Devin Townsend launches Quarantine project and shares a new single

Devin Townsend has launched his Quarantine Project, sharing the first song from the effort, the aptly-titled Quarantine. Listen to the new song below.

Social distancing guidelines meant Townsend was forced to suspend his current touring cycle, however, to recoup the huge financial impact of this disruption he started a GoFundMe campaign. It was beyond successful – raising over $50,000 in a day.

The Quarantine Project won’t just be singles like the above, either. Townsend discussed on social media various multimedia ideas for the project, including a podcast documenting his creative process, as well as live-streamed writing sessions and concerts. He wrote on Instagram: “The idea with this is that it may be many different styles, Twitch streams, concerts, perhaps a podcast… I have been kept afloat by the audience and wish to help in any way I can.”

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Hello all, welcome to the first installment of my 'Quarantine Project' I want to be able to provide some relief during these coming times in the ways that I am able. People have been supportive of me in my time of need when we lost a lot of revenue due to the current and foreseeable touring cycle, and want to make sure I can provide something that in some way begins to say 'thank you'. In the ways Im able, I will provide as much content as I can during this period as its what I feel I can offer. My company has a lot of people involved, and your support has saved us in so many ways. I know we are all affected by this and yes, I could look for another job during this period like so many others will have to, but I figure that the best thing I can do is focus on my work and hopefully provide some sort of relief doing what Im best at. I want to give back as much as I can over the next while, and I hope that some of the work I can manage here will provide a bit of comfort during these troubled times for those who enjoy what I do. This first song, (see Youtube link) is just a melancholy sort of thing called ‘Quarantine’ to start the proceedings. The idea with this is that it may be many different styles, Twitch streams, concerts, perhaps a podcast… I have been kept afloat by the audience and wish to help in any way I can. (I am just learning how to do video and I will try to get more proficient at it as the time goes by). I will do everything I can to help in the ways that Im able. On behalf of myself, Northern Music, HevyDevy Records, and the entire team that makes up my professional world, Thanks for supporting (saving) our business during this downturn. We realize the amount of people that are suffering and dont take this lightly. I figure the best way I can express this is to simply get to work. I will make sure I provide for the people who donated especially. I am working on lots of ideas to provide during this hard period. I truly cant express my gratitude enough. Thank you. https://youtu.be/k4p2g_fYwmg

A post shared by Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) on Mar 17, 2020 at 3:47pm PDT

He also expressed gratitude for those who donated at what is a difficult financial time for many, writing: “Thanks for supporting (saving) our business during this downturn. We realise the amount of people that are suffering and don’t take this lightly… I truly can’t express my gratitude enough.”

Townsend’s Quarantine Project joins Ben Gibbard’s daily live streams and Neil Young’s fireside sessions, as musicians establish new ways of bringing their fans music while kept from touring by the outbreak.

Take a read of our interview with Devin Townsend here, where we talk about writing his expansive record Empath, which brings together pretty much every genre under the sun.

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