Interview with:
Timo Kotipelto
"We are our own band, with our own line-up and not a solo project.”
Time flies when you are not aware of it. It is two years ago since I spoke Timo Kotipelto for the last time. At that time he was starting the process for a new album. Right now the album ‘Serenity’ will be released on 20th April.
When he calls me from Hamburg he sounds friendly, but underneath there is a certain tension. Mr. Kotipelto is very busy nowadays.
When he calls me from Hamburg he sounds friendly, but underneath there is a certain tension. Mr. Kotipelto is very busy nowadays.
"Hey, it is a bit hectic over here, but I like to do the interviews: talking about the new album.” Maybe a strange start of the interview, but it sets the tone. Kotipelto became a more adult and own band. No longer a side project from the frontman of Stratovarius.The sound nowadays is totally different compared with the famous power metal band. It took a lot of energy to manage that, but Timo Kotipelto can be statisfied: the new album will surprise many metal and rock fans.
What’s going to happen these days?
Timo: "Tomorrow I have to go to Sweden: I have to get up at 5am, so less sleep. I have to promote the new album there. It is busy, but I am willing to do this. After that I have to host the ‘ Headbanger’s Ball – MTV.’ I have to fly over to do the recording for 1,5 days. Than I can talk with other musicians and listen to their story.”
Timo: "Tomorrow I have to go to Sweden: I have to get up at 5am, so less sleep. I have to promote the new album there. It is busy, but I am willing to do this. After that I have to host the ‘ Headbanger’s Ball – MTV.’ I have to fly over to do the recording for 1,5 days. Than I can talk with other musicians and listen to their story.”
With the new record ‘Serenity’ there is a huge difference between the previous albums: you have a strong band behind you.
Timo: "Yes, one day I will find another singer but you know how they are: always wanting too much money haha." With his sarcastic sense of humour Timo tries to keep both feet on the ground and be a bit modest: almost a Dutch way of acting.
Timo: "Yes, one day I will find another singer but you know how they are: always wanting too much money haha." With his sarcastic sense of humour Timo tries to keep both feet on the ground and be a bit modest: almost a Dutch way of acting.
Movie
‘Sleep Well’ is the new single, but only released in Finland last January: why not in Europe?
Timo: "That was because of the label, AFM records. It is the soundtrack made for a Finish movie calles V2. At the same time the movie was released the single came out. I also have a Spanish song on the b-side. Maybe I will release that online for free: just for the other fans outside Finland." The single is now no.5 in the Finnish charts. You can watch the video on the website of Kotipelto.
‘Sleep Well’ is the new single, but only released in Finland last January: why not in Europe?
Timo: "That was because of the label, AFM records. It is the soundtrack made for a Finish movie calles V2. At the same time the movie was released the single came out. I also have a Spanish song on the b-side. Maybe I will release that online for free: just for the other fans outside Finland." The single is now no.5 in the Finnish charts. You can watch the video on the website of Kotipelto.
Timo, as far as I know you can’t speak Spanish…
,,Seniorita…well yes I can sing it. A friend of mine translated ‘After The Rain.’ He has latin blood and Finnish roots. Gitarist Tuomas and I wrote the song and I was very surprised by the result. It sounded much better than the English version. It is sometimes frustrating that only the Japanees release gets a special track, so we made one for the Finnish also. We have many fans in South-America so maybe we can please them as well to put it online one day. In the end I made two versions and AFM choose the digi for the album.”
,,Seniorita…well yes I can sing it. A friend of mine translated ‘After The Rain.’ He has latin blood and Finnish roots. Gitarist Tuomas and I wrote the song and I was very surprised by the result. It sounded much better than the English version. It is sometimes frustrating that only the Japanees release gets a special track, so we made one for the Finnish also. We have many fans in South-America so maybe we can please them as well to put it online one day. In the end I made two versions and AFM choose the digi for the album.”
I saw that more bands like Tarot, Charon, and Norther have written songs for the V2 movie. Is it a very underground movie, sorry I still can’t read the Finnish transcription.
Timo: "It is a sidestep in the interview, but I want to tell you about it. It is about a private detective who kills for the money. ‘Sleep well’ is the themesong when you see the credits when the movie is finished. I know the director and he is a good friend of mine. ‘Sleep Well’ is not a sweet lovesong, because the man is saying this to his wife before he goes to work. His work means to kill people and he doesn’t know if he returns safely. His wife doesn’t know anything about that."
Serenity
When you are number seven on the interview list (which is not so bad – in the words of Timo) and there are even more to come Timo Kotipelto knows what everyone wants to hear. Without a hesitating he rapidly starts to talk about the new album.
"Serenity it’s about the ‘serenity‘ in me. The world outside is more calm than I am inside. I have a restless mind. One day I will find rest, but this is just a part of me right now. It is a good title compared with the cover. You see the storm outside and the girl stands there and well it is just perfect! When I had Toxic Angel on the phone to tell him about the idea I had, he said: , I know how it will be: I have an idea.’ When I saw this cover I was shocked: never tought that it would be like that. It translated so well the feelings I had."
The artist who made the new Kotipelto cover, also did the artwork for Sonata Arctica and the last dvd from Nightwish (with the two Angels on the cover).
Timo: "It is a sidestep in the interview, but I want to tell you about it. It is about a private detective who kills for the money. ‘Sleep well’ is the themesong when you see the credits when the movie is finished. I know the director and he is a good friend of mine. ‘Sleep Well’ is not a sweet lovesong, because the man is saying this to his wife before he goes to work. His work means to kill people and he doesn’t know if he returns safely. His wife doesn’t know anything about that."
Serenity
When you are number seven on the interview list (which is not so bad – in the words of Timo) and there are even more to come Timo Kotipelto knows what everyone wants to hear. Without a hesitating he rapidly starts to talk about the new album.
"Serenity it’s about the ‘serenity‘ in me. The world outside is more calm than I am inside. I have a restless mind. One day I will find rest, but this is just a part of me right now. It is a good title compared with the cover. You see the storm outside and the girl stands there and well it is just perfect! When I had Toxic Angel on the phone to tell him about the idea I had, he said: , I know how it will be: I have an idea.’ When I saw this cover I was shocked: never tought that it would be like that. It translated so well the feelings I had."
The artist who made the new Kotipelto cover, also did the artwork for Sonata Arctica and the last dvd from Nightwish (with the two Angels on the cover).
I am not so fond of making comparisons with other albums or artists. Sometimes you have to: in this case I have no choice. When I tell Timo that the new record is rawer, and rock orientated he only replies with "Yes" Than he laughs and says to me: "Ok now I have to tell you more about it?” It is better to let an artist describe the sound, because he knows better than anyone else.
"I am not planning to make a metal or a rock album when I start to write. When I am composing songs I just have my ideas to put together. I record my humming parts on the mobile phone and later at home I listen again if I can remember it. ‘Sleep Well’ was the only song I could remember without using my mobile phone.”
Than he goes back to the question:
"I understand your feeling, because I have my roots in the ’80 with bands like: Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, White Snake and all the others. You have to hear that back somewhere I guess. I don’t want to be a Tolki copy (Timo Tolki is the songwriter from Stratovarius- SD). Kotipelto is not a soloproject, it is our own band with our own line-up. In the past I had more than ten guest musicians to record the albums, but now we did it together.”
"I understand your feeling, because I have my roots in the ’80 with bands like: Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, White Snake and all the others. You have to hear that back somewhere I guess. I don’t want to be a Tolki copy (Timo Tolki is the songwriter from Stratovarius- SD). Kotipelto is not a soloproject, it is our own band with our own line-up. In the past I had more than ten guest musicians to record the albums, but now we did it together.”
Together
On the previous albums Kotipelto had not one line-up, but it had changes and there were guest musicians. Now with ‘Serenity’ there is solid base and for the first time all the members were involved from the beginning till the end of the process.
Timo: "It was the first time that I worked with someone else. Guitarist Tuomas wrote a lot of melodies and he produced as well. I was not so much at the front anymore: that will be a difference on stage also. I did the lyrics alone and I am still the leader of the band. I decide when and what to do. It was just for the first time that there was someone with me. Before I joined Stratovarius I did the same. I don’t know how the next album will be, but this process went very natural without any fight.”
When I try to find an other question, Timo is a bit faster than me:
"A nice detail. My humming parts had just a name of places on my mobile phone. ‘City Of Mysteries’ was named Tokyo. ‘King Anti-Midas’ was named Wacken and ‘Serenity’ was named Tilburg. Last year I played there with Stratovarius and I was walking outside when I suddenly had that melody – Timo starts to sing ‘you can’t see me’ – and it was perfect. You can hear the windy weather in the recording, but I knew it would be a special part.”
"A nice detail. My humming parts had just a name of places on my mobile phone. ‘City Of Mysteries’ was named Tokyo. ‘King Anti-Midas’ was named Wacken and ‘Serenity’ was named Tilburg. Last year I played there with Stratovarius and I was walking outside when I suddenly had that melody – Timo starts to sing ‘you can’t see me’ – and it was perfect. You can hear the windy weather in the recording, but I knew it would be a special part.”
How will prepare yourself? There is a new tour coming up, your label, Headbanger’s Ball hosting, and Statovarius is also recording a new album.
Timo: "Good question. Stratovarius only recorded the drums so there is no deadline for that. I need to do the promotion for Kotipelto:. Flying to Sweden and later that evening hosting Headbanger’s Ball. Then going to Finland for a listening session during the weekend. Next week will be the same. I have planned a holiday with my brother and I have to relax totally. I was already making plans to do interviews in America, but I will need my rest. After that my label ‘High and Loud’ needs my attention: I am responsible for many things. When the tour in the end of April starts I can’t change anything. When I am on tour I just play and enjoy it, before that it is hectic yes.”
Timo: "Good question. Stratovarius only recorded the drums so there is no deadline for that. I need to do the promotion for Kotipelto:. Flying to Sweden and later that evening hosting Headbanger’s Ball. Then going to Finland for a listening session during the weekend. Next week will be the same. I have planned a holiday with my brother and I have to relax totally. I was already making plans to do interviews in America, but I will need my rest. After that my label ‘High and Loud’ needs my attention: I am responsible for many things. When the tour in the end of April starts I can’t change anything. When I am on tour I just play and enjoy it, before that it is hectic yes.”
After that new interviews are waiting. Timo Kotipelto will be on the road soon to promote the new Kotipelto album ‘Serenity.’ Check the official website for dates.
A word of thanks to: Timo Kotipelto and the other members from Kotipelto, Theo from RockInc.
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