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Nightwish's sixth album Dark Passion Play has been waited with excitement. What's the bands music like “without Tarja”? After end of 2005 writing songs was a way of relaxing to the keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen.

-It was a cleansing rite to make the album, a very therapeutic experience. Now that we're training the new songs for the tour getting into some songs causes certain shivers: this is what I thought two years ago. It feels weird to play the songs which were made when things were a bit rougher and harder, says Tuomas.

It's a new era to the band but the songs are likely to carry the listeners through their own difficult moments. I asked Tuomas what the most beautiful thing he had accomplished with music was.

-People have sent letters saying that I've saved their lives for real, that Nightwish's music has brought beauty and comfort to them and that they've decided to look forward in life after all. It gives you a quiet feeling, it's great if you've been able to make it happen. You get this odd sense of responsibility, you have to continue making music and try your best and more in the future.

Dark Passion Play leaked into the web in spring. Tuomas thinks that on the official release date of the album he'll feel good and relieved.

-Now everyone can listen the one and only version with right covers. It bothers me in this Internet-thing that it takes away the mystique and excitement of waiting for an album.

Tuomas gets his cd's from a shop, as they're “one and only”.

-The last time I bought the movie Signs' soundtrack from Amsterdam. I don't own an iPod, I'm an old school guy, says a man who bought the first computer of his life in August.

On the web Tuomas likes to spend time at his favourite bands' websites.

-And a while ago I found Koulukaverit.com. It's terribly interesting to see where, say, friends from high school are these days.

Do you read feed back about your music from the band's official site, Nightwish.com?

-I go there quite seldom 'cause I'm somewhat sensitive and wussy and it's pointless for me to go there and hurt my feelings. The opinions of our new music are very divided.

For the following two years Nightwish will tour the world playing the feelings from 2005. The tour's first gig is in October in Tel Aviv, Israel.

-At the moment I'm just trying to enjoy the result we've accomplished. But making music for a movie is one of my greatest dreams, I'd definitely like to try that one day. But maybe when I'm older and too tired for rock, maybe some day.

Interview by Tyttielina Riikonen.

And a little infobox about Tuomas' favourite pastimes (courtesy of the same magazine):

Tuomas Holopainen
Currently listening to: Blood Diamond – soundtrack, Unia by Sonata Arctica, Johanna Kurkela's Marmoritaivas.
Last I watched: Horror movie Rest Stop. It was really bad.
My favourite game: I don't play many computer games but portable Game Boy's Mario Bros. is very nice, and Baldur's Gate on my friend's Playstation.

MacFly