Philippe Drouin has been developing Obvurt since 2019, turning it into a technically demanding solo project centered around double-neck guitar performance. With Le chemin du gaucher pushing that concept even further, we spoke with him about relearning guitar left-handed, writing for two necks at once, and taking this material to the stage.
Hi Philippe! You started using the Obvurt name back in 2019. What were you trying to do then? Was it already this intense?
I tried to recover and start back where life stops for me back in 2016, I was trying to play lefty and I needed a motivation to move on and stay focused, else, I couldn’t do what I did, learning to play as a lefty guitarist. Intense, yes, for me because I am not a lefty and I was at my debut.
The 2023 session at CKRL 89.1 — did that feel like a test, or just another gig?
Both of them. I never played the double guitar in front of people before. We were doing a live stream and the camera was pointing me, 2 months later, I had my first solo gig as The Scanner.
Playing the full Obvurt – The Beginning alone with a double guitar is a bold move. Did you ever think, “This might crash and burn”?
No. I played these songs over and over.
One good thing in being solo is you practice your gig whenever you want.
You got that Dean double guitar from Michael Angelo Batio. Be honest — did that instrument scare you at first?
I played with a limited run of Double Sawtooth guitar, I learn the beginning ep with that guitar and wrote riffs of Patience song. A year later, Michael sold me his guitar and then, I moved on writing on this instrument.
What was the hardest part to get under control: timing, muting, stamina?
Adding vocals to the guitars, and do not play so many wrong notes in a song. Getting a great sound took time, Now I play with my Quad cortex and my Double guitar, and I am ready to go.
When you write, do you hear both necks in your head, or do you build one part and force the other to fight with it?
I always write both hands at the same time. Everything on a double guitar is x2. Writing a full song on the double is twice longer than writing on a guitar.
At what point did the double guitar stop being a cool idea and start becoming necessary?
When I played my own songs adding vocals to it. Hell yeah, this is so cool.
Le chemin du gaucher — why that title? Is it about being different, or about going against something specific?
Because I am still trying to be a left handed every day of my life. I am not, and maybe never be. But I will do my best to be the best false lefty I can ever be. Playing lefty guitar is very difficult; there are 6 strings so many techniques and speed to master. Even right handed, playing guitar is everyday life’s goal.
Compared to your older songs, what did you refuse to repeat this time?
I refused a while ago because I wasn’t able to play them, I had to relearn to play first. Now, I play them. I play The Unbreakable Hatred songs now but Obvurt is different, a different style and playing. Philippe Drouin Obvurt is only the double.
A lot of technical metal sounds impressive but empty. How did you make sure yours wasn’t?
I didn’t make sure, I just did it my way. It was my first double-guitar album and I am happy of the turnout. I created techniques on the double and make riffs out of them.
Releasing this through Brutal Mind — does that add pressure?
Not at all, Obvurt released the first ep in 2021 with Brutal Mind. Brutal Mind is great.
When John Longstreth from Origin sent you the drum tracks, did anything feel faster or heavier than you expected? Did he play anything that made you rethink your own riffs?
I gave him the liberty to write the drum parts and I am very happy of the drum tracks. It feels faster than Obvurt till now. Just mind blowing.
For the release show in January 2026, Mitch is stepping in. Are you adjusting parts for the stage, or keeping them ruthless?
I play notes for notes the guitars I recorded, my right hand delivers the bass and Mitch arranged the songs, drums and bass parts are not 100% live.
What’s the biggest risk when you bring this material live? Bring some people to the show?
When your band’s name is your own name, that might be harder to make people listen and come to the shows.
Does “the left-hander’s path” mean you feel outside the scene?
No, it means I am still to learn how to be a left handed player, I will till I die!!
If someone says your music is “too technical,” what’s your response?
It comes from the heart, take the time to listen.
What still frustrates you when you listen back to the record?
I spell a wrong word in a song, every time I listen to it I am laughing.
Right now, what are you chasing — speed, heaviness, control, something else?
That’s a good question, I try to write the best songs I can, the best melody, bass lines, harmony, and try to always explore new scales or techniques.
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