Front To The Future – What’s Next For Arjen?

“I don’t want to do so many side–projects anymore,” says Mr Side–Project himself…

So what’s next for Arjen Lucassen? With the raft of side–projects at his disposal, he could conceivably record an album in any style he wished. But he reveals that he’s considering taking a backward step from these projects to concentrate on Ayreon and his solo albums.

“I don’t want to do so many side–projects anymore,” he says. “It’s becoming very confusing. It may be my insecurity again but if I look at the Guilt Machine album, I know that I can never make an album that strong anymore in that style. I’ve done that and if I don’t feel that I can do something better, I won’t make another one – I won’t even try.

“That is why most of my side–projects just have one album. Star One is a side–project, but as I have only recorded a Star One album every 10 years, I will be 72 for the next one and I’ve no idea if I will still be a metal head at that age!

“I’ve got so many different projects. I can do folk, prog, metal or singer–songwriter music. I could do anything I want and I have to take advantage of that. My fans are so loyal and sometimes when I do a solo album, I think, ‘Oh my God, who is going to listen to this?’ To my surprise I have fans who always will. Ayreon will always remain the biggest thing for me as it has all those styles in it. When I do a side–project, focusing on just one of those styles, you reach fewer people but nevertheless you will please people who maybe like metal but don’t like folk.

“I’d love to do another solo album as I’m really proud of my previous solo record [2012’s Lost In The New Real followed 1993’s Pools Of Sorrow, Waves Of Joy]. It was a really fun thing to do and it would be the perfect reaction to Star One, as my solo albums have nothing to do with metal. And there would also be no guest musicians or singers, as I would be the singer. But as much as I want to do that, there’s the insecurity as I wonder if I can do something better? So that’s the phase that I’m in right now. It’s difficult to make something better each time…”