Timo Tolkki's Avalon

Interview date

17 avril 2013

Interviewer

Blaster of Muppets

I N T E R V I E W

Interview Timo Tolkki (by mailer)


Hello Timo, how are you these days?

I’m doing perfect, thank you.

So, you are back with a project named Avalon, releasing a Metal Opera called “The Land of New Hope”. How did this project come up? Where did the inspiration for this new adventure come from?

I got a phone call from the president of Frontiers Records who asked me if I would like to do three Metal Operas. Inspiration always comes from within.

There are many great singers on this record; did you already know who would sing a particular song when you wrote them?

Not really. As I composed the songs, it became evident who would be good for this or that particular song.

How did you cast the singers? Did you personally choose them all or were some of them suggested by the label?

They are all so high caliber singers that there was no casting needed. I chose the singers and I got the ones I wanted.

Musically speaking, what can you fans expect from “The Land of New Hope”?

Ten melodic metal songs of high caliber.

Did you get to try and do things you had never done on your previous records?

I never try to do anything, I do the opposite. I let things happen. That is the way I make records.

What are your own personal favourite songs on this record? Why?

I like “In the Name of the Rose” because it is so fragile and yet powerful. I also like the title track because Kiske's vocal acrobatics are unbelievable. I like all the songs actually, which is rare for me.

Aren’t you a bit afraid that this particular project might be criticized because it looks a lot like Tobias Sammet’s Avantasia (the name, the fact that it’s a metal opera, with many singers in common…)?

No. Criticism is very common in the modern world where people can give their "opinion" anonymously on the internet. I follow my vision and I don't care about any criticism unless it comes from a person that I know and respect.

Some questions about the past years now. What memories do you keep from your short time with Symfonia?

Lots of work. Bad record company. No money for the second album. No audience at the shows. Bad communication. Bad sales. A failure.

Are you still in contact with Andre Matos and would you like to work with him again in the future?

No I am not and I don't think we will ever work together again. It is better for him to do his solo stuff.

Your previous bands (Revolution Renaissance, Symfonia) did not work very well. Was it hard for you to recover from this?

It depends on what you mean by “they didn't work very well”. To me they worked musically very well. For example “Age of Aquarius” is a fantastic and original record and yet it was not a hit. But I don't measure success with the record sales. I measure it with my personal satisfaction to the musical output.

The label advertises your new album using this sentence “The Land of New Hope” opens a new chapter in Tolkki’s career and perspectives, with the artist regaining full artistic credibility. Do you agree with that? With the fact that you had recently lost artistic credibility?

I lost a lot of credibility in the Stratovarius publicity stunt in 2004. I had a very good image before that. Anybody who wants to find out what happened should read the faq section of my website tolkki.org.

All the past years seem to have been difficult for you, not mentioning your bipolar disorder, do you feel in a better place now? And has the title of this new record got a more personal meaning (with “new hope” in it)?

I cope with my illness, which is incurable. I live a quite normal and healthy musical life without much pressure. I am in a happy place.

Stratovarius seems to do quite well these days, the band is moving on and it is said that their new album is showing some interesting progress. Does it make you feel happy that the name Stratovarius (because, after all, this was your band and your name will always be linked to it) has regained credibility or are you a bit sad not to be part of this adventure?

Well Stratovarius comes with 30 years of legacy and whatever formation is currently playing as Stratovarius, is certainly not the one that made the band famous. There are two people left. As far as the success is concerned, I think they, and everybody came down from the success of the years between 1997 and 2003 when we, for example, sold out Le Zenith in Paris in 2003.

Back to Avalon, now. Is “The Land of New Hope” a whole story on one album or will there be sequels?

It is a trilogy.

Who are the musicians you’d like to work with for the next chapters of this trilogy?

I hope to get different faces for the next one.

Do you think you might be able to tour with Avalon and have some guests for the concerts? Would you like to?

I would like to, if the circumstances were right. I am not interested in touring in places that draw 200 people. That’s what I did twenty years ago. I have played 3000 shows in 62 countries and I have seen the whole thing already.

What’s the next step for you in the near future?

More music!

Anything you would like to say to conclude this interview?

Not really. I don't like email interviews :)


Venez donc discuter de cette interview, sur notre forum !