Steven Wilson Nears Completion of “Very Strange” New Album and Launches Immersive Sound Platform

Steven Wilson’s new album takes a bold, experimental turn while his online platform brings studio-quality immersive sound to fans.

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A New Chapter in Steven Wilson’s Musical Journey

If you’ve been following Steven Wilson’s sonic adventures, buckle up—he’s nearly finished his latest album, and it’s shaping up to be unlike anything you’ve heard from him before. Just weeks after unveiling his new online platform dedicated to immersive audio, Wilson has shared intriguing details about this “very strange” record. As a longtime admirer of his craft, I have to say: this promises to be a fascinating dive into new musical territories.

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From Cosmic Lushness to Intimate Experimentation

Wilson’s previous album, The Overview, released last year, was inspired by the awe-inspiring Overview Effect—astronauts’ unique perspective when seeing Earth from space. It was a lush, expansive record that touched on the cosmos itself, a grand theme that felt as vast as the universe. Now, Wilson is flipping the script entirely.

In a recent chat with the YouTube channel Immersive Audio Album, Wilson described his new album as almost finished but “very strange” and “a complete opposite” to The Overview. Instead of cosmic vastness, this record leans inward, painting an insular and experimental soundscape. It’s conceptual, angular, and feels like one seamless piece of music rather than a collection of songs.

“It’s still very conceptual. It’s still very experimental…and that’s all I can really say at the moment. Very different again, yeah.”
— Steven Wilson

Check out the interview here:

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Immersive Sound Takes Center Stage with Headphone Dust

This month, Wilson launched Headphone Dust, an online platform delivering his albums in high-resolution formats, including cutting-edge 5.1 surround and Dolby Atmos/spatial audio mixes. This is a dream come true for audiophiles who crave studio-quality immersion right in their own headphones or home systems.

Among the offerings are Atmos remixes of his 2013 album The Raven That Refused To Sing and, naturally, The Overview. There’s also a special release from his latest 2025 European tour, Impossible Tightrope: Live In Madrid, capturing the final night’s magic.

If you want to explore these sonic landscapes, you can browse the Headphone Dust store.

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Diving Deep Into The Studio: Wilson’s Sound Design Philosophy

Wilson’s approach to production has always been layered and detailed, but this new album takes sound design to a new level. He revealed in the interview that he’s embracing “a lot of sound design elements” more than ever before.

He explains how he uses sound effects to create specific moods and places, sometimes incorporating lo-fi and mono elements deliberately. This might feel “small” on the surface but can be incredibly powerful when positioned precisely in a surround sound environment.

“I’m making a lot of decisions on this album to keep things very small and mono, but also knowing that those things can be just as impressive in surround because you’ve got something very small and mono. You can place it very discretely in a particular place in the room.”
— Steven Wilson

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Master of Remixes: Wilson’s Legacy of Spatial Audio Work

Wilson’s remixing career kicked off in 2009, and since then he has reimagined albums from the likes of Tears For Fears, ABC, Chic, Ultravox, Suede, The Who, and Van Morrison in spatial audio formats. His skill in breathing new immersive life into classic records has become a hallmark of his work.

However, not all remix projects have been smooth. Last year, Wilson revealed his extensive spatial audio remix of Guns N’ Roses’ Use Your Illusion I and II albums was shelved after the band didn’t approve the direction he took, despite nearly 40 songs being remixed.

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The Future of Live Shows: Spatial Audio on Tour

Wilson is passionate not only about studio recordings but also about how immersive sound can transform live performances. He spoke about the challenges of bringing Dolby Atmos and spatial audio to tours, noting the difficulty of acoustically tuning venues on the fly.

But he’s optimistic about growing adoption of venues equipped for immersive sound, citing The Sphere in Las Vegas as a pioneering example. For fans, this could mean touring shows that envelop you in sound like never before.

“If more venues do that, it gives artists chance to tour a more immersive show. I hope that will be a big progress over the next few years.”
— Steven Wilson

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Watch a glimpse of The Overview album experience:

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Wrapping It Up: A New Era Beckons

Steven Wilson has always been a trailblazer when it comes to pushing the boundaries of progressive rock and immersive audio. His nearly finished “very strange” new album sounds like it will challenge expectations and invite listeners into a unique, introspective world.

Meanwhile, his Headphone Dust platform offers fans a golden ticket to experience his previous works—and this new chapter—in breathtaking spatial clarity.

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FAQ

• What is the theme of Steven Wilson’s new album?
  The new album is described as “very strange” and experimental, focusing on a more insular and angular sound, contrasting with the vast cosmic theme of his previous album, The Overview.
• What is Headphone Dust?
  Headphone Dust is Steven Wilson’s newly launched online platform offering his albums in high-resolution, 5.1 surround, and Dolby Atmos/spatial audio formats.
• Which albums are available in immersive sound on Headphone Dust?
  Dolby Atmos remixes of The Raven That Refused To Sing, The Overview, and a special live album from his 2025 European tour, Impossible Tightrope: Live In Madrid.
• Has Steven Wilson done immersive remixes for other artists?
  Yes, he has created spatial audio reinterpretations for artists like Tears For Fears, ABC, Chic, Ultravox, Suede, The Who, and Van Morrison.
• Why was the Guns N’ Roses remix project shelved?
  Despite Wilson’s extensive remix work on Use Your Illusion I and II, the band didn't approve the direction, leading to the project being shelved.

Curious to surround yourself with Steven Wilson’s art? Shop your favorite album cover posters at our store and bring the immersive experience into your space: Headphone Dust Store.