Interviews

Tuomas Holopainen of Nightwish answered fans' questions in Kitee

Kitee
by Hanneliina Kojo

Neither has Tuomas Holopainen yet found a companion for baking bread, nor are there any breads in baking in his new owen. [He's got a big traditional bread baking owen in his new house]

- First you have to come over and show me how, answered Holpainen at a public meeting to a woman asking him about his skills and any companion in baking bread.

His relation to pirate CDs, experiences at gigs and some peculiar objects he has signed became cleared up when the leader of Nightwish was answering questions of fans in Kitee on Saturday.

The occasion was arranged by the Kitee-Association celebrating it's 50th anniversary. Even though plenty of people were present questions weren't thrown excessively, but Holopainen was well occupied with signing autographs.

- I've gone through signing all the human body parts. Another peculiar object to sign was a cover of the Bible, the musician told when speaking about the strangest things he had ever signed.

The second demo worked

The beginnign [of the band] and the first demos interest the audience. Holopainen told that the first acoustic demo-tape was sent to five record companies, but none sent any reply.

After the second demo the wheels began to roll - and fast.

- Two weeks after we had finished recording the second demo, we signed a recording contract with the label.

Pirate CD trade irritates Holopainen more on the emotional level than for lost money since economically Nightwish is doing fine. He pointed out that for example those who buy pirated CDs from Russia are not giving a thought about the musicians' lost income or other bad sides of the pirate business.

- Whe you buy pirate goods you'll be supporting the local mafia who are also dealing with illegal drugs and human trafficking, he reminded.

Anette has found her style

Nightwish's vocalist Anette Olzon has found and settled her style about three weeks ago when the band was touring Europe.

- Anette has experienced in one year the same things we others went through in eleven. Everythign is new and confusing, one is forced to move from silence to thunder.

Holopainen told that everybody were excited to see how the new vocalist will manage in studio, at video recordings and especially at gigs. There was a risk, but the first gig went much better than expected, the chemistry was there already.

The circumstances in the beginning were not optimal. Stress and social pressure took their share because people were observing how well Anette would do the old songs.

- A couple of times we hit the bottom. Getting up again took several long discussions between the band members, some sobbing and crying and group hugs. Now all things have finally clicked to their places.

Home sickness felt often

Holopainen has joined in the Co-Op Kassa, who is planning to open a bar at Tikkala village. He entertained the audience by telling that he didn't know anything, but decided to join in while he was asked by friends.

- I'm sure fans will be seeing me there. It'll be a great place so welcome all, even though I don't understand a thing about the business.

The public was interested how Holopainen will spend his evening at his home scenery.

- We will go out to eat something, then I'll go home and have a quiet night. On monday I'll be flying back to Helsinki.

Holopainen told that home sickness is very often felt on tours. He misses his close family and friends, but also the peace and solitarity at home. The gigs and travelling will not stress him on tours, but the heaviest burden is the social pressure, the thing that one has to know when to keep smiling.

- But I'm happy for being able to be on tour. Home sickness isn't a big issue for me, it is much bigger for the guys who have families waiting at home.

Translation by The Enigma from the Nightwish Discussion Board