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, points of his private life, and even a couple of Rush-related matters.
How would you evaluate 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 group on that properly, remotely. So, we’d share our recordsdata and all of that stuff. Properly, we made the second document that method, too. And I feel we benefited from the primary document and attending to know one another somewhat bit higher. And we began engaged on the document proper after the primary one was launched, so we simply flowed proper into it.”
“I feel that this document is extra mature. It exhibits extra confidence on our half. I feel 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. There’s extra substance to this document.”
“I am soloing extra on this document, which is type of a pleasant factor. It is somewhat heavier, I feel. It is somewhat rockier in a method, however there’s additionally a number of cool, funky stuff. And I feel the range is nice. The manufacturing has improved. Not that I had an issue with the manufacturing of the final document, however this document actually sounds nice. So, an exquisite document to take heed to.”
“After which there’s Maiah. Maiah sits on high of all the pieces else. She’s genius on this document, 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 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 circulate down the River Styx, as you method the gates of hell, the water turns into far more turbulent and chaotic. And we prefer to assume that there is additionally a approach to navigate out of these turbulent waters into one thing somewhat extra calmer and constructive.”
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 document 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 lots of 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 feel it appears to be like superb.”
“And this AI stuff is frightening, however it appears to be like superb. It is fascinating 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 method.”
“However I suppose 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 device 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 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 feel that that will be superior, as a result of I feel this music may be very cinematic and fairly atmospheric. A number of the fabric I feel would match nice for, like, ‘Not Useless But,’ for the following Bond film? Wow. What an excellent tune that will 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 kind of placements.”
It is exhausting to match the music of Envy of None to any particular different artist, which is an efficient factor. Are there any influences from different artists that you can imagine?
“Properly, I feel there is a comparability to Rubbish, I suppose, as a result of Shirley [Manson] and Maiah are each girls. However for me, no, I’m going into it simply with a transparent thoughts, engaged on these initiatives. And I take a look at them as difficult alternatives for me to play guitar another way than I’ve ever performed it, and search for sounds which can be very totally different than normal, conventional guitar sounds. So for me personally, it is a actually nice train in exploration and increasing my boundaries.”
“In case you 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 lots of different outdoors influences, not less than I do not assume so. All people would not actually wish to copy one thing else. You wish to be unique. However actually 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 somewhat everywhere in the map.”
“However I feel we’ve a really distinctive mixture in that we’re type of old fashioned musicians and we’re writing kind of, I might 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 somewhat darker. So I feel in that sense, it is fairly distinctive.
How do you method Envy of None songs from a guitar standpoint?
“We get the fundamental thread of an concept. And normally they’re fairly minimal. In terms of me, I do scratch guitars, and I do not do lots of them, however I am going to do the thematic and possibly one secondary type of guitar presence. And I do not spend an entire lot of time. I normally simply use plugins and attempt to get by 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 carried out previously with Rush music. I imply, that is my method for mapping issues out.”
“After which I type of dive into it. Typically, I begin with an acoustic, and I do acoustic stuff that in the end shall be electrical, however I discover that I can get somewhat extra natural with an acoustic at instances. And I like enjoying acoustic guitar, anyhow. So very often with this document, that was a place to begin for me, and invariably, that grew to become a signature for one more half, the place it might go into an acoustic part, or not less than supportive. After which I might begin constructing the guitars, normally, y’ know, as you possibly can see [shows a large collection of guitars behind him], I acquired 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 acquired, 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 superb! 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 complete catalog of amps. Oh, it is unbelievable. And there is a complete new technology, I suppose it is pushed AI, an entire new technology 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. 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 in regards to the backside finish of these plugins, which have been missing previously. They appear to have conquered that impediment. And now these pedals and people plugins like TONEX are an unbelievable step into making it far more handy and nonetheless sustaining an excellent, nice, nice guitar sound.”
Do you assume Envy of None might play some exhibits in help of the brand new album?
“Oh, we would like to. We maintain speaking about it. I feel {that a} night time in a smallish theater with a pleasant, refined gentle present with two albums value of fabric can be an evening of simply stunning, nice, very emotional music. However, it is tough to get the logistics in place. These are very tough, 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 should price you to do it. At the very least these are the preliminary responses that that we have gotten. However we’re holding out hope that possibly 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 normally up between 5:30 and 6:30. I hit the fitness center on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. At 9:00, I come again. That is my studio in my residence, 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 somewhat 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 food 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 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 is very calm and quiet – no telephones, no music. It is nearly virtually zenning out and diving into this – ingesting lots 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 sluggish motility. So, meals stays in my abdomen for ten or twelve hours fairly than two or three hours.”
“So, I actually must 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 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 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 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 sort of individual. I am lazy and I simply do not work exhausting in terms of 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 feel 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 endure. 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 is not a selection. That is what I’ve to do to take care of an honest, comfy 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’ll 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 foul concept. We by no means even considered one thing like that. Yeah, that will have been one thing to think about. I imply, I actually wished to remix the [Victor] document. 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 do this. And after I stripped all the pieces down, I spotted that I would gone so overboard after I recorded the document…I had six tracks of guitars enjoying the identical factor. Like, ‘Okay, doubling is ok. 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 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 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 necessary, however you have gone past it now. However it was an excellent train for me to have a second probability at it.”
Do you ever return and take heed to Rush’s music?
“Not likely. Each now and again I hear a monitor and…I’ve by no means been in a position to separate myself from the man that labored on that music that wished it to be higher. So, all the pieces that I hear I feel may very well be higher. I simply give attention to, ‘Oh, why did I play that little factor? Or this.’ It is exhausting to only sit again and pay attention. And I feel that is most likely fairly frequent for anyone that data music. However, yeah, possibly I am going to have a pay attention extra usually.”
I lately went again and re-read fairly a couple of of Neil Peart‘s lyrics, as a result of I used to be placing collectively a listing of a few of his finest 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 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 tune. ‘Subdivisions’ speaks to an entire technology. Yeah, he was a really, very gifted lyricist. He was an excellent observer, and that is the place he wrote from. I feel 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 feel “Dropping It” is one among his finest 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 ‘Dropping It,’ boy, it is very, 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 trustworthy with you. I take that again – I heard a band final week, known as Måneskin. They’re an Italian band. Superb. They sounded actually, actually good. I am not saying there is no good music round, there may be. I am simply not concerned with looking for it anymore. These days are over for me, the place I would go to the document 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 today. And I do lots of that, from my very own private use. I’ve reams of stuff that I document 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 one is aware of who it’s or what it’s. It is simply very nice music within the background. Fashionable 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 haven’t got lots of respect for it.”
My daughter is a really large fan of Taylor Swift. And whereas that is not the music I usually take heed to, after I do hear it, I’ve to offer credit score that she does quite a lot of kinds. It is not predictable – it is not a identical fashion she at all times does.
“I am precisely the identical as you. I am not accustomed to her music – I do know a couple of songs. I do know a Taylor Swift tune 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 at all times thought.”
“And once more, I am not a fan of that type of music – I feel it is effectively carried out 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 constructive affect she has on her so loyal viewers. It is unbelievable. I’ve whole 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 at the 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 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 lots of 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 once in a while – I’ve one challenge right here on my desktop with him. So, I am enjoying loads. I play every single day. I play earlier than I’m going to mattress for an hour, as an absolute. However normally, I am getting not less than three or 4 hours of guitar enjoying in every single day. So, it is all good.”