The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast · Mark Linsenmayer, Wes Alwan, Seth Paskin, Dylan Casey

PEL Presents NEM#245: Darren Michael Boyd's Guitar Instrumentals Beyond Metal

·1 hr 8 min·6 clips

A car accident forced Darren Boyd to abandon five bands and start his instrumental guitar project.

Mark Lintmeyer hosts this episode of Nakedly Examined Music, interviewing Canadian guitarist Darren Michael Boyd. Boyd transitioned from playing in multiple bands to releasing six albums of guitar-led instrumentals since 2019. The conversation focuses on Boyd's creative process and the specific tracks from his catalog. They discuss "The Day Beneath Yesterday," a song from his new album *Perpetual Night* that features a George Harrison-inspired melody. Boyd explains the song originated almost subconsciously, with him "getting out of the driver's seat" during composition. He details using a vintage Canadian Lado guitar for its clean tone and employing layered guitar tracks instead of octave pedals to fatten the sound. The episode covers "Broken Glass and Disappointment," a 2022 track with a circus-like metal riff and a title suggested by guitarist Paul Gilbert. Boyd also revisits "The Earth is B-Flat," a sci-fi-influenced song from his 2019 debut that uses GarageBand plugins for a spacey, sustained-note effect. A key insight is Boyd's compositional method of recording initial ideas and then removing about 60% of the notes to prioritize melody over shredding. He describes the intentional tape-slowdown effect at the end of "The Day Beneath Yesterday" as representing the jarring return to reality from a beautiful dream state. Boyd shares his frustration with local music committees dismissing his work as "too heavy" based on his image before listening. He contrasts his melodic approach with the current "internet guitar olympics," which he sees as prioritizing visual spectacle over songcraft. The guitarist reveals most of his songs are under three minutes, adhering to a concise, vocal-songwriter structure despite being instrumental. He discusses the challenges of translating densely layered studio recordings to a live setting with a single guitarist. Boyd notes a significant portion of his fanbase is in Japan and South Korea, not his local Ottawa scene, and he is planning a potential tour there for 2026. The tone is conversational and educational, delving into specific guitar tones, recording techniques, and the realities of being a niche musician. Mark Lintmeyer acts as an informed guide, prompting Boyd to explain his artistic choices in detail. This episode will deeply appeal to guitarists and home recording enthusiasts interested in melodic instrumental rock and metal. Listeners seeking stories about mainstream music industry success or purely analytical music theory might find it less engaging.

As heard by us

Compact guitar instrumentals, explained with real craft and enough wit to keep them moving.

Darren Michael Boyd presents as a guitarist who keeps instrumental music centered on shape, length, and momentum. Mark Lintonmeyer lets the discussion move through compact pieces from Perpetual Night, Thoughts and Scares, and Lifting the Curse, including the story behind…

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Why you'd press play

Press play if you want guitar instrumentals that stay lean, focused, and self-aware.

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