
“I play slightly little bit of golf, and I used to be going to say some tennis often. And I make my very own meals, I cook dinner my very own meals. I am very aware about my eating regimen and the way I am consuming now, in order that type 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, referred to 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, and so they present so many alternative therapies. And it’s extremely calm and quiet – no telephones, no music. It is nearly nearly zenning out and diving into this – consuming a number of 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 slightly than two or three hours.”
“So, I actually should eat very fastidiously, and I’ve to be very selective about how I eat and never cross that line, as a result of it is exhausting 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 yr. I used to be depressing for just about a yr and a half…till I went to Vivamayr, and so they simply taught me how one can take management of how I am consuming, what to eat, when to eat. And it is simply outstanding.”
“As a result of I am not usually that kind of particular person. I am lazy and I simply do not work exhausting relating to issues I do not wish to do. However this, for the primary time in my life, simply modified all the pieces, 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 yr and a half.”
“And if I am cautious and I eat correctly, I can stay a cheerful, comparatively regular life. If I do not, then I endure. So, you do not wish to really feel crappy I’ve come to comprehend. You form of take it daily, however now I do not wish to really feel crappy anymore, ever once more. So, I’ve develop 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 is not a alternative. That is what I’ve to do to keep up an honest, comfy life.”
When the Victor album [1996’s self-titled] and Geddy’s solo album [2000’s My Favourite Headache] had been reissued final yr, I hoped perhaps you’d play reveals collectively and carry out materials off these albums for the primary time ever. Was that ever a consideration?
“No, nevertheless it’s not a nasty concept. We by no means even thought of one thing like that. Yeah, that will have been one thing to contemplate. I imply, I actually needed to remix the [Victor] file. I used to be very sad with the unique combine that I did on it. It was very shiny. Backside finish actually wasn’t there. So, it gave me a second alternative to do this. And after I stripped all the pieces down, I spotted that I would gone so overboard after I recorded the file…I had six tracks of guitars enjoying the identical factor. Like, ‘Okay, doubling is okay. However do you might want to have six tracks simply to have that dense ’90s type of sound?'”
“After which after I stripped all of it down right here, I blended 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 all the pieces. I used to be a lot happier – the underside finish felt higher. A lot happier with the mixes. It is exhausting to return 20 years and revisit one thing, or 30 years revisit one thing, that was so vital, however you have gone past it now. Nevertheless it was an awesome train for me to have a second likelihood at it.”
Do you ever return and take heed to Rush’s music?
“Probably not. Each every so often I hear a monitor and…I’ve by no means been capable of separate myself from the man that labored on that music that needed it to be higher. So, all the pieces that I hear I believe might be higher. I simply concentrate on, ‘Oh, why did I play that little factor? Or this.’ It is exhausting to only sit again and pay attention. And I believe that is in all probability fairly frequent for anyone that information music. However, yeah, perhaps I am going to have a pay attention extra usually.”
I lately went again and re-read fairly a number of of Neil Peart‘s lyrics, as a result of I used to be placing collectively an inventory of a few of his greatest lyrics for a web site 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 form of actually cool interval from the extra ‘fantasy’ period – as a result of it is simply so descriptive and colourful, the lyrics in that tune. ‘Subdivisions’ speaks to an entire era. Yeah, he was a really, very gifted lyricist. He was an awesome 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, issues round him and commenting on them extra from his personal private viewpoint.”
I believe “Shedding It” is one in all his greatest lyrics ever.
“Yeah. That and ‘The Backyard.’ ‘The Backyard,’ actually, for its time when that tune got here out, or when that album got here out [2012’s Clockwork Angels], we by no means would have anticipated that that will be the closing quantity for Rush’s life. And ‘Shedding It,’ boy, it’s extremely, very poignant. All of us face that.”
Particularly as I am getting older, that tune type of takes on a brand new that 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 take heed to any fashionable music, to be sincere with you. I take that again – I heard a band final week, referred to as Måneskin. They’re an Italian band. Wonderful. They sounded actually, actually good. I am not saying there is no good music round, there’s. I am simply not involved in looking for it anymore. These days are over for me, the place I would go to the file retailer and purchase an album and take it residence and undergo that entire course of.”
“I do what I do. I would a lot slightly take heed to music I create as of late. And I do a number of that, from my very own private use. I’ve reams of stuff that I file 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 sincere with you. It is nearly dancing and leaping round. And I actually haven’t got a number of respect for it.”
My daughter is a really large fan of Taylor Swift. And whereas that is not the music I sometimes take heed to, after I do hear it, I’ve to offer credit score that she does quite a lot of types. It is not predictable – it is not a similar type she at all times does.
“I am precisely the identical as you. I am not conversant in her music – I do know a number of songs. I do know a Taylor Swift tune as quickly because it comes on, which is nice. However she’s a participant, and she or he’s a author, and the way in which 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 at all times thought.”
“And once more, I am not a fan of that type of music – I believe it is properly carried out and I give her credit score for it. However I give her tons of credit score for being the individual that she is, and dealing with herself the way in which she does, and the big affect that she has. Very, very constructive affect she has on her so loyal viewers. It is unimaginable. I’ve complete respect for her.”
Future plans?
“Properly, I am gonna end this cup of tea and have one other one, and go on and do one other 50 interviews in the present day, 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 Girls, from the Rheostatics. We have been engaged on this for some time. It is an fascinating challenge, 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 a number of 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 infrequently – I’ve one challenge right here on my desktop with him. So, I am enjoying loads. I play day by day. I play earlier than I am going to mattress for an hour, as an absolute. However often, I am getting no less than three or 4 hours of guitar enjoying in day by day. So, it is all good.”
