Nailboard Magazine 10.2007

czarnycharakter

NEW FOLK-BAND NACTWASSER OR REALLY NIGHTWISH?

The answer can be given only by the man who really is Nightwish – Tuomas Holopainen. On September 22 are they back in Estonia and will be introducing their new charming stage-icon Anette. (Phone interview with Tuomas)
1. Tuomas, you have been in Estonia before. What reminds you Tallinn the most?
Yeah, we were here with Nightwish a couple of years ago. It was with the start of „Once“ tour, the two first concerts in May 2004 if I’m not mistaken. The only thing I remember is that I was completely frightened because those were the very first concerts of the tour. But the result was very good. The people were amaizingly sweet and passionate. I defenitely don’t regret these concerts back then. The memories are good, espescially from the food from „Olde Hansa“(restaurant in the centre of Tallinn).
2. And about drinks?
Of course, of that I don’t talk about. They are ALWAYS good!!!
3. What are your hopes regarding the concert that you won’t be playing in Tallinn?
To put it very simply – I hope that we will survive. This is very difficult situation for the whole band, especially for our new singer because it’s her FIRST concert with us. I don’t know….. I hope that we don’t pass out while on stage. Hopefully everything will go well and the people will accept our new line-up. I wouldn’t want them to throw rotten tomatos at us. We haven’t given not a single concert with this line-up so we don’t know what to expect.
4. So you’ll come with a big bang?
Yeah, tell me about it. At the moment we’re just reharsing; still few weeks and then we will give our first concert over a long time.
5. About the past. I know that it is a worn out theme but this is the hottest theme regarding Nightwish – Tarja. Did you think about breaking Nightwish up when Tarja was kicked out?
Absolutly not! It didn’t even cross my mind. We had too much pride in us and finally we understood that this is the thing we should do in our lives. If I am completely honest, this is the only things I CAN do. Without it I basically don’t have anything to do. And as far as I know I have not a single reason to quit what I’m doing. We have done this thing the last ten years. So, there’s nothing else than to bravely face to storm.
6.What about changing the band name? The face which was Nightwish is gone. Is it really worth it?
Why SHOULD we change the name of the band when one member in the band chnages? We didn’t change the name five years ago when the basssist(Sami) was changed. And even if Tarja was the face or the icon of the band then finally she was just a SINGER who never did write a single note nor lyrics. So still keep on going under the name Nightwish is justified.
6. What do you think else changed when Tarja was kicked out?
Actually not so much as one would think. I have heard many comments with a tone that this is a completely new beginng for the band and the new album is totally different. I don’t agree with it. I think that we will still be recognized by our music – heavy gutar riffs, crushing sounds, orchestra, choirs, all the basic elements that characterize this band, are there. The only thing that is different is the female vocals. And of course some new elements like celtic instruments and bagpipes – little things here and there, but the main picture of the band has stayed.
7- I have heard some parts of songs of NW’s new album „Dark Passion Play“. From where came the idea to use so many national instruments?
This is the result of a systematic thinking. Nightwish has actually always been musically with very broad grip. We can do absolutly everything. When doing the new album I thought which musical elements we haven’t used yet and which we could try out. As I myself have been always a fan of celtic music, bagpipes, low whisles and that sort of stuff, I just thought maybe we should try it out. So we did some new songs with these influences and guest musicians who played these instruments. The result was very good. It adds some spice if you try out/experiment with new stuff.
7. The new singer Anette. Why her? She has no contacts to metal.
Yes, that is right, but she DOES have contacts with hard-rock. But then again the same was with Tarja – she didn’t even listen to metal before joining Nightwish. Anette is very familiar with things going on in metal-world which makes it different from Tarja. Actually we were just looking for a person with the right personality and right voice in one package. Anette was the best from the thousands of demos we got.
8. But is she familiar with this kind of celtic-like music that Nightwish is making? Has she done something like it before?
This is entirely new for her. From which I feel kind of sorry a bit because she doesn’t have any expectations or a possibility to compare herself to something. So yeah, this is entirely new beginning for her.
9. How would you discribe Nightwish now that Anette has replaced the previous icon?
We are still the same band – the music is the same, only the vocals have chnaged. If we take it only by vocals than yes it can be said that we are more pop/rock oriented but to MUSIC is still metal. Only, this is what I think.
10. Is there a change in your fanbase? Are the fans very upset?
Oh yes! Many people are VERY upset. It was expected. And then again there are different opinions. Overall the reaction is much more positive than I expected and the fans have welcomed Anette very warmly. Then again there are the die-hard Tarja-fans who even don’t piss in our direction because SHE is not in the band anymore. And you know what? It is totally understandable. What can we do? We have to just follow our hearts and do the things we want. And so we are doing. The fact is that there are suprisingly many fans who say that they have always loved our music but disliked Tarja’s singing. And those people come to say to us that finally they can enjoy Nightwish all the way because the new female vocal is easier to the ear to listen to. So, there are different opinions. Who knows, maybe we even gain more fans.
11. How did you chose the concert places? You said before that you will do your first show with this new line-up. Why not in Finland? I home it should be easier to start off.
This is just an opening party and a secret concert. Officially we start in Israel and from then on the USA. The point is tha we want to practice before performing in Finland and Europe. That would be a big risk. It’s very easy to go on stage when no one knows you and has no great expectations. We can just go on stage, play some songs and feel as a band again. Then we want to come to Finaland and Europe. We have arranged things so that Anette could feel as comfortable as she could.
12. So you think that Tallinn is a small quiet place where no one knows you ans this will be just an easy start?
Exactly! Easy start.
13. May I ask why are you doing this all?
Music is the thing I want to do and it is everything I KNOW what to do. It can be said that I have found my place. Making music is my way of copeing with the world. This makes me a better person. I can’t function as a person when they take away the possibility to make music. This is like drilling a hole in my head where all the demons come out. So I breathe,drink and feed from music. Music is the love of my life!