Ghost Twin’s Karen and Jaimz Asmundson had a long history with the works of David Lynch, both being longtime fans. Legend has it that there was once a midnight 35mm screening of Eraserhead at which the film melted onto the bulb during a particularly creepy scene with the baby, which cut the movie short. Karen and Jaimz were both at this screening although they would not meet for another 2 years or so. They produced 2 David Lynch themed music events in Winnipeg – for his 60th (at which they reinacted the terrifying scissor scene from Blue Velvet, and for his 70th, where Ghost Twin played some of their favorite tracks from the Lost Hightway soundtrack.
In early 2023, Ghost Twin was invited to recreate selections from Industrial Symphony No.1 by Angelo Badalamenti, David Lynch, and Julee Cruise for a live event in their hometown of Winnipeg. The songs lent themselves nicely to Ghost Twin’s sonic palate, and the duo meant to do something more with them eventually. These songs were some of the last music Jaimz Asmundson produced before his untimely passing in January 2024.
Karen Asmundson found solace in these songs of heartbreak over that difficult year. They were a solid anchor to hold onto when everything else felt so unstable. With the help of talented friends Michael P Falk, Patrick Short, Alison Hain and Andrew Yankiewski of Precursor Productions, this music came together in a beautiful way. It also helped provide a tangible springboard for assembling a new iteration of Ghost Twin. Ghost Twin’s Industrial Symphony No.1 is a personal journey through the stages of grief. It is dedicated to the memory of Jaimz Asmundson, and made with love for anyone and everyone who could use a little company in their healing. And it would be remised to not give a grateful and respectful nod to David Lynch himself, who we lost earlier this year and has been a resounding influence to so many people who love exploring the weird and the wonderful in their art.
