SeaOfTranquility.com recently caught up with DOMINICI / ex-DREAM THEATER frontman Charlie Dominici. The following is an excerpt from the interview:

SoT: The band has managed to put together a few albums now that effectively mix intelligent lyrics, great metal and prog chops, and memorable melodies. How hard is it to put together tunes that are demanding enough from a musical perspective to please this audience, yet catchy and memorable enough to warrant repeated spins?

Charlie: "Easy as pie! That's a joke, by the way. I would say it might be comparable to the difficulties involved in building the international space station with a broken space shuttle and uncooperative weather conditions. I had every obstacle thrown in my path all the way through the making and writing/recording of all three parts of the Trilogy but I was a man on a mission and was unstoppable. We overcame every obstacle in our path as we encountered it. I have to say that when I was finally finished with the final mix of part three it didn't actually hit me that the Trilogy was not only complete but was a creative success until a few weeks after listening to the final mixes."

SoT: Do you keep up with the goings on in the Dream Theater camp, and do you follow some of the other popular acts on the scene, like SYMPHONY X, PAIN OF SALVATION, PAGAN'S MIND, EPICA, etc?

Charlie: "I have always been curious and interested in the works of Mike and the guys over the years just as if it was my brother's band. Actually it really is like it was my brother's band because we have always had that kind of close relationship, JLB and Jordan Rudes included. As for the other bands you mentioned, I have really only been listening to them as of late because I was purposely not listening to other bands so as not to be too influenced by them in my writing. If anything sounds like any of them, I can assure you that it is purely coincidental. Also, I was so busy and wrapped up in my own writing and recording of the Trilogy, traveling all the time, producing, mixing, doing the CD covers and all of the other things like interviews, etc. that I have literally had no time to sit back and afford myself the luxury of giving any of it the listen that I know now it all deserves. Lately I have been finding a little more time here and there and I have listened to more of the other guys stuff and it sounds amazing! I was particularly surprised to finally give a proper spin to AYREON and found that while Arjen and I were both too busy to even listen to each others work, we were kind of tuned in to a similar wave length with the DNA stories and space men stuff. That was a cool surprise."

Go to this location for the complete interview.