Interview Interrogation: Amberian Dawn (Finland)

Our latest interrogation focuses on the Neo-Classical Power Metal outfit from Finland, Amberian Dawn. Having released their latest music video 'Fame & Gloria' (featured above), it was about time we caught up with the quintet as they celebrate their tenth anniversary this year (happy birthday guys!)

We talk about Eurovision and their thoughts about it, insinuating a possible future participation - if they could win it for Finland like Lordi did, then lightning would have struck twice. Their latest album "Innuendo" also receives a cooking as we find out what simmers underneath the latest effort, we ask how the change of vocal duties have affected the band as a whole and how they cope with the stress of touring.

Tuomas Seppälä (below second from right) gave us the lowdown.

  
Amberian Dawn formed way back in 2006 and since then the band has gone from strength to strength, with very few low points to reflect upon Tuomas shed light on what the positives have been:
"One of the biggest one was our first European tour in 2008. It was really awesome to get a chance to tour with Epica just after releasing our debut album. As a young band we were just learning how to do it all. We learned a lot during this tour from Epica."


Taking notes from such a well and truly respected metal band such as Epica has helped Amberian Dawn clamber up the ladder to reach heights they might well not have imagined back in their early years. Their latest chapter in the band's career came in form of their latest album "Innuendo", in fact at the back end of 2015 they toured in support of said album along with Delain and The Gentle Storm. However they don't plan to stop there not by a long shot, with Tuomas admitting that they're "planning to tour again this year, (so) let's see when it's going to happen. It takes some time to organize a tour". Time does appear to fly by and as 2015 came to a close and 2016 came into our lives, this inevitably started a new chapter for Amberian Dawn, a period of down time and time spent away from band activities except for some Summer festival appearances of which Amberian Dawn will need to rest and recharge themselves for.


For Tuomas taking a break from the band means he is able to enjoy doing "sports of all kinds. In the summer I like to jog. In the winter I like to do indoor cycling for example", it is always important for musicians to take a break once in a while and spend time with their loved ones or indeed on their own life and maintain their well-being. Tuomas admits that most of the time touring has it's best and worst parts, right at the top of the best parts is performing and that "If we wouldn't enjoy it so much, we wouldn't do it all", yet hovering in the background of every good moment is elements of bad moments waiting to strike, "of course there have also been some bad moments on tours and usually those are somehow related to technical matters". With all the concerns and worries, bouts of excitement and happiness, time does have a knock on effect on all musicians, sometimes taking things slow can be for the best.


On the continuing theme of time, 2012 became a turning point for Amberian Dawn and in specific their departing vocalist Heidi Parviainen who was soon to be replaced by incumbent vocalist Päivi "Capri" Virkkunen. Naturally with the change in vocal duties there was a subtle reason behind this, Tuomas explains the decision behind this change:


"Capri has a totally different approach to singing than Heidi does. Capri is able to do both rock vocals and operatic vocals. At the moment I prefer her rock vocals and it gives me new possibilities with the songwriting process. Heidi's departure from Amberian Dawn was as amicable as is humanly possible. Heidi and I decided in early 2012 that we're going to part ways after recording ”Circus Black” and after all the promotional work relating to the album release is done... we also decided to do our final show together with Heidi despite the fact we  had already found a new singer. I think it was a good call for everybody that we finished our co-operation with Heidi at a such a good festival. Now our lyrics are written by Capri. Writing of the lyrics has always been a job for the vocalist in AD"


Songwriting is never an easy process, especially when you're stuck on what ideas you wish to circumvent around the song as a whole, yet there are times where a song can be as bonkers as the performers and yet still score a reputation no matter the genre. So when asked about whether Amberian Dawn could and would write a song to enter the Finnish national selection for Eurovision with, Tuomas admits that he "would see that as a possibility. Maybe even next year ;) I don't see what harm it would do to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest.", well Lordi won it for Finland and even then Teräsbetoni represented Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest the following year.
 

Tuomas hopes to see all Amberian Dawn fans on future tours as they have tour plans in the future, so watch this band with interest, once again it's all a matter of time.

"Innuendo" is out now via Napalm Records

http://amberiandawn.com/
https://www.facebook.com/amberiandawn/