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Interview with Anette Olzon, the new singer of Nightwish

This was surely asked many times before, but did you think a year ago that you will become the new singer of Nightwish?
I obviously didn’t but I was really glad about it. And it also astonished me. It took me weeks to realize and understand it but of course it was a fantastic feeling.

What did you do before joining Nightwish?
As a singer, one takes part in many different projects that sound interesting for him or her. I’ve also sung with many different bands and had some more serious jobs, too. I’ve sung solos and duets, and made recordings together with other musicians. I’ve sung in choirs, musicals, and also at weddings. So I did many different things.

Can you benefit from these experiences now?
Yeah, I think they mean a huge benefit for me, because I have very varied musical background. This proves to be very useful for me when I’m trying to approach Nightwish’s music. Every song of them has to be sung quite differently, in different tones, with different feelings and different power. So all in all, my experiences help me a lot.

What was it like to work together with the guys?
I have to say it was very easy. They’re truly nice and relaxed so it was easy for us to understand each other.

Wasn’t it hard to work on the album with the guys living in Finland and you in Sweden?
No, it wasn’t hard at all. I got the songs in advance to listen to them several times before going into the studio. And to tell the truth I got used to this kind of thing earlier because in the past it sometimes happened that I didn’t even have the chance to listen to the songs before the studio works. So it wasn’t hard. I flew there, we recorded the songs and then I flew back home.

But this means that you had no voice in connection with the lyrics or the vocals. Is this true?
It is. Everything was written already.

Is Dark Passion Play truly the darkest album that the band has made?
Yes, I think this can be said, mainly in terms of lyrics. The atmosphere of some of the songs is also very dark. And the heaviest Nightwish song ever, Master Passion Greed can also be found on this album.

Why did Eva become the first single from DPP?
I have no idea who chose it. I only know that the single’s aim was to introduce me and my voice to the public.

Can you really show your abilities as a singer in this song?
Well, I can’t really let my whole voice out in it. But the song is full of emotions, and I tried to sing the lyrics in an expressive way. So in this respect I think I could show what I’m able to.

Would you also have chosen this song?
I don’t know. Maybe I would have chosen something more powerful if I had been the one to decide.

What can you say about the fact that the income of the single will be donated to a children charity foundation?
About this I only know what is written on our website.

What kind of reception do you expect? Have you already got any feedbacks?
From what I’ve heard, feedbacks are rather positive. I think we’ll know much more when the fans have already listened to the whole album in September. Of course there were also some people who wrote more critical feedbacks in the online forums.

Concerning the future, will you have to learn the whole repertoire of Nightwish or do you have the chance to choose from your favourites?
Basically I have to learn the songs that we will play on tour. These are chosen by the guys. They’re the ones to know what we want to play and what the audience wants to hear. Of course I also have a voice in choosing. My favourites are Ever Dream, Higher Than Hope, and Sleeping Sun.

When does the tour start?
On 6th October, in Israel. Right after that we’re going to the USA for five weeks, and then back to Scandinavia: we’ll give concerts in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark. Following year there’ll be concerts in Asia and Australia, and then we’ll be back to Europe by February - March.

In what way will the concerts be different?
Mainly in terms of voice because the singer is new. So the sound will be different. Concerning my dresses, I have not yet decided what I’ll wear. I’ve already chosen some pieces but nothing is sure yet. The style will be some kind of a mixture, but there’ll surely not be any big, baggy clothes. Rather shorter, smaller ones.

Will they match the style of the album?
Yes, in some sense they will. They’ll be rather gothic.

Are you afraid of the old fans?
I’m sure that on my first gig I’ll be really nervous. And also on the first Finnish gig. I’m really looking forward to that. Obviously I’ll be also nervous in Sweden but that’s my homeland, so I can say it’ll be like performing at home which makes it easier.

I guess your whole life will change because of this tour…
It has already changed. I travel a lot and I really like it. I give many interviews. I’m in the world of big business now. Right now I’m taking it easy and I really enjoy the situation.

I hope the new album and the whole tour will be a success.

Thank you.