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, features 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 nicely. I clearly knew Andy [who was previously a member of Canadian rockers Coney Hatch], however I did not know Alf that nicely, and I did not know Maiah in any respect. And we actually got here collectively and labored as a crew on that properly, remotely. So, we’d share our recordsdata and all of that stuff. Nicely, we made the second report that method, too. And I believe we benefited from the primary report and attending to know one another a bit of 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 reveals extra confidence on our half. I believe we achieved all of the targets 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 via. There’s extra substance to this report.”
“I am soloing extra on this report, which is form of a pleasant factor. It is a bit of heavier, I believe. It is a bit of rockier in a method, however there’s additionally a number of cool, funky stuff. And I believe the range is sweet. 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 take heed to.”
“After which there’s Maiah. Maiah sits on prime of every part else. She’s genius on this report, 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 particular that means?
‘No. Stygian waves are from mythology, and are the turbulent waves on the gates of hell. As you movement down the River Styx, as you strategy the gates of hell, the water turns into rather more turbulent and chaotic. And we wish to suppose that there is additionally a approach to navigate out of these turbulent waters into one thing a bit of extra calmer and optimistic.”
Two music movies have been issued thus removed from the album, “Not Useless But” and “Below the Stars.”
“I am not a singles man, personally. However I perceive that there is some significance, and the report firm feels it is necessary 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 assume it is a digital/analog argument at occasions, y’know, on steroids, however I believe it seems superb.”
“And this AI stuff is horrifying, nevertheless it seems superb. 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’d launch as singles. And the second video, for ‘Below the Stars,’ that is an entire completely different strategy.”
“However I assume they’re efficient instruments to take, get folks’s consideration for moments, however nobody has an consideration span anymore. No person 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 in the end, are they a lot of a software anymore? I am actually unsure. I am not the one to ask…although 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 arduous, 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. Plenty of the fabric I believe would match nice for, like, ‘Not Useless But,’ for the following Bond film? Wow. What an important track that might be for the following Bond film. And we’ve supervisors that seek out these alternatives. So, hopefully one thing extra will come of that. However I might like to get these form of placements.”
It is arduous 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?
“Nicely, I believe there is a comparability to Rubbish, I assume, as a result of Shirley [Manson] and Maiah are each ladies. However for me, no, I am going into it simply with a transparent thoughts, engaged on these tasks. And I have a look at them as difficult alternatives for me to play guitar differently than I’ve ever performed it, and search for sounds which can be very completely different than commonplace, conventional guitar sounds. So for me personally, it is a actually nice train in exploration and increasing my boundaries.”
“For those who ask the others that, I am certain 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 targeted on it. So you are not getting in numerous different exterior influences, at the least I do not suppose so. Everyone 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 form of a bit of all around the map.”
“However I believe we’ve a really distinctive mixture in that we’re form of old skool musicians and we’re writing form 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 bit of 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 fundamental thread of an concept. 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 perhaps 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 via 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 similar to I might have finished previously with Rush music. I imply, that is my system for mapping issues out.”
“After which I form 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 a bit of extra natural with an acoustic at occasions. And I really like taking part in acoustic guitar, anyhow. 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 could go into an acoustic part, or at the least 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 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 should 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 form of new. They sound superb! I am a pedal man for certain, 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 complete catalog of amps. Oh, it is unimaginable. And there is a complete new era, I assume it is pushed AI, an entire new era of those sorts of issues that really emulate the guitar sound.”
“Digital guitar, like plugins, at all times 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 finished one thing concerning the backside finish of these plugins, which had been missing previously. They appear to have conquered that impediment. And now these pedals and people plugins like TONEX are an unimaginable step into making it rather more handy and nonetheless sustaining an important, nice, nice guitar sound.”
Do you suppose Envy of None could play some reveals in assist of the brand new album?
“Oh, we might like to. We hold speaking about it. I believe {that a} night time in a smallish theater with a pleasant, delicate gentle present with two albums price of fabric could be an evening of simply stunning, nice, very emotional music. However, it is troublesome to get the logistics in place. These are very troublesome, difficult occasions for us – to do a gig, or gigs, could be a monetary loss. So, it is arduous to get motivated to spend so much of effort and time to do one thing that it should 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 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 gymnasium on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. At 9:00, I come again. That is my studio in my condo, 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 once I’m in right here. So, I am going to spend time right here.”
“I play a bit of little bit of golf, and I used to be going to say some tennis sometimes. And I make my very own meals, I prepare dinner my very own meals. I am very aware about my food regimen and the way I am consuming now, in order that form of fills my day. And as soon as every week or so, I am going to drop by Ged‘s, and we’ll have espresso and speak about 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 virtually zenning out and diving into this – consuming numerous water, tea, there is not any 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 fastidiously, and I’ve to be very selective about how I eat and never cross that line, as a result of it is arduous 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, they usually simply taught me the 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 sort of particular person. I am lazy and I simply do not work arduous in terms of issues I do not wish to do. However this, for the primary time in my life, simply modified every part, 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 reside 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 grow to be 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 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] had been reissued final yr, I hoped perhaps you’ll 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 foul concept. We by no means even thought of one thing like that. Yeah, that might have been one thing to contemplate. 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 vibrant. Backside finish actually wasn’t there. So, it gave me a second alternative to try this. And once I stripped every part 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 is advisable have six tracks simply to have that dense ’90s form of sound?'”
“After which once 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 every part. I used to be a lot happier – the underside finish felt higher. A lot happier with the mixes. It is arduous to return 20 years and revisit one thing, or 30 years revisit one thing, that was so necessary, however you’ve got gone past it now. Nevertheless it was an important train for me to have a second probability at it.”
Do you ever return and take heed to Rush’s music?
“Probably not. Each infrequently 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 part that I hear I believe could possibly be higher. I simply give attention to, ‘Oh, why did I play that little factor? Or this.’ It is arduous to only sit again and pay attention. And I believe that is most likely fairly frequent for anyone that data 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 a listing 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 track. ‘Subdivisions’ speaks to an entire era. Yeah, he was a really, very gifted lyricist. He was an important 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 “Dropping It” is considered one of his greatest 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 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 trendy 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 not any good music round, there’s. I am simply not enthusiastic 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 complete course of.”
“I do what I do. I would a lot fairly take heed 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 below 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 take heed to, once 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 fashion she at all times does.
“I am precisely the identical as you. I am not aware of her music – I do know a number of songs. I do know a Taylor Swift track as quickly because it comes on, which is nice. However she’s a participant, and she or he’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] An extended 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 form of music – I believe it is nicely finished 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 large 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?
“Nicely, 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 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 components.”
“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 so much. I play day-after-day. I play earlier than I am going to mattress for an hour, as an absolute. However often, I am getting at the least three or 4 hours of guitar taking part in in day-after-day. So, it is all good.”
