Интервью из португальского журнала "Loud!"
Momentary Lapse of Heart
After the sudden storm that struck NIGHTWISH in October last year – with the surprise exit of vocalist Tarja Turunen – the Finnish band currently enjoys a deserved period of tranquility. Short-lasting, especially if you remember that on its way is the complicated process of selecting a new vocalist and also the release of the DVD “The End Of An Era”, the awaited last release of Nightwish with Tarja. The keyboard player and leader of the band, Tuomas Holopainen, shared with us his fears, disappointments and hopes, a moment before diving back into the tumultuous sea that is the present.
What’s the feeling among the band now, that all the “dirt” on the press about Tarja leaving seems to have finally settled?
The feeling right now is very good, in the sense that we feel confident about the future. I’ve already written all the songs for the next album and the other elements of the band have just been listening to the material... So far there are 15 new songs and everyone seems very pleased with them. The future looks pretty promising, but the last 6 months were complicated. What happened at the end of October was – without a doubt – the most difficult problem we’ve had to face and also the saddest thing that happened to us in all these years. There certainly was a bittersweet feeling involved in all the process... [sigh] The media seem to have genuinely enjoyed dealing with what happened and the episode ended up turning into a kind of public soap opera. And that’s what annoys me the most, because I want people to remember us as a metal band, and not public property.
Due to that over-exposure, was the band ever in jepordy?
We wouldn’t have continued if it was too risky, that’s for sure. Obviously we took some risks when we made the decision to continue, but there came a time when there were only two paths – give up everything or do what we did. However, I think – very honestly – that there’s still a great future for Nightwish. We’ll have to wait to see what happens. And find a new vocalist somewhere.
Given the circumstances, how did you feel working on the DVD “The End Of An Era”?
To tell the truth it was a lot of fun, but the band itself wasn’t very involved. Tero Kinnunen, who directed the concert part of the DVD, edited everything by himself... I only showed up at the studio and approved what he had already done. I wasn’t in the process from the beginning, so we didn’t participate in the editing or anything like that. A couple of days ago we went to a movie theatre in Germany, where the label had a screening for the press, and it was a night of contradictory feelings. First of all, when I was watching the concert I felt very proud because it was something I created and very proud of the other guys in the band – including Tarja. I think it’s a good product and it marks the end, really, of an era. Let’s hope another begins.
Was it a similar feeling to the one you had when you read the book Mape Ollila wrote about the group?
Basically the same, yes. The difference is I feel almost like an outsider on that book. A lot of people tend to think it’s sort of an autobiography or something like that, but... I feel like I’m just another interviewee, among dozesn of others on that book. He worked on that project for the past four years and it’s about his vision of the story of our band. I think some 30 different people were interviewed for the book, me being just one of them. I read the book almost like an outsider, so to speak... However, I’m very happy with the final result. I think it sends a very objective and honest image of the first years of our career.
I know the release of the DVD was sorrounded by some legal issues...
Yes, as a matter of fact there were some problems. At that time I was so tired of everything that had happened that I just wanted to focus on making the songs for the next album. That made it so that I washed my hands of that subject a little bit, and it became a problem only between labels and managements. I found out last night that the labels and the managements have finally come to an agreement... The DVD will be released, as predicted, in early June.
Do you think that, even though it’s art and all about your artistic creation, there’s sort of a public entity that is completely out of your control?
I think there are some things that should depend on my decision, but there are also other things that I’m happy to let other people handle. The public must understand that the work of this band is the life of its elements... It’s all we have in life, especially in my case. I think people should remember to always respect that and, lately, that hasn’t happened... Not even close, actually.
When you sit down to write new music, like you did recently, can you abstract from all those extra-musical things?
I’m learning to do it. Nightwish have always been like a kind of diary of my own life in the form of music, and, in this case, they are too. So, everything that happened in the past year will be, in a way, reflected in the music and the lyrics of the next album too. I think it’s natural –it’s not something I’m doing on purpose. It’s just that, obviously, the emotions show up in the music... [sigh] I don’t know yet, because when it comes to song arrangements it’s still a very early phase.
How has that complicated selection process been? Have you been receiving a lot of applications?
Quite a lot, to be honest. I didn’t expect this amount of demos. So far I’ve heard about 450 and there are still 15 to 20 coming in every day. I called home today and they said there already are 100 or more waiting for me... we’ve been listening to each one, but we haven’t decided anything at all yet. And I’m sure nothing will be decided until te end of this year... We have to take the time we need to make this decision and not give into anything.
You don’t have to mention names, but have you recieved applications from someone from known bands?
We’ve received some but, obviously, it would be indecent to say from who.
Aren’t you afraid that, from now on, Nightwish will be coursed by the “will they ever reunite” syndrome?
I’m sure a lot of people will hate us forever for what we’ve done. There are a lot of fierce Tarja fans that will never accept anything we do again, however the music is... however, that’s a consequence of the decision we made conscientiously and inevitably will have to live with. We’re recruiting a new element.
But you are aware that the new vocalist will have to deal with a great deal of pressure with every record you release, with the comparisons to the previous vocalist and rumours that Tarja will return to the band...
Yes, I’m sure that’s going to happen, too. One of the most important criteria in the selection of the new singer process is that she needs to have a very strong character, great self-esteem and a good sense of humor, because we can imagine the hell she’s going to have to go through as soon as we announce who she is. She’ll be compared to Tarja for the rest of her life... It’s be very bad, I feel sorry for her already. [laughs] But we’ll definitely do the best we can to support her and to make the right decision.
You’re probably still very “on edge” with everything that’s happened, but if in 5 years Tarja does an interview saying she wouldn’t mind returning to Nightwish if she was invited... How would you react?
That’s a subject that’s impossible to answer right now. I have the habit of thinking that nothing is impossible in this life... we’ve seen how life works, so I couldn’t say an absolute “no” to that situation. However, right now it seems like such a distant possibility... I think it’s best for everyone to follow their own path and look to the future instead of the past.
Momentary Lapse of Heart
After the sudden storm that struck NIGHTWISH in October last year – with the surprise exit of vocalist Tarja Turunen – the Finnish band currently enjoys a deserved period of tranquility. Short-lasting, especially if you remember that on its way is the complicated process of selecting a new vocalist and also the release of the DVD “The End Of An Era”, the awaited last release of Nightwish with Tarja. The keyboard player and leader of the band, Tuomas Holopainen, shared with us his fears, disappointments and hopes, a moment before diving back into the tumultuous sea that is the present.
What’s the feeling among the band now, that all the “dirt” on the press about Tarja leaving seems to have finally settled?
The feeling right now is very good, in the sense that we feel confident about the future. I’ve already written all the songs for the next album and the other elements of the band have just been listening to the material... So far there are 15 new songs and everyone seems very pleased with them. The future looks pretty promising, but the last 6 months were complicated. What happened at the end of October was – without a doubt – the most difficult problem we’ve had to face and also the saddest thing that happened to us in all these years. There certainly was a bittersweet feeling involved in all the process... [sigh] The media seem to have genuinely enjoyed dealing with what happened and the episode ended up turning into a kind of public soap opera. And that’s what annoys me the most, because I want people to remember us as a metal band, and not public property.
Due to that over-exposure, was the band ever in jepordy?
We wouldn’t have continued if it was too risky, that’s for sure. Obviously we took some risks when we made the decision to continue, but there came a time when there were only two paths – give up everything or do what we did. However, I think – very honestly – that there’s still a great future for Nightwish. We’ll have to wait to see what happens. And find a new vocalist somewhere.
Given the circumstances, how did you feel working on the DVD “The End Of An Era”?
To tell the truth it was a lot of fun, but the band itself wasn’t very involved. Tero Kinnunen, who directed the concert part of the DVD, edited everything by himself... I only showed up at the studio and approved what he had already done. I wasn’t in the process from the beginning, so we didn’t participate in the editing or anything like that. A couple of days ago we went to a movie theatre in Germany, where the label had a screening for the press, and it was a night of contradictory feelings. First of all, when I was watching the concert I felt very proud because it was something I created and very proud of the other guys in the band – including Tarja. I think it’s a good product and it marks the end, really, of an era. Let’s hope another begins.
Was it a similar feeling to the one you had when you read the book Mape Ollila wrote about the group?
Basically the same, yes. The difference is I feel almost like an outsider on that book. A lot of people tend to think it’s sort of an autobiography or something like that, but... I feel like I’m just another interviewee, among dozesn of others on that book. He worked on that project for the past four years and it’s about his vision of the story of our band. I think some 30 different people were interviewed for the book, me being just one of them. I read the book almost like an outsider, so to speak... However, I’m very happy with the final result. I think it sends a very objective and honest image of the first years of our career.
I know the release of the DVD was sorrounded by some legal issues...
Yes, as a matter of fact there were some problems. At that time I was so tired of everything that had happened that I just wanted to focus on making the songs for the next album. That made it so that I washed my hands of that subject a little bit, and it became a problem only between labels and managements. I found out last night that the labels and the managements have finally come to an agreement... The DVD will be released, as predicted, in early June.
Do you think that, even though it’s art and all about your artistic creation, there’s sort of a public entity that is completely out of your control?
I think there are some things that should depend on my decision, but there are also other things that I’m happy to let other people handle. The public must understand that the work of this band is the life of its elements... It’s all we have in life, especially in my case. I think people should remember to always respect that and, lately, that hasn’t happened... Not even close, actually.
When you sit down to write new music, like you did recently, can you abstract from all those extra-musical things?
I’m learning to do it. Nightwish have always been like a kind of diary of my own life in the form of music, and, in this case, they are too. So, everything that happened in the past year will be, in a way, reflected in the music and the lyrics of the next album too. I think it’s natural –it’s not something I’m doing on purpose. It’s just that, obviously, the emotions show up in the music... [sigh] I don’t know yet, because when it comes to song arrangements it’s still a very early phase.
How has that complicated selection process been? Have you been receiving a lot of applications?
Quite a lot, to be honest. I didn’t expect this amount of demos. So far I’ve heard about 450 and there are still 15 to 20 coming in every day. I called home today and they said there already are 100 or more waiting for me... we’ve been listening to each one, but we haven’t decided anything at all yet. And I’m sure nothing will be decided until te end of this year... We have to take the time we need to make this decision and not give into anything.
You don’t have to mention names, but have you recieved applications from someone from known bands?
We’ve received some but, obviously, it would be indecent to say from who.
Aren’t you afraid that, from now on, Nightwish will be coursed by the “will they ever reunite” syndrome?
I’m sure a lot of people will hate us forever for what we’ve done. There are a lot of fierce Tarja fans that will never accept anything we do again, however the music is... however, that’s a consequence of the decision we made conscientiously and inevitably will have to live with. We’re recruiting a new element.
But you are aware that the new vocalist will have to deal with a great deal of pressure with every record you release, with the comparisons to the previous vocalist and rumours that Tarja will return to the band...
Yes, I’m sure that’s going to happen, too. One of the most important criteria in the selection of the new singer process is that she needs to have a very strong character, great self-esteem and a good sense of humor, because we can imagine the hell she’s going to have to go through as soon as we announce who she is. She’ll be compared to Tarja for the rest of her life... It’s be very bad, I feel sorry for her already. [laughs] But we’ll definitely do the best we can to support her and to make the right decision.
You’re probably still very “on edge” with everything that’s happened, but if in 5 years Tarja does an interview saying she wouldn’t mind returning to Nightwish if she was invited... How would you react?
That’s a subject that’s impossible to answer right now. I have the habit of thinking that nothing is impossible in this life... we’ve seen how life works, so I couldn’t say an absolute “no” to that situation. However, right now it seems like such a distant possibility... I think it’s best for everyone to follow their own path and look to the future instead of the past.