Hi, how's it going?
I'm doing good, thanks!
When the band originally started it was a collaboration over thousands of miles mostly conducted by the internet, is that still the way it's handled now or has it become a little more traditional?
The writings for the second album also started that way actually. I was still living in Mexico when we started writing the songs, so it was also an mp3 song sending extravaganza. Later on though I moved to Holland and then we truly started working like a band. The process ended up being more traditional indeed, with us rehearsing together more often and writing arrangements together in the rehearsal room.
I think we're quite sticking to the Internet writing idea though; it seems to work for us!
Was it difficult to get the work done with everybody so far apart?
Not really, everyone was very eager to work hard so it went quite well. You have time differences that may slow the process down a bit but other than that we had no big problems.
Was writing and getting your new album The Flame Within in the bag a different experience from your debut Embrace The Storm?
Oh yes, for me it was completely new. I was used to always co-write with someone, and for most part in this album it was up to me to come up with the whole initial song ideas. It was challenging at first, and I had to overcome some mental barriers, but as soon as I got over it the ideas just started to flow. Now I look back to the whole process with a lot of satisfaction.
2007 saw the departure of guitarist and Ayreon composer Arjen Anthony Lucassen as well as 2 other members around the same time and earlier this year you lost your dummer, how significant was all this on the band and indeed the album writing process?
Like I mentioned, I basically had to fill in for the initial musical part. I had to further work out my ideas before sending them to the rest of the band. For them it was also different because they had more responsibility and freedom this time to decide which direction to take with their arrangements.
Do you think the newer material sounds greatly different to your earlier work?
It's very different, but I can see a very definitely continuity line on it.
I noticed you'd opted to cover "Street spirit" by Radiohead, are you Radiohead fans?
They're amazing! I really like their work and respect them deeply as a band.
You'll be on the Beauty & the Beast Festival Tour with Leaves Eyes' and Atrocity amongst others, excited?
Most definitely. The rest of the band members and I just love performing live, so we're thrilled to have the chance to go on this tour.
You're touring Europe extensively, you're actually scheduled to tour all the way into January 2010, are you enjoying being on tour or are there times when you just want to sit at home with some tea and kick back?
As long as I can have a couple of hours a day to sit down and chill I'm actually quite happy with the idea of touring as much as possible. Maybe after those 16 shows in a row I'll start thinking otherwise…but so far it hasn't happened!
Where on tour has really stood out to you, and are there any particularly fond memories you'll take from this tour?
We've had so many great moments and I have so many wonderful memories, but one of the greater ones was having the chance to play in Mexico City a few years ago. It was a tad strange for me to stand there as a Dutch band in front of my fellow Mexican people, but in a matter of seconds it became one of the most amazing experiences. The Mexican audience is so energetic and enthusiastic; they will give it all: jump, shout and sing along the entire time. And to receive such wonderful response was incredible.
Is there anywhere you haven't been yet on tour that you'd really like to play?
I would really like to go to Chile and Argentina. I've heard wonderful things about the audiences over there so I'd love to go there and experience it myself!
I believe a little while ago you were refused entry to the UK to play a gig, some of my friends had tickets and were pretty ticked off. I hope it hasn't put you off coming back and touring here in the future?
Not me, just let me know when and I'll have my bags (and papers!) ready.
Stream of Passion's doing well with a new album out and landing gig dates alongside big names, what are your hopes for the band in the future?
Well like I mentioned I'd love for us to be able to reach further destinations and schedule some gigs in South America, including my dear Mexico once more! Beside that I just wish for us to keep on making music, keep growing as a band and songwriters and hopefully be able to reinvent ourselves every time.
Thank you so much for agreeing to answer my questions, and have an awesome time on the rest of the tour. I wanted to leave the final word to yourself: so, Stream of Passion in a sentence…
Intense emotions poured into music.
