Keskisuomalainen 25.05.2007 Marco

czarnycharakter · Wysłany: Pon 19:37, 28 Maj 2007 Temat postu: Keskisuomalainen 25.05.2007 Marco

Arska was chosen even though views were divided

Marco Hietala, the bass player and singer of Nightwish, tells that even in the final stages there were two possible candidates as the band's new singer. Four players made the decision together and Hietala says that views were divided.

”We had to play the CDs [sent by the two candidates]. Eventually, everyone agreed that Anette Olzen was the best as soloist.”

Hietala doesn't tell, who was the other singer. The reason is clear: it would be difficult to any singer to be eliminated at the final stages.

”We don't even want to reveal if the other singer was Scandinavian. We don't want people to make guesses in vain.”

Hietala does say that the singer was not Finnish. According to Hietala, one domestic singer was in top 5.

Hietala praises that working and spending time with the new singer have been running brilliantly so far. She has a lot of sense of humour even though not as boyish as the rest of the band has.

It doesn't matter either that the new singer comes from Sweden.

”She is Scandinavian after all. Also Swedes eat herring and drink spirits”, laughs Hietala.

According to Hietala, Anette doesn't have to move to Finland for the sake of the band because band rehearses seasonally. Summer is for relaxation and it won't be until September or October before the band will gather for a week or two to train for the tour.

Hietala emphasises that the players of the band have worked together for a long time so it will take only a couple of days to find the ”groove”.

”Everyone rehearses by himself enough to keep the touch to playing. It may be new situation for Arska, she has to find her own space.”

Is Anette called as Arska within the band?

”Yeah”, laughs Hietala.

The first gig on the other side of Atlantic?

Anette will be heard as the soloist of Nightwish for the first time when the band starts touring the US in mid October. After that the band plans to tour Finland and the rest of Scandinavia. Hietala dares not reveal more accurate plans.

Even though the singer was changed, the old material of Nightwish will be heard in gigs. Hietala reminds that the candidates who were invited to play with the band, were tested to put them sing old songs for a few times. In this way it was tried out how skilled the singers really were.

A new singer means a new beginning for the band. Does it also mean changes in compositions and lyrics?

”Lyrics are clearly Tuomas Holopainen's field and it will be surely like that in future. The rest of us, we have been making a little bit of music, too. But it will be seen, if our way to work changes substantially from now on.”

Hietala laughs that he has followed the public hurly-burly of the past few days both amused and flattered.

”You cannot buy this kind of advertising campaign with any money”, admits Hietala.

”On the other hand, the explanation we got from England about starting to sell the single in the Internet shop too early by accident looks suspicious. That statement really stinks. Luckily, we were prepared and we could change the schedules.

”But this has been an enormous show.”