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© 2006 - present, Sabrina

translation by *Morgane*

How are you feeling now that the album is 99% finished ?

I would say 98.5% ! Up to yesterday I was convinced that he was 100% finished, but our sound engineer Mikko Karmila (Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius...) told me he wanted to put the finishing touches to the mix. It’s only little details that only a few people have noticed, but we have 2 weeks left in our planning, so why deprive ourselves of doing this ? We spent nearly 11 months in studio and the last thing we want is an album of which we wouldn’t be 100% satisfied with.

It is said that Dark Passion Play cost nearly 500 000 euros. Is that true ?

Yes, pretty much.. It’s without a doubt the most expensive album of the history of Finnish music, but most of this sum was for the studios Abbey Road, which are incredibly expensive. But I don’t regret it. We didn’t pay so much just to have a popular producer, for example...each euro was spent advisedly. At this stage of our career, and with our new singer’s arrival, it was more important than ever not to do any compromise and to put all the luck on our side. (it’s a bit awkward but I don’t find the exact expression in english)

How would you sum up the phase of research of this new voice that lasted nearly a year and a half ? Was it stressful or did you always always keep cool head ?

We patiently went through the candidates which applied for us without ever losing confidence. We always knew that the right person was here somewhere and that we would finally find her. Anette was one of the first 20 demos we got, and she immediately set the bar very high. Sum-total, we received near to 2000 Cds, and 10 singers auditionned for us ; we ruled them out one by one, until there was only Anette. This decision required much considering, but when I rethink of that, that wasn’t very difficult. It went without saying.

So you didn’t hesitate between 2 candidates, for example ?

No. The full band chose Anette promptly and personally, it’s after making this decision and telling her on the phone that I started to be a bit scared. After all, we only met her twice and we didn’t know her very well as a person...We still don’t know each other perfectly nowadays but we constantly discover new things about her. We didn’t know how she would cope in studio and with the video shooting, nut all went very well. As a matter of fact, the last thing we don’t know very well is her live performances...but we’ll see that soon. Anyway, whatever our choice would have been, there would always be a risk...But for the moment, all is going well. No fight on the horizon !

What did you think of the rumors talking about famous singers ? Were they well-founded ?

No, none of them was ! We didn’t have any contact with Vibeke or Liv Kristine ! All of this made us laugh because the media lost their credibility quickly. No one believed these rumors after some time...(laughs)

Yet, did well-know singers apply ?
Yes, there were some ones, but we promised them not to reveal any names. Of course they can talk about it if they want, but we wouldn’t do that if we were at their place...

Was it clear for you that, from the beginning, you weren't searching for a singer that would simply copy Tarja ?

Absolutely. We are aware that Tarja fulfilled her role better than anyone could ever do. It was completely useless to recreate what we already lived and we explored a whole new dimension. Anette’s voice is perfect for us because she has the power, the sweetness and the warmth we were looking for. Regardless, that was a risky decision, and there is still some risk today...But this decision makes us all very happy and that’s all that should matter now.

The fans reactions were rather mitigated when they heard the samples of Dark Passion Play available on the net, but in some time, they will be rather relieved to discover an album of symphonic metal in the sheer Nightwish tradition... (it’s a bit awkward here too, it just means DPP is symphonic metal, that NW sticks to this kind of music)

I think so too, because the music didn’t really change. There are new elements, such as the gospel choir or celtic influences, but besides that, Dark Passion Play is the logical succession to Once. Moreover, some songs of the new album were written in the same breath as Once, since 2005, as the first track, “The Poet And The Pendulum”. The composition process of the album has been the fastest of all, since all these new songs have been written in 3 or 4 months. He, the quota of dramas has been done in a short moment this time...(laughs)

Have you written other songs that aren’t finally on the album ?

There is a fourteenth song that will be relased as a bonus track in some time. But our cover of “The Hearts Asks Pleasure First”, the theme of the movie The Piano, won’t be released because we don’t have the rights...

What can you tell us about this mysterious title, Dark Passion Play ?

There is a double meaning and that’s what I like about it. There is “Passion Play” in it, which refers to Jesus Christ’ Passion, and “Dark Passion”, which recalls the dark side of love and passion...Dark Passion Play, Dark, Passion Play...(grins) (Note of the journalist : we’re not sure to understand all of this !)

The first track of the album, “The Poet And The Pendulum”, is a a very eventful song. Does this musical piece of nearly 14 minutes, very epic, mean something particular for you ?

It’s my favorite song from the album and it’s really important to read the lyrics to understand all that’s happening in the song. See all these people discover the whole song without having the lyrics is kind of pesky ! It’s the opening track, and it’s a big piece that actually resembles more to a theater play than to a song, but in my mind it sums up what is Nightwish nowadays and therefore should absolutely be the first track. It’s kind of the soundtrack of my life...

Is it a declaration ?

In a way...it’s a summary of what we are, and a track very personal for me...(silence). But I’ve already said too much. I let everyone discover the lyrics and the music by oneself.

In order not to have the same problems you had, what qualities and values were you looking for firstly in the future new singer ?

The first thing that interested us was her character and behaviour, second her voice, and third some little things like speaking english well. We immediately hit it of. Anette has self-esteem and a great sense of humor, two qualities very important in my mind. But sadly, she’s gonna live hell...there is many people that don’t want her in the band and she’s gonna have to harden herself against all the criticism she will undergo. But I know she has those qualities, in addition to being a very nice woman. She’s a “normal girl”, who has, like us, her feet on hte ground. (he shows a promo pic) No one of the people you see on the picture thinks he’s a rock star. We still are real hillbillies !

When you’re speaking of “these people that don’t want her”, are you speaking of some fans already writing comments on the forums ?

Yes. Some people can’t stand her and find it intolerable that we have chosen her. Maybe they don’t like her voice, but I think that above all they’re in denial concerning the end of the “Tarja era”. It’s true that she was a charismatic woman, singing so emotionally and passionally that in a way I can understand them, but I want to tell them that Anette did not do anything wrong. She did her best, she applied to be in the band, and it’s us who have chosen her. I’d want these people to leave her alone...

You’re gonna tour again from August on. What songs from Dark Passion Play do you think you’re gonna play ?

We’re not sure yet, but there should be “Amaranth”, “Bye Bye Beautiful” and “The Islander”. It will be very interesting to play this one (The Islander) live, because we never used acoustic guitars on-stage before. I would like us to play “The Poet And The Pendulum”, even we have to have many tape recording. Such a song would lose much feeling if it was played only with guitars and keyboards, whereas the studio version has nearly 300 tracks !

Let’s end on a “weird” news...A few days after the release of Eva, a finnish artist (not very known) made a lawsuit for plagiarism of his “song” named “Whirlpool”. A song that does not resembles Eva very much..what do you think about that ?
I almost find it funny ! (laughs) I think there’s on ly 2 or 3 music notes in common between our songs, and I had never listened to this song before I heard about the lawsuit. I think it’s someone who wants to make money off our backs...(who wants to take advantage of their popularity). The inquest is not finished, but I’m sure he won’t win. Something as “big” (he means it’s whatever) can’t work ! Anyway, it’s been 11 years that I’ve written songs without being accused of anything. It had to happen one day...and maybe I will be proud of it eventually ! (laughs)