Gentle Storm Started out As a Pro- Cept Is a Tad Different

A musician who dislikes touring, who has stage fright and actually thinks touring is a complete waste of time. A social recluse that happens to be a brilliant composer and musician, although not a good stage performer (in his own opin- ion), with several highly acclaimed releases in his discography – it is of course Arjen Lu- cassen and Hallowed has been speaking with him.

Hallowed PDF-article Hallowed PDF-article Design by Daniel Källmalm Design by Daniel Källmalm written by daniel källmalm out with Arjen and Anneke doing big coincident that you approach is built around a concept album photos by bullet-ray this project. me now because you are in the set in 17th century Holland, the published on 2015-03-26 - Right at that time (when he back of my mind for the project reason for it being in Holland is was thinking about who was I am working on right now” and because both Arjen and Anneke It is a somewhat tired Arjen Lu- the best female vocalist) she sent I sent he a couple of demos and are from there. cassen that calls me having just me an email and asked, “hey do explained the idea. - It is a love story between a sai- arrived from the small acoustic you want to write some songs to- She liked the demos and the lor and his lover back home. tour that he and Anneke Van Gi- gether?” And I was like “hey it is a idea and wanted to brainstorm The story comes on two CDs ersbergen had just performed at about it and that is how The but it is not any two CDs, the con- ten locations. They have a full on Gentle Storm started out as a pro- cept is a tad different. band doing the rest of the tour, a ject between Arjen and Anneke it - It is one CD that is an acous- band where Arjen is not a part. tic atmospheric CD and the other But we’ll get to that later as there CD is like a big bombastic metal is some background that needs to CD so there are two different si- be addressed first. des. Arjen had the idea to build a And this project then turned something around two contras- into a band, a band that Anneke ting style and he wanted just one is going to play live with. vocalist to sing both these styles - We got together the best mu- and for that you need someone sicians in Holland for this band, really good according to Arjen it is really an exciting thing and and Anneke is his favourite fema- everything really came together le singer which she was there in on this band. the back of his mind for being Anneke is so easy to work with this vocalist. But it was still a bit according to Arjen, both techni- of a coincident that it all turned cally brilliant and an easy-going person and always optimistic, not a diva at all. - She has the brilliant combina- tion of technique and emotion; it is a complete balance there. She is also a very charismatic person, so it is an honour to work with her.

The Gentle Style After the last Ayreon album, Ar- jen didn’t know what to do as he was in his usual black hole period without any inspiration. So he took to the interweb and asked the fans what they wanted to hear next and he gave them a multiple-choice question. - One option was something heavy, and most fans wanted so- mething heavy. Another option was something folky and about 30% wanted something folky so I had this two styles and won- dered: should I combine them? Like into folk metal but so many bands are doing that nowadays so I thought that maybe it would be cool to do the same songs in two completely contrasting sty-

Hallowed PDF-article 3 4 Hallowed PDF-article Design by Daniel Källmalm Design by Daniel Källmalm les with two completely different there but the ingredients are very touring was a big challenge to and play the same songs over and sets of instruments and different different from anything I have him as it was a while since he was over again. The Star One tour vocals. Basically I am looking for done before. playing live. was just perfect as the spontan- a challenge with everything I do The interviewer points out that - It was a big challenge for me eity was still there in all shows. and that was a great challenge. the guitar sound is always re- because I hadn’t played live in In that regard you are a bit dif- So what about this challenge? cognisable and Arjen agrees with eight years, it was very scary sit- ferent from many other musici- Which was the biggest one, Arjen that. ting on stage two people with ans… says he thought that the acoustic The favourite song is someti- acoustic guitar and every mistake - I know, the tour manager part would be the most challen- mes something that seems quite you make is heard but I must say told me that, he used to come in ging because it is much easier to difficult for musicians to pick out that it was fun to see the people and say that there were like 600 impress someone with a heavy, and Arjen also has one or two enjoying the music, singing along people out there and I just: “no, bombastic, orchestral album but suggestions. with songs they know and when don’t tell me that!” I got sick much more difficult to impress - I think Shores of India has a you meet the people after the with nerves and Anneke was like with a gentle acoustic setting. great chorus, it is big and the last show and they tell you how much “yeah, cool” and I was like “oh, - I thought that would be the Ayreon album didn’t have any you mean to them. That was gre- no” and he told me that I was challenge but as it turned out I choruses at all so I was a bit af- at but the whole touring thing is different from other musicians. I had so much fun doing it. I think raid that I had lost the ability to not for me with all the traveling, think I am not only different from it has about 30 different instru- write a good chorus. To me that waiting, the stage fright and all other musicians but from other ments on it so I think the acous- is a great chorus and I love the that shit – it is really not my life. people too, I think that’s why I tic version has many layers to it power of the song Storm which is That is why they assembled live a very reclusive life – to not and it was really fun to do a lot basically the only guitar riff song a band of the best musicians in bother any other people with my of things that I have never done on the album. I love the opener Holland and they are going on weird stuff. before. Endless Sea because it is a very tour with Anneke, but they do This made the reporter think And it wasn’t just fun, he learnt good average of the album; it is a also play on the album so it is a a little bit, does he also dislike a lot during the process as well – good build up. new band Arjen points out. speaking with the media? Am I like new instruments and doing The best part of the two on - And that is great for me be- annoying the great musical mind arrangements for orchestras and this album depends on the song cause finally one of my albums is with my silly questions about one many things, even in the song in Arjen’s opinion and explains being promoted live which is not of his projects? That would be bad writing process he had to learn that some songs works best in the case with Ayreon. since he is in many regards quite new things. the acoustic setting while others But a musician not into touring, similar to myself, but it turns out - Instead of writing songs on need that power to excel. Some- that is a bit of a strange thing con- that interviews is a whole diffe- the guitar I had to write songs times it is even down to certain sidering that many bands I speak rent thing to this Dutch master- with a whole orchestra in mind parts in songs. And according to with tends to see touring as the mind. but I think I learn a little bit with Arjen the album turned out just best thing about being a musici- - I love doing promotion, that’s every album I do. the way he wanted. an. Arjen is different and explains really cool as I am here at home If we compare this to Arjens - 100% , you know I am my that he lives a very reclusive life previous work he thinks that the own boss and have my own stu- and wants to be in his studio to biggest difference is that there dio and only send something to create new things. aren’t any keyboards on this al- the record company when I am a - For me the touring is just a bum. 100% happy with it. And I have huge waste of time and it is not - If you’re listening to Ayreon been working on this album for a creative, you play the same song there are keyboars all over the year without weekends, without every night. Also, I am not very place with Hammonds and Mini- holidays; really everyday I have good at it – I am not a good per- Moogs, Mellotrons and all kinds been working on it – until I was a former, I am a much better com- of weird synthesizers and this al- 100% sure about it. poser. bum doesn’t have that, it has no But I think you were good on keyboards at all, just a real piano. The Gentle Tours the Star One tour… But it is not only that, the more The Gentle Storm’s debut al- - That was a magical tour and eagle eared and eagle eyed have bum sees two different tours, one it was really fun. It was the last already noticed that there isn’t where Arjen and Anneke tours real tour I did and it was great be- many singers on this album like with an acoustic setting and an- cause it was only eight shows so it usually are in Arjens works like other where they have gathered there was no routine – if you are eight on the latest Ayreon album. their favourite Dutch musicians to do 50 shows I think that after - Of course you will always re- to follow Anneke on tour. The ten shows it becomes routine and cognise my style that is always first part where Arjen was out you make the same jokes on stage Liv Kristine - promo photo 2011 Hallowed PDF-article 5 6 Hallowed PDF-article Design by Daniel Källmalm Design by Daniel Källmalm wearing my headphones, walking hieve. Thing is though that artist doesn’t really benefit his creative through the house and the gar- and beholder might not always side and it takes too much time. den talking about something that see things the same way and that One has to wonder, will I get I love and something that I am re- can be disturbing. an email from Mr Lucassen after ally proud of. That is something - The shitty thing is that the po- my review that I have yet to write that I enjoy. sitives you expect and the negati- at the moment of writing this ar- He calls himself a social recluse ves hit you and I am very sensi- ticle. But what about the future? as he does like to have contact tive for reviews but Anneke just How do the coming plans look? with people as long as he doesn’t doesn’t read them as she doesn’t - First of all I really hope that need to meet them too much. want to but I want to know what this album will become a suc- - I love to be alone but I love to reactions are but negative re- cess in that it sells well and that have interaction and be social like views always hurt. the live shows goes well and that through social media and stuff But if you get a negative review there is a lot of interest in the like that. that is constructive? band because I would love to do - I love it when it is constructi- a second one. I did so many pro- The Gentle Opinions ve, when I can sort of agree with jects, like Ambeon or Guilt Machi- The interest for the album seems someone but I get pretty pissed ne, that were just one-off projects to be quite high as the presales when someone hates it because it because they were not successful that has just started through their is not his kind of music. When I enough and I really hope that shop has been amazing. Anneke got those kind of reviews I used this one is successful enough so and Arjen has been signing and to contact these people and ask that we can do a second one. In packing albums for days, which them about it but when it is con- a couple of month we will proba- is promising according to Arjen. structive it is another thing. bly know how it works. And the press reaction is ama- So far the only negatives Arjen Apart from the hope to make zing as well according to Arjen, has seen about this album is that a sequel to ”The Diary” Arjen which is apparently likes as he the storm part isn’t that stormy doesn’t know as he really doesn’t thinks that thing is a bit scary. which is something he can live like to plan ahead because he - You give it to someone and with. But he hopes that people doesn’t stick to the plan anyway you have no idea what the reac- have an open mind and gives the – I keep changing my mind when tion is going to be but we did this album a chance and don’t dismiss I start something, he says. little promo tour in January th- the thing because of the acoustic And with those hopes that the rough London, Berlin and Paris part not being metal and so on. spontaneous ideas of Arjen will – and that was the first time we - I think that a journalist should keep bringing out interesting sto- heard reaction and they were ba- have a certain degree of objectivi- ries and albums it is time to end. sically all positive. ty; if I was a journalist and was to The album called ”The Diary” is Experience has it though that write about something that was out on March 23 and will be av- you tend to get the positives first totally not my style I would try ailable as CD digipak, artbook and the negatives come a bit la- and find the good and bad thing and as a 3 LP-version that also ter, much as Arjen’s experience about it within its style. Someti- contains the CDs. I think it might tells him as well as mine does. mes I see reviews that are very be worth looking closer at those, - So it is still a bit early to say opinionated and sometimes get especially if you like what Arjen something about that but so far into a discussion with these pe- has done before. I have read like ten reviews and ople and it starts really heavy but they have all been positive so the some of these people I become Hallowed Links: start is good. friends with as we mail for weeks Ayreon - 01011001 For Arjen good reviews is im- and we each express out thoughts Ayreon - Theory of Everything portant, as he describes it as he and don’t have to agree in the Arjen Anthony Lucassen - Lost is expecting something good be- end. And I think that is good to in the New Real cause he is proud of his work and come to some kind of conclusion Anneke Van Giersbergen - Drive all the time that has gone into it. about it. Devin Townsend - Epicloud Much as I think most artist think But if you are a reviewer and Devin Townsend - Z2 when they have finished so- doesn’t like Arjen’s music you Star One - Victims of the Modern mething they have been working might be safe from his emails as Guilt Machine - On This Perfect with for a long time and finally he doesn’t do it as much any- Day achieved what they set out to ac- more as it is too much work and Gentle Storm - The Diary

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