VGNett interview lipiec 2007

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First day in the studio was tough
Nightwish were nervous when going to the studio for the first time with a new singer

-To be honest we were very nervous the first day we were going to the studio with Anette. We had only known her a short time, and having to go to the studio was pretty tough, admits Tuomas Holopainen, who founded Nightwish with Tarja Turunen in 1996.

Almost two years have passed since Nightwish fired their old singer, Turunen, by posting a message on the band's official website. The firing led to a lot of pressure from the media and many upset fans.

-It's understandable that people were upset. We have explained what happened. A book has even been written about it. We don't feel there's any point in going back and ripping it open again. Everything's forgotten, and everything's forgiven. Life goes on, says Holopainen.

Fantastic

VG Nett meets Holopainen in the bar on top of Oslo Plaza with the band's new singer, Anette Olzon. After one and a half years of audition and competition from 2000 other hopeful Nightwish-singers, it was a 36 year old mother from a small town in Sweden that secured the job of front figure.

-After the first day we just looked at each other, and knew that this was something that would absolutely work, smiles Holopainen.

Olzon smiles, if possible, even broader.

-It's really great! I've sung a lot before, but it's fantastic to be a part of Nightwish, grins Olzon, who is the daughter of a famous Swedish dance band musician.

-What does your son feel about his mother suddenly being a rock star?

-He's really proud! He's already begun practicing drums. His goal is to start Nightwish II, laughs Olzon.

New CD

In October, Nightwish will release it's next CD, "Dark Passion Play" - the first with Anette's vocals.

-It's worked pretty much as before. The recording process has been the same. Things have gone like clockwork, claims Holopainen.

-Everything's gone smoothly, and it's worked well in the studio, agrees Olzon.

Holopainen claims that the fans will recognize the new material.

-There's the same soul and atmosphere in the new album, but there are also some new elements, among other a gospel choir and celtic insturments. But it will feel like a Nightwish album, claims Holopainen.

Soon the band will set out on a new tour. They will come to Norway in the beginning of December. Nightwish is looking forward to hitting the road.

-I'm a little nervous, but at the same time I've already received so much criticism that I've already become slightly hardened. The most important thing is that the other members of the band want me to join, and that they like what I do, claims Olzon.

-There's a good feeling in the band. If we can mantain that, things will be good.

Scandinavian Melancholy

-What's the reason for your popularity in Norway?

-Are we popular here? laughs Holopainen.

-I think it's the melancholy that Scandinavia has in common. There's a great deal of variation in our songs. We have some really heavy songs, as well as ballads. Most people can find something they like, even if they don't like it all. We were at the right place at the right time. Right now there's a big boom in bands with female front figures, claims Holopainen, citing Within Temptation and Evanescence as examples.

-Additionaly, our timing was good, as well as our promotion and merchandising. Everything was just really good, explains Holopainen.

-It will be exciting to see what happens now.