Interviews  1:                                                                                  Arjen    Anthony    Lucassen

Creative Tech Nerds:  Can you tell us a little about how the album is structured ( i.e: into "Chronicles" ) and how the performers ( -particularly the singers ) play characters within "The Source's" story line? ( -Did you     cast these parts based upon the performer's unique vocal qualities? their personalities? personal interests?     or a combination of these things? ). 

Arjen Anthony Lucassen:  I actually base the characters in the story on the personality of the individual singers, and I write the melody lines and lyrics especially for their voice and identity. 

Creative Tech Nerds: I understand some of the performers weren't able to record their parts in your studio       ( -which is usually how you've done it in the past ). Did this cause any problems? ( -either from a technical standpoint or merely in trying to maintain the song's "vibe" and energy level -which is easier to do when singers and musicians are interacting with one another within the same physical space? )

Arjen Anthony Lucassen:  I prefer to record the singers in my own studio, because there is always some magic and chemistry happening. But this time I worked with the best singers in the world, so I could completely trust them to record it on their own! 

Creative Tech Nerds:  Since there are bound to be lots of "guitar heads" reading this interview -I'll ask           this question on their behalf:  You've established quite a reputation as a guitar "tone meister" over the years. Can you tell us a little about the guitars you played on "The Source" ( -as well as the effects pedals, load boxes or DI's, preamps/ amps and cabinet-miking techniques ) you used to get your distinctive "guitar tones" on   "The Source"?

Have you had any modifications ( i.e: new pick-ups installed, etc. ) performed on these guitars to help   improve their "tone", etc. ?  

Arjen Anthony Lucussen:  Thanks for the compliment! I played all the rhythm parts with an Ibanez RG               7-string, and all solos and melodies with a Fender Stratocaster. A simple set-up: a modified Marshall amp     and a Celestion speaker, that's it. I use three mikes: a Shure SM57, a Beyer M88 and a Peluso ribbon mic.     The speaker and the mics are the most important factor for me in the sound. 

Creative Tech Nerds: As a synth freak myself, I have to ask you about the synths and keyboards you played       on "The Source". I understand you have a Minimoog, a Hammond and a Mellotron ( -and probably a few keyboards I've missed! ). Can you tell us about your current keyboard arsenal ( -and whether your Mini is "stock" or heavily "modded"? ).  

Arjen Anthony Lucassen:  Yes, a true vintage Minimoog, warts and all!  An A100 Hammond with                   145 Leslie. I also use my Solina strings a lot, and my Juno 60, Prophet 5 and MKS Super Jupiter.

Creative Tech Nerds: In a similar vein, are there any synth, Hammond or Mellotron solos/ riffs                 you're particularly proud of on "The Source". If so, in which songs can we find these solos/ riffs? 

Arjen Anthony Lucassen:  Hard to say, they are all over the place! 

Creative Tech Nerds: Dave Brock of Hawkwind ( -whom you worked with on the "Star One" Space Metal     album ), cites science-fiction as one of the primary influences upon his music. What interests and hobbies         ( i.e: science, astronomy, physics, literature, sci-fi, etc. ) would you say have exerted a continuing influence upon you and your music? 

Argen Anthony Lucassen:  I've been a sci-fi fan ever since I first saw Star Trek as a kid! Besides that I'm really interested in science ( -mostly physics ) documentaries, like Stephen Hawking and Through the Wormhole.       I love turning science into fiction.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                                        Creative Tech Nerds:  And by the way, as a Hawkwind fan myself -can you tell us what is was like working     with Dave Brock ( -on the "Star One" Space Metal album )?  

I'd imagine you've gained some "cross-over" fans from Hawkwind as a result of that album.                                                                                                                                                                                         Arjen Anthony Lucassen:  It was a dream come true, he's my hero! I spent a few days on his estate               and he's a true gentleman. It's so great to meet your heroes and find out that they are nice guys as well! 

Creative Tech Nerds:  Unfortunately, here in the US, "Star One" and "Ayreon" albums get no airplay on radio stations. Even here in St. Louis ( -home of the oldest FM rock radio-station in the country: KSHE 95 FM ),   Ayreon and Star One albums are virtually never heard.

Is your new record label ( -Mascot Label Group ) making any attempts to get your albums into the hands of rock station program managers here in the US?  I'm sure rock stations in Europe give your albums plenty         of airplay.  

Arjen Anthony Lucassen:  Yes, Mascot are doing their best! But I realize that it's really hard to get into that world. I have to accept that I don't make mainstream music, and I really depend on my loyal fans worldwide   to spread the word. 

Creative Tech Nerds:  Considering your various album projects, DVD's, and live-performance efforts over       the years -I'm wondering if at some point, we might see a new "Ayreon" or "Star One" European or US   concert tour film happen?  

Or perhaps an "Ayreon" multimedia project ( -based upon your past album themes or story lines ) done     either as a traditional film ( -with singers and musicians playing parts and dubbing their vocals onto the soundtrack ), or done utilizing computer animation or a "mix" of the two, sometime in the future? 

Arjen Anthony Lucassen:  Yes, that would be great! Of course this cost many millions. But if someone is interested to set this up, I'm game! 

Creative Tech Nerds: I would imagine it's very difficult to organize recording sessions for albums like "The Source" ( -where you're bringing in performers -some from foreign countries ) to sing and play on the album.   I mean just finding slots in these performer's work schedules must be a challenge ( -not to mention getting them to and from the airport as well as arranging their lodging! ). It must be a logistics nightmare. Do you   have a team of people doing this for you or do you still do this yourself? 

Arjen Anthony Lucassen:  Luckily, I don't have to organize the logistics like arranging flights and stuff myself,   but I mostly arrange the dates with the musicians directly. I always pick them up myself, if I can! 

Creative Tech Nerds:  I'm wondering if this has ever led to any funny incidents you could tell us about? Similarly, have any funny or amusing things ever occurred during any of your "Star One" or "Ayreon"   recording sessions? 

Arjen Anthony Lucassen:  Not really! I'm a terribly boring and anti-social nerd so I prefer to go                 straight to the studio and record.            

                                                          -END  OF  INTERVIEW-

For rock music afficianadoes and progressive rock station program directors ( -unfamiliar with Arjen's music ), below are the FOUR "must have" Arjen albums you need to get! 

-And so it goes....