The following is an interview courtesy of AYREON founder Arjen Lucassen's official website:

Q: First off, a lot has happened in the past few months, we all are curious to know how you are doing.

Lucassen: "I'm sad to say that I've been through a personal hell the last couple of months. I worked non-stop for many years and due to living on my own after the divorce with Jolanda, I have had a new (at first completely different) lifestyle. It has taken its toll, I guess. On top of everything else, I lost my sense of taste and smell (Anosmia) two months ago and sunk into a deep depression. With medical help and, most of all, the help of my closest friends (including Jolanda) I'm slowly climbing out of the black hole now. Last week I kicked my own butt back into the studio and fortunately the inspiration is slowly beginning to flow again."

Q: What are your plans concerning Stream Of Passion at this moment?

Lucassen: "Because I will be fully concentrating on the new Ayreon for at least the next year, I have no more time for SoP, so I quit the band. It would be unfair to have them wait until I'm ready, especially now things are going so well for SoP."

Q: Does this mean the end of Stream Of Passion?

Lucassen: "Fortunately not, the band will continue without me. They will write their own songs and I'm sure there's enough talent in the band to make a great new album and undertake successful tours without me pulling the strings."

Q: Now onto the new Ayreon. When did you actually start recording?

Lucassen: "Basically I started recording a few months ago but due to my depression and the SoP tour I hadn't been in the studio until a week ago."

Q: You’ve had to build a new studio in your new house, how are you adjusting to it?

Lucassen: "It's basically the same as the old studio, and once I'm at work, I'm out there in space and I don't even notice where I am anyway!"

Q: Have you changed your methods at all, or is it like nothing really changed?

Lucassen: "This time I'm coming up with more ideas in the studio while I'm recording. This way I have more freedom because I have no clear arrangements in my head and I can build songs based on new sounds I'm discovering. I'm also finding out that the songs are getting longer and more progressive this way."

Q: Did you find/buy any new instruments or equipment you’ve been using?

Lucassen: "Yes, I bought a digital synth (Microkorg) which sounds surprisingly good and is a welcome addition to my old analog stuff. I also bought a new Line 6 (pre)amp and I'm experimenting a lot combining different guitarsounds/amps."

Q: What kind of instruments do you find yourself using most often?

Lucassen: "Of course I've been longing to blow the dust off my old analog synths for a long time and madly twiddle the knobs, because I haven't used any in SoP. I'm also using my 7 string Ibanez guitar a lot, it sounds great and the extra low string really adds a new dimension."

Q: Can you give us a tiny hint of what we can expect musically?

Lucassen: "Because of my frame of mind the material so far is quite dark. There are some pretty heavy passages and the soft parts are quite mysterious. Though, to even it out, I will probably record some folky and happier stuff in the coming months when I feel better. I do think I will succeed in having it sound different from my previous albums again. I'm also thinking of releasing a single album this time, and using the remaining tracks as bonustracks for those who are interested. As some know, I hate to repeat myself and do the expected! Don't know if I will succeed though, things often turned out differently than the way I planned them..."

Q: Have you got any ideas yet as to the story of the new Ayreon?

Lucassen: "Yes, but I haven't decided yet which way to go. I do know it will be a science fiction theme again, I really missed it :-) This time I would like to make the lyrics and the concept less obvious and more cryptic than before, if I can do it. It will be a new challenge. So if you can follow the story, I did something wrong :-)"

Q: Have you decided on any musical guests yet?

Lucassen: "I do have a wish list of singers. But I will only decide on the guest musicians once the music is finished so I have a better view on what kind of voices I will need. Of course Ed (Warby) will drum and as usual I will play most instruments myself."

Q: In the past you've auditioned unknown vocalists; do you still need recordings from new singers?

Lucassen: "No. As I said, I already have a big list of possible vocalists. Singers are of course welcome to send me stuff, but I get so many recordings that I can't guarantee a reply."