lordsofmetal.nl
Ralph

Het nieuwste geesteskind van Nighwish, "Once" ligt begin juni in de winkels. Een plaat waar veel mensen al lang op zitten te wachten en een plaat waarvan nogal wat verwacht wordt. Tuomas Holopainen is al sinds jaar en dag de schepper van al het Nighwish moois en met hem praat ik over zijn laatste creatie waarin hij opnieuw ziel en zaligheid bloot legt en de luisteraar meeneemt op een ware tocht door het muzikale landschap van de Finnen.


Finally, "Once" is released upon the world! Was it hard labour?
Oh yes! This was the hardest album we ever did. At least production wise. We were in the studio for six months all together, so it was a lot of work. Four different studios, sometimes even at the same time! A lot strings to be attached to.

And the song writing in general?
Pretty much the same as always before. The beginning was very hard, I had this huge writers block that lasted for about a month. After that it went pretty smoothly. I think this was the most fun I ever had making these songs!

What was the major difference working on this album, compared to previous albums?
It was definitely the hardest to make, but also the most fun and most promising. I mean, the self-confidence was there and for the first time the chemistry within the band was really there. We got along really well and the long process never got to our nerves or anything like that. A lot of work and a lot of fun.

Having written a lot, do you ever have a 'deja-vu' nowadays when you write. In other words do you ever think, 'oops, this is too similar too some other Nightwish thing?
I am trying to be very careful with this. One thing that really bothers me in other bands is that they do the same album over and over again. It annoys me that they have this one really great song, multiply that a hundred times and there is the band. I try to create different things all the time, that is why Nightwish has so many different sides in it. I have some regrets though about the song "End Of All Hope" of the "Century Child" album, because it is so similar to "Wishmaster". These things happen.

No doubt, you are proud and would describe this as your best effort to date. Where did you progress to most?
Well, first of all I think what you hear on "Once" is the result of a learning process of seven years. This is the first time the band feels that we are 100% satisfied with the result. We matured as musicians and as people. We were able to 'renew' ourselves as persons. You can still hear it is Nightwish but there are a lot of elements that we did not use before, that keeps the whole thing kind of interesting.

"Once" turns out to be an album that has it all. You will please loyal Nightwish fans, the album is very varied, there are potential hits and so on. I know it is early, but could "Once" be the ultimate thing?
No I really hope it is yet to come, hahahahaha. This is the best we can do at the moment but we are pretty confident we can grow more and make it better. At this point in time, it is the best we can do, yes.
But I not the ultimate!

Did you feel pressured?
Most pressure comes from my own head you know. I had this vision in the beginning and the pressure was to accomplish this vision. So the pressure did not come so much from media or fans. Of course you want the fans to really like the album as well. It hurts if fans have critics that we have betrayed them with this style, but I think remaining honest to yourself is important and the fans will appreciate that as well.

Do you consider yourself pioneers?
There are so many people telling us we are doing something unique, but the basics of our music have been done a hundred times before. Maybe it is the way that we combine metal and female vocals, the classical and orchestral influences that makes us different. We never considered ourselves pioneers but I also know there are some bands in Europe that are having a similar concept at the moment, the orchestral metal with female vocals.

But not reaching your level, achieving what you do
Euh, I guess not. I really do not think about these things.

Most of you have families; does that make the touring part harder?
Not really. You have to make compromises. These things matter the most family and human relations. You have to remember that when you make the tour plans. We learned that. During the Wishmaster tour we were on the road for almost one and a half years. The band almost split up after that! There was a big crisis, so we learned to do the schedule so we can spend time with the family as well. Those are the things that matter the most.

You came a long way, starting out as a project. Today Nightwish is also a job, what is the major difference between the early days and Nightwish as a profession now?
Right now the basics of this band are still the same as in the beginning. We are still the same high school friends playing together. But the pressure is much bigg er now. Most of the first innocent touch of making music is gone. But the original feeling and purpose are still the same. We are more busy with the job we are doing right now.

You are the main songwriter, why is that and did you ever consider dividing the pressure of writing?
Nightwish is my child. Everything that Nightwish is musically is a soul picture of one person and that is me. I created the whole thing. The mythology behind the band and so on, it is just natural that I write all the songs. So far the guys and the girl, hahaha, have been satisfied enough till now. I really give everybody free hand to write music, but I keep the lyrics to myself. That is so personal to me, so I want to keep my hands involved there.

Finland is a huge breeding ground for metal talent. Is it the country or just a coincidence?
I don't really know. The roots go back in metal anyway. There is no hip-hop culture or something. Metal is music that Finnish people can really relate to. There is this melancholy and darkness in the music, which we as a nation can relate to. There have been pioneers like Stratovarius and Amorphis for instance and without them we would not have been here either I think.

Are you looking forward to the next global trek?
Yes, I am very much looking forward to it. That is what six months in a studio does to you, hahahah. Especially the American tour. We are doing it for the first time and I am very excited about that. Cruising around in America in a bus and playing, sounds awesome!

You've been around the globe. If there is one other country you'd like to live your life, what country would that be?
I love Finland from the bottom of my heart, you will never get me out of here! If I had to choose one, I think Canada would be the only option for me.

Why Canada?
It is like Finland, only a lot bigger!

If you have discussions, what are they about?
Mainly about the tours, the schedules and so on. Tarja made clear she needs some privacy on the tour bus, so we are not drinking all night long so she can have some rest. Just practical things really.

Would an escalating situation like with your fellow countrymen Stratovarius be possible in Nightwish?
That is a soap opera! I do not think that would happen to Nightwish. We do not know what is going on there either. It could be one big joke in the end.

What is the biggest joy of being a professional musician?
The simple fact that I can make a living out of something I love to do. The fact I do not have to move to a bigger city for a job or something. I can do my work here in the middle of nature, that is a great part of the job.

What's the worst part of it?
The instability really. You never have a real vacation, you always have to be ready to do things.

Are you guys hoping/aiming for a major deal, this is the time right?
Actually we had a lot of offers for this album already. We were free after "Century Child". I had a lot of suspicion about the big labels, they smile too much. I want to keep my artistic freedom and these companies will interfere with music also and not only the business side. That is the limit to me.

Some personal things
Something that frustrates you
People with narrow minds.

Something that makes you mad
The same thing actually, hahahahha.

Your main love besides the music
Travelling.

Still on your wish list.
First thing that comes to mind is recover from this flue I have, hahahahah. At the moment that is all I wish for.