Devin Townsend Lets Go of Fear with a Launch Into a Black Hole in New Video for “Why?”

Devin Townsend has always had a clear vision: to blow the minds of his listeners. His dreamy lyrics and calculated guitar melodies are extremely entrancing in the new music video for “Why?” This lyrical rock song appears on Townsend’s new album, Empath (tour dates below). The animated video Devin has shared with the world attacks the nature of letting go of fear. When thinking of a black hole, the idea of it being the color black and dangerous is common knowledge, and yet the main character of the video ends up jumping off a spaceship into a black hole of many colors, it is not so. The video drives the idea home that humanity must take a leap of faith into what they are afraid of. 

Making a decision can be a crux in a person’s life. Choosing to address fear and then change has propelled mankind into knowing they can achieve great heights. Devin’s animated character is helped as he makes decisions with the assistance of technology at the beginning of the music video, in which his world is very dull. Metal arms choose an outfit for him and try helping him with his hygiene. After getting ready, Devin sets out to join the rest of humanity on a space ship ride to leave to where they are currently stationed.

Fortunately, the space ship is full and other plans must be made. Devin sets out to spend his final hours of life looking at what might ultimately swallow him whole. He climbs into a spacesuit and sets out to be face to face with what could possibly destroy him. When he arrives outside he removes his helmet, seeing that the black hole is not truly black like he had been told. It is evident that the sight is beautiful to his animated eyes. Devin then climbs into a slot that ricochets him into the colors of the hole. When he becomes one with the star, he hugs himself, which symbolizes that we are the only ones that can overcome fear, no one else can do it for us. 

This music video is a beautiful use of imagination and creativity. Devin Townsend shows his audience that jumping into the unknown can make us feel larger than life. 

 In a personal interview with mxdwn in 2018, Devin vocalized how change can come about when there are many things happening at the same time. Being a human inquires and subjects us to have emotions. Devin is done with going with the flow because it does not suit him as an artist.  Townsend shared with mxdwn, “I’m also concerned that my desire to do that is rooted in wanting to be everything to everybody straight out of the gate. Now there are eyes on it,maybe I’m afraid that in choosing that one thing and committing to that… it’s more diplomatic to do them all at the same time. If that is what it comes down to, then that’s not the right motivation.”

Devin has taken control of his life and music, pushing others to break from the mold and become the makers of their own destiny.

Devin’s tour dates are listed below!

18^th September – Gateway Black Box Theatre, Singapore, China (acoustic)
21^st September – The Guitar Show, London, UK
15^th November – Salle Pleyel, Paris, France
16^th November – Trix, Antwerp, Belgium
17^th November – 013, Tilburg, Netherlands
18^th November – Grunspan, Hamburg, Germany
20^th November – Logomo, Turku, Finland
21^st November – Cirkus, Helsinki, Finland
23^rd November – Münchenbryggeriet, Stockholm, Sweden
24^th November – Sentrum Scene, Oslo, Norway
25^th November – Amager Bio, Copenhagen, Denmark
27^th November – Astra, Berlin, Germany
28^th November – Roxy, Prague, Czech Republic
29^th November – A2, Wroclaw, Poland
30^th November – Barba Negra, Budapest, Hungary
2^nd December – Simm City, Vienna, Austria
3^rd December – X Tra, Zurich, Switzerland
6^th December – Academy, Dublin, Ireland
7^th December – Limelight, Belfast, UK
9^th December – SWG3 Galvanisers, Glasgow, UK
10^th December – Albert Hall, Manchester, UK
12^th December – Roundhouse, London, UK
13^th December – Rock City, Nottingham, UK

photo credit: Raymond Flotat