Devin Townsend is now streaming his high-energy new single "Jainism" from the upcoming record PowerNerd, due out October 25.
"This next song was based on my connection to music in the mid nineties. Also the idea of what it means to rend yourself artistically to an unresponsive world in 2024," said Townsend. "I referenced The Wildhearts in the chorus, as Ginger is one of our generations greatest songwriters. In preparation for 'The Moth', PowerNerd is meant to look back and celebrate the past before moving forward. Thank you for the support…back to work here :)”
On the record itself and creating the whole thing in 11 years, Townsend added: "It was a conscious thing. I thought, 'I've spent so much time overthinking every aspect of my work – what would happen if I didn't?' Maybe I would have the opportunity to be a bit more direct with what it is that I'm trying to do. I really wanted to see if I could cut through some of the meandering."
On what exactly a "powernerd" is, Townsend elaborated: "I would say that a powernerd would be somebody that has a tendency that society has deemed weak or not valuable, whether that's empathy or being an insular person or an introvert, and turns that into a type of personal power. It's like, 'OK, yeah, I'm sensitive to this, that and the other thing, but man, I am going to pull through! I am going to do things with that sensitivity that are rooted in strength.'"
PowerNerd is available for pre-order here in several different formats, including a Limited 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook (featuring the album, bonus tracks and Townsend's first ever Dolby Atmos mix), Limited 2CD Digipak in O-card, Standard CD, Gatefold 2LP & Digital Album.
