Yesterday, David Bowie shocked us all by announcing his upcoming album, The Next Day, his first album in ten years. Bowie’s longtime producer Tony Visconti sat down with the BBC to talk about Bowie’s sudden return to the spotlight that, according to Visconti, wasn’t sudden at all.

Work on The Next Day started years ago, according to Visconti, who added that he had “been listening to [the album] through headphones while walking on the streets of New York for two years.” Visconti also added that the material for the album was “very strong” and that much of it had a more “rocking” bent than the moody lead single “Where Are We Now?” “It’s the only track on the album that looks this much inward,” he said, “I was surprised that [Bowie} would pick this slow, albeit beautiful ballad…but he’s always been the master of his own life.”

Visconti also responded to rumors that Bowie’s break from music was because of his failing health. The producer said that Bowie was “healthy, rosy-cheeked…he was so happy to be back in the studio.”

The Next Day is slated to be released on March 12th.