Interview


(Progressive Newsletter Nr.36 07/01)
excerpts from an interview with Arjen Lucassen (Guitars, Keyboards)


Originally the Ambeon project was planned as an instrumental album. Did you change the composition after it was clear that Astrid will be an essential part of Ambeon?

Oh yes, I did. I made the songs more compact. Originally it was going to be a Tangerine Dream-like album. And I even changed them again after she sang >them, to fit her voice more. Of course I didn't know what to expect, I didn't even know her melodylines until she sang them.


For just being 14-year old, the lyrics of Astrid are very emotional, sombre, dark, even depressing, but nevertheless fit perfect to the music. Were the lyrics all created by herself or was there a concept, a guiding line behind everything?

I asked her to come up with a sort of concept. The keywords for the concept were loneliness, darkness etc... She created all the lyrics herself, I just helped her a bit with the English and some words, phrasings and song titles.


Are the lyrics pure fantasy, more poetry of the inner-self or is there a realistic background, personal circumstances that influenced them?

Contrary to Ayreon the lyrics are not fantasy or science fiction. Astrid says the music inspired her to write the lyrics. She just started singing and the words came spontaniously. So obviously they are about herself, which doesn't mean of course that she killed her Sweet Little Brother!;O)


How much of the patterns and melodies you used on "Fate of a dreamer" were 're-used' from other Ayreon sessions and recordings?

All the songs are based on Ayreon songs, some are still recognisable, some aren't. Some are based on melodies, and some just on a synthesiser pattern. In some songs all the instruments were re-played, in some songs I just changed the existing tracks by cutting them up or reversing them.


Even though some nasty voices could blame you for recycling your own music.

This album was originally never meant to be an official release. Maybe just for the website, so people could download them. In the beginning it was just a way of getting to know my new harddisk recorder called Protools. But then I heard Astrid...


In addition the booklet contains some really pretty pictures by Astrid. Who had the idea for this photo sessions and how did Astrid enjoy it?

I arranged a female photographer and a female stylist so Astrid would feel at ease. of course this was her first photo shoot. I must say she opened up like a flower, I never knew she was that beautiful and had such a great charisma. She told me afterwards she had the greatest time of her life. And now that the whole recording proces is over she really misses it...


Any further future plans concerning Ambeon and Ayreon?

If the album will be a success - and the pre-sales are very promising - we both really want to do another album. We feel the same way about lots of things although there is a huge age difference. Of course there will be another Ayreon, but it might take a while. I'm involved in several projects: Ten's Gary Hughes concept album, Timo Kotipelto's solo album, Nolan/Wakeman's Hound of the Baskerville etc. and I'm currently writing a solo album for a famous English metalsinger who's name I'm not allowed to mention yet. He hasn't heard the material yet, and I haven't finished it yet!


Kristian Selm © Progressive Newsletter 2001