Greece's RockOverdose.gr recently conducted an interview with former STRATOVARIUS guitarist Timo Tolkki. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

RockOverdose.gr: What are you up to these days, building a new studio we saw?

Timo Tolkki: My life is very simple. It's home, music and photography, which has become a passion for me. I have been building a new studio for mixing and mastering purposes and this has taken quite some time but it should be ready in December. It is a commercial studio, so it is possible to book me for mixes and masterings.

RockOverdose.gr: New drummer along with a new album in February 2013 for STRATOVARIUS. What are your thoughts about this?

Timo Tolkki: I know him. He actually played the initial demos of SYMFONIA, so I know him well. I don't think about STRATO that much anymore. I left the band five years ago. I wish them well. Hard-working guys. I love them and I do miss them. I wish we could one day do one more album and tour with the "Visions" lineup. In five years or something. That would be really cool.

RockOverdose.gr: Are you making any new music yourself?

Timo Tolkki: Sure. I am always making music. I have been in touch with a great great female singer from your country actually called Marilena Animado. She is a fantastic singer. I hope something comes out of that because she is a world-class singer.

RockOverdose.gr: Hope too! What happened to the new "Credo" album? Will we ever get to listen to those songs?

Timo Tolkki: Well, the pledge thing turned out to be much more work than I anticipated but that was not the reason why I canceled it. Initially I was dealing with a very low number of people, maybe 400. That also was not the reason why I cancelled it but it made me think that maybe the system still has flaws in it. "Credo", or whatever it will be called, is something I hope I can release some day or maybe even after I have died. It is very special music and I almost feel that I should not charge any money from it. I feel it is music that should just be given to those who want to hear it.

RockOverdose.gr: So, before we finish with this lovely interview, is Timo Tolkki retired or we should expect more things to come in the future?

Timo Tolkki: I am very far from being retired and you will hear from me next year. That much I can tell.

Read the entire interview from RockOverdose.gr.