"I love to do multiple things at the same time"
Since the departure from The Gathering and the announcement that she would continue in the musical universe on a solo career, Anneke van Giersbergen has released five studio albums, incluing one recorded live, and counts several participations and contributions on bands with varied styles. During the publicity tour for the album “Drive”, she revealed a direct involvement in a project with her friend Arjen Lucassen, the talented and charismatic guitarist as well as Dutch producer and creator of Ayreon’s project. Thus was born The Gentle Storm, released in Europe in March and since August available in the Brazilian market through Masque Records record label in luxury digipack version with two CDs, two distinct versions designed individually to tell a love story from a historical portrait from the Netherlands of the 17th century. Check out the exclusive interview given to the official fansite Anneke van Giersbergen Brasil, divided into three parts - answered by Anneke and Arjen.
The Diary was your first experience in composing a concept album. What did you think about the challenge and what were the main inspirations during the process?
ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN - Indeed it was, I really liked doing that because there is a clear story where I could write the lyrics to. We came up with the storyline and the characters first and that was the inspiration for the lyrics. During the writing process more and more details came into the story and it was great to see the whole concept blossom into what it is today.
The time, the melodies and the lyrics are the same in each version of the album - Gentle and Storm. Does the feeling change about the involvement and work of each one?
ANNEKE - Yes, the changes are purely in instrumentation and the performance of the vocals. So you can be sad in a loud way, and sad in an introvert manner. The feeling and emotion is the same but the way it’s expressed is hugely different.
Did have Susanne, Joseph and Michiel, the main characters of the album, any inspiration from real people? The names, passionate features of the lovers or child's beauty... Are they, somehow, related to the real world?
ANNEKE – Yes, we based a lot of the facts in the story on real life events, people etc. Joseph I know for sure, existed in real life and was a sailor in those days. The ship “The Merchant” was real, and the route of the journey was real. And many things more.
We can see a big difference in how you fit your voice among from one version to another. What was the most challenging version for you?
ANNEKE – There were no real challenges. We just went into the studio and started on the songs. We were inspired by the music and the story and the vocals just wrote itself, it was a smooth process.
You said on an interview that you work better when you are under pressure. With a lot of projects and tours happening at the same time, did help you this situation during the creation of The Diary?
ANNEKE - Indeed, I love doing multiple things at the same time. One inspires and boosts the other. From working with different people and on different styles of music, I learn a lot and it helps me grow as an artist, performer, singer and as a person.
"I worked hard on Gentle version!"
While Gentle version was produced with folk music instruments, in an environment between folk and acoustic, Storm version is guided by symphonic metal, but without losing the lightness and sophistication of the melodies. In this second part of the interview Arjen tell us how was conceived every moment of The Gentle Storm and comments the decision about not going on tour with The Diary.
In other interviews you said that you have put Gentle version as disc one was a strategy so that would not sound as a bonus disc of the Storm version.
ARJEN LUCASSEN - Right, I worked twice as hard on the Gentle album!
Considering the wealth of Gentle instrumental version, which seems to be much more musically complex than the Storm version and that the recordings had to be made twice with completely different arrangements. How was this process of recording?
ARJEN – Well, I first wrote all the tracks as classical pieces. Just double bass, cello and violin. Then I recorded the Storm version and lastly the Gentle Version
What were the main difficulties?
ARJEN - No real difficulties! Just a LOT of work, recording all the different instruments for the Gentle version and all the strings for the Storm version.
Regarding the theme of The Diary, how it was designed? Did this totally designed in partnership with Anneke or did you already had a starting point?ARJEN – The theme of having two contrasting styles was already there before Anneke joined. When Anneke joined I thought it would be cool to realize a typically Dutch concept, so it was my idea
The album cover, in particular, apparently refers to a picture of William Turner and, listening to the album, it's like, in fact, possible English painting moments.
ARJEN - The Dutch golden age is mainly known for its great painters like Rembrandt and Vermeer. There is a lot we could do with the ‘look’ of the Dutch golden age and the Dutch VOC ships (Note: the largest ship of merchants that period) that sailed all over the world. It was a time where our country was on top of the world. Well... basically they were just evil conquerers and pirates I guess.
You has never hidden for the specialized media that you aren't fanatic for stages, although you did some acoustic shows together with Anneke earlier this year to release The Diary. These opportunities do not prompted you for an exception and go touring with The Gentle Storm?
ARJEN - No! I truly hate playing live and I much rather stay at home and create new music. I’m happy I did the little acoustic tour with Anneke, but I was also very happy to be home again. I’m really a very anti-social recluse. I’m glad The Gentle Storm is touring though, they are an amazing band! When I first saw them I had tears in my eyes and goosebumps all over.
In your previous main works, Ayreon and Star One, for exemple, two features are very striking: the theme based on science fiction and the use of keyboards and synthesizers. What was the biggest challenge of The Gentle Storm: compose against the usual and dive into a unprecedented theme or don't resort the use of your instruments so beloved?
"We could create so much in a day"
ARJEN – It was indeed a big challenge for me not to use my old analog keyboards like the Hammond and the synth! I was forced to write good songs that were based on great melodies and not on sounds. And Anneke wrote the ‘love story’ lyrics, so that wasn’t a challenge for me. It would have been though if I would have had to do it!
The reviews have given very positive ratings and reviews for The Diary album. Besides, it’s possible to realize a very positive feedback from the fans. These can be a sign of a sequel for this amazing project?
ARJEN - Oh yes, it was a very pleasant experience working with Anneke, and a great challenge to write songs in this new way. I’d love to record another album, but it will depend on the success of the first album. Because I have so many projects, I have to set priorities. I mostly do what I want, but I also like to please the fans. That inspires me.
to set it in the Dutch golden age. It was Anneke’s idea to make it a love story. Of course! If I would have recorded it with another singer, it would have been a completely different story.
The Diary is the result of a unique collaborative work between Anneke and Arjen, for the first time together for a long time in the studio. The harmony between these two Dutch musicians, who have created an album acclimated in a prosperous time from their birthplace, is notorious both in the artistic part as well as in the ideas which conceived this record. In this third and final part of the interview, the questions are answered by the two creative minds of The Gentle Storm, who talk about the acoustic tour, video clips, promotional EP and a possible tour in South America.
Until now, we saw the beautiful lyric videos of the two versions of Endless Sea, the super excited music video for the song Heart of Amsterdam and the blockbuster Shores of India. How was the process of choosing the songs that disclose the album and how was the development of ideas in each video?
ANNEKE - Some songs need a particular visual support. Like Shores of India, It’s a big bombastic song, you don’t want a ‘happy’ video to represent it :-) But Heart of Amsterdam however, needed a lighter video, something uplifting and fun because its lyrics are joyful and positive. The trick is to come up with a good basic idea for a video, so we thought and talked about that a lot before we came up with these vids.
ARJEN - I think Endless Sea is very representative for the musical style on the album, so a great song to
with for the first video. We were sceptical of the idea of a lyric video at first, but these guys really did an amazing job and captured the right 17th century mood. Very important of course for the first introduction of The Gentle Storm to the fans. The idea of Anneke walking around in Amsterdam in 17th century clothing came from Rob, Anneke’s husband and manager. It was my idea to bring together most people who played on the album and film us in the rehearsal room. I think it turned out to be a very positive and lively clip! Shores of India is the most epic track on the album and therefore perfect for a big bombastic and expensive clip. Anneke and me flew to Serbia to shoot that one, it was mostly made in the computer. I still can’t believe I agreed to play that wierd looking instrument without strings! But I had fun chilling with the belly dancers (laughs).
The creative union of you two created a powerful concept
album. But, how did emerge this concept? With the possibility of addressing contemporary, ancient and futuristic themes, how you decided by the 17th century, the Dutch navigation scenery, the love story and the idea of the letters? Alias, were the letters that appear in the booklet that create the lyrics or was otherwise?
ANNEKE - Arjen wanted to do something with our Dutch heritage. The golden age is a time where so much was happening, that there is infinite possibilities for storylines. So we came up with the two lovers, one on land, in Amsterdam, and one at sea, going through lots of adventures
ARJEN - In this story Anneke finds an old diary in her attic that belonged to a woman who lived in Holland in the 17th century. In the diary Anneke finds letters between the Dutch woman and her lover who sailed the world on a VOC ship. The songs are the letters, and the diary entries explaining the letters are illustrated in the artwork.
The impression that we have when you both release a project, is that the things flow very naturally and that synchrony between you two is perfect. How has been this partnership over time?
ANNEKE – Indeed so, Arjen is great to work with. He has many ideas, he is talented and works hard and very fast. We could do so much in a day, let alone in the year that we created this album.
ARJEN – Yes indeed, things went very naturally and spontaneous between us! Instead of us contradicting eachother, we inspired each other. This was the first time we really worked together intensively and over a longer period, in the past it was mostly just one day when we would record her vocals.
taining incredibly well executed covers, for the european tour. How this idea emerged? We can wait for another material like this one for the future?
ANNEKE - We wanted to create a nice souvenir for the tour and so we made this EP. People really like it, especially when they visited the tour, but still, it’s a lovely collection of songs to add to the TGS album. I will probably create one or two acoustic ones for myself in the future. It’s the perfect way to release songs that do not go on a certain heavy album for instance but are very much worthwhile to listen to. Just for live and webshop, for fun!
ARJEN - Thanks for the compliment! Well, the Diary album wasn’t ready yet, and we definitely wanted to bring some new music along for the fans on the tour, apart from just shirts. To our big surprise all the CD’s we brought on tour were completely sold out after just a few shows! Therefore we still have some copies left in our stores, and they are still available at the The Gentle Storm shows. I figure we would only do this again when Anneke and me would do another acoustic tour together. Like I said… never say never!
Many people got surprised when they found out that Arjen would go out touring to disclosure the album, after many years without do that. What was the feeling received by you during tour? We can hope for another tour as this one someday? What are the best remembrances you have from this experience?
ANNEKE - Haha, I was surprised he said yes to my touring invitation! He really liked it, especially the personal contact with his fans. Though, the traveling and the long hours were tough on him. I don’t think he will do this again any time soon...
ARJEN – It was absolutely great to see all the happy faces of the fans and to hear them sing along to the lyrics of the Ayreon songs. Heartwarming! I also enjoyed meeting everybody after the show. But besides that that I did not enjoy the traveling, the stage fright and the sleepless nights. Right now I would say I’d never do it again… but then again that’s what I said about my last tour before that!
You both recorded an EP with five acoustic songs, con-
Thanks to the journalist Erick Tedesco to partner in conducting this interview.
Thanks for the interview Arjen! It’s such a plesure to talk to you! Congratulations by the wonderful work with The Diary and as you already know, we`re getting close to the release of the brazilian “The Diary” edition, so we’re super excited! You’re super beloved here in Brazil... Then, would you like to leave a message to your brazilian fans?
ARJEN - You’re welcome, my pleasure and thanks for your interest in our music! I’m really glad that the album will be easily available for the many loyal fans we have in Brazil. I get so many lovely messages from Brazil, I hope you will all enjoy the album and thanks in advance for buying!
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Thanks for the interview Anneke! We know how busy you’re right now but you’re always very kind. We`re getting close to the release of the brazilian “The Diary” edition and we hope to see The Gentle Storm tour in Latin America asap! What are the possibilities? Would you like to leave a message to your brazilian fans? Thanks again!
ANNEKE - We are, as you know, always working on coming back to L. America in any shape or form! I love playing in beautiful Brasil so so much. I will definitely keep you posted. Hugs! XxX Anneke ❖
