THE NEW VOICE OF NIGHTWISHThe day we have all been waiting for is finally here. Today, Nightwish introduce their new lead singer.
Learn more about Anette
Name:Anette OlzonBirthday:21 June 1971Place of residence:SwedenHobbies:Exercising, clothes, reading books and taking long walks in the wild.Vices:None ;=)Musical background:I was raised in a musical family and I've been singing since childhood. My mom also forced me to play the oboe for 8 years! I toured constantly with my mom and her band in my childhood, sometimes I even sang on stage with them.
After I turned 13, I started competing in several talent shows. I joined my first real band when I was 17, it was a cover band and all the other musicians were older than me. After playing cover songs, I joined a band called Alyson Avenue, first just as a studio singer, later as their leading lady. We've released 2 albums since 2000.
At the age of 21, I played the leading role in a rock opera/musical called "Grдnsland" in Helsingborg. After that I got in to the Balettakademien in Gothenburg. In addition to the already mentioned, I've been in several other bands over the years, I've sung in choirs, done studio work for various projects and I've even occasionally been a wedding singer. Recently I sang a duet with Michael Bormann (ex-Jaded Heart-singer) on his album "Conspiracy". During my singing career I've sung nearly every kind of music that there is!
In my earlier days I took singing lessons at the Copenhagen Music Conservatorie, in Helsingцr, Denmark with a private teacher. Nowadays, when its needed, I take lessons from a private teacher at the Malmц Music University.Equipment:Whatever microphone and in-ear system the NW-crew fix for me.Idols in music:I don't have any real "idols" nowadays, but I do look up to all musicians that are humble and do not think too much of themselves.Idols in life:People that are themselves, despite what other people think.Life philosophy:Live your life fully - love, laugh and cry with all your heart, life doesn't last forever...Place you would like to go:Oh, there are so many!! Lapland, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, Egypt....What makes you laugh:Oh, many things... it's easy to make me laugh... but mainly funny tv-series like Jackass and Friends and of course Emppu and Ewo..First record you bought:Well the first one was, of course since I am Swedish, an ABBA album...All time top 5 albums:Can't name just 5...Killing time on tour:We'll see... But it'll most likely be reading, watching movies and playing games.Preparation for a show:I do my vocal warm-up and drink some green tea with honey. I always need to spend the last 10 minutes before a show on my own to focus properly, to prepare myself mentally and to relax.Strangest experience on tour:I do not have the kind of tour memories that the guys have since I've only done concerts in Scandinavia, but I still remember the old days with my first cover band Take Cover, when we played at a motorcycle party somewhere in the south of Sweden. They had strippers, and the crowd was screaming "Show us your boobs" etc. to me.. After the gig, when we should've collected the payment, some MC-guys started to fight with the guys in our band and we had to drive away with a full-loaded car and its attached trailer as fast as we could.. I was scared... Brr...
They also destroyed one of our big speakers by pouring beer into it...
Grrr...Worst nightmare on stage:Losing my voice, not being able to sing as good as I'd want...Favorite Nightwish song:All the songs from the new album "Ever Dream", "Higher than Hope".Worst nightmare in general:Losing my voice and that something would happen to my closest family members or to my friends.Favorite band/musician:There are too many!Favorite book:I have many favourites, but I love Paolo Coelho's books, mainly "Veronica decides to die". I also loved Dan Brown's "Angels and Demons".Favorite drink:Sparkling mineral water with some nice added taste, vanilla vodka and cider.Favorite food:Many - Chinese, sushi, Thai, Mexican...Favorite animal:Cats and horses.Favorite movie:"Titanic", "Gladiator", "Braveheart" and many more...Favorite TV show:I don't watch that much TV, but I love "Desperate Housewives" and "Friends"!Dumbest question you have ever been asked:None, there are no dumb questions.. 'cause if the person asking the question feels that she/he wants to know it, it's not a dumb question for them.
What is your musical background? Have we already heard you sing in other bands?
I was born and raised in a musical family. I have been singing since childhood and was forced by my mum to play the oboe for 8 years! I was with mum on tour with her band and sang with them now and then. I then competed in several talent shows from 13 years of age.
My first band was a cover band, named Take Cover, with older guys when I was 17, then I got into a band called Alyson Avenue, first just as a studio singer, then took lead role and we have released 2 albums since 2000. At age 21 I had a lead role in a rock opera/musical in Helsingborg called Gränsland and then got in at Balettakademien in Gothenburg. I have been in many different bands and choirs, and have done studio jobs and weddings during the years. I recently sang a duet on Michael Bormanns (ex. Jaded Heart-singer) album "Conspiracy".
I have taken singing lessons in my earlier days at Music Conservatorie in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a private teacher and nowadays when I need a private teacher, in Malmö Music University. I have been singing almost any genre there is.
Tell us about the steps of becoming the new Nightwish singer. Sending in the demo, getting the first answer, meeting the guys for the first time, etc..
I had just heard of NW a couple of months before Tarja got fired, so I didn't know the band or its history at all. I first got into them because my sister's daughter is a fan, I felt that maybe I should listen to them since I am always interested in new music. I bought their collection album and liked it immediately. When I read about Tarja's departure, I was in an ABBA-cover band where the sound engineer said he thought I should apply, but since I'm not a classical singer, I wasn't sure. After some thinking I decided to ask two friends of mine if they could record background music for Ever Dream and they did. I went in and hadn't even practised the song, since I wanted to interpret it my own way. A couple of hours later it was done. I found an e-mail to Tuomas, got his address and sent the demo away and just one week after sending it, Tuomas answered me himself... he was thrilled and really loved my voice and the song! Wow, it was such a nice mail and I was of course totally happy.... he then asked me to sing 3 more songs, from an instrumental version of Once, which he sent me some weeks later. I then recorded Nemo, Higher Than Hopes, Wish I Had An Angel and I also did a bonus for them, Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan...with my poor Finnish they must have laughed their heads off...;=)
I sent the second demo and then I e-mailed Tuomas if he had gotten it. He said he had and he said thanks and good job, etc. I didn't wanna push him, since he had told me already in the first mail that they wanted to take it easy and melt all the hustle that had been with the media etc., so I tried to let it go and just wait.... Then in March, they put out the ad that they wanted demos, etc. and I felt that I needed to check with Tuomas if I should send in something more, so I mailed him and got a devastating mail back where he said that I was one of the best candidates, but that he could already then say that I wouldn't get the job!!! I was in shock, I didn't understand anything and he didn't say why... so I assumed it was because of my age or that I have a child...
But since I am very stubborn and really felt that this was meant to be, I sent an e-mail again in the summer asking if I could send them a live-dvd from my band, Alyson Avenue, and Tuomas said yes. I sent it away and in August, I received a mail from Ewo asking me some questions, which I answered. I then got invited to meet the guys in the beginning of September to try some songs out. I got there, met the guys and sang 5 or 6 old songs with them. The next day I went to Emppu's studio to sing some new stuff for them. It felt very good and they were such nice guys. I felt immediately that I wanted to work with them, since they were so down to earth and had very good sense of humour. When I landed in Kastrup Airport in the evening, I got an sms from Ewo that they all liked me a lot and wanted to see me again in a months time.. Soooo happy that I cried on the way home.
I got some songs to practise before the next time in the studio and went back in October. We first went to Tuomas' island in Kitee, partying and just being together in a very relaxed and nice way. Since I am a country girl too, I felt very good in Kitee and it was such an honour for me to be invited to a special place of Tuomas'. After Kitee, we had some test pictures taken of me and Tuomas with a make-up artist and a very good photographer. Then I went to the studio to record the songs I had prepared for and then I went back home, after 6 days in Finland... I got a mail from Tuomas the same night that they were gonna wait til next year to make a decision. I waited and was of course very nervous, but had contact with the guys and Ewo during that time and they were very positive, so it felt good.
Then January 30th, Tuomas called me and was talking about some other stuff and then he just said: We have decided that we are gonna give you lots to do the coming years....haha! He said it so calm and I felt that I couldn't scream then so I tried to be calm, but through the whole conversation I had difficulties listening to what he said... It took me many weeks to really, really understand that my long wait (1.5 years) was over and I got the job.
What do you think of the fans who say that Nightwish is dead without Tarja?
I can understand that the fans are worried, since a singer is very important to a band. But at the same time, I think that a band is all of its members and since the guys have decided to continue the journey, I hope the fans will stay with them (and me) and give the new album a chance. It's not the whole band that has changed - it's the same music, lyrics and feelings as before, with the exception that it's me singing now.
What are your feelings towards the day your identity will be revealed to the public? Are you looking forward to it or are you worried how the fans will react?
I am looking forward to it since I will no longer need to keep it a secret from my friends... and then I can go out with the guys in public, not worrying if someone will see me and spread a rumor in the newspapers.
Have you done long tours before? How do you think you'll cope with the fact that traveling and getting too little sleep will be hard especially for the singer?
No, I haven't done long tours, but have done musical and several shows in a row. So I know very well that it's gonna be hard. It will, of course, be a new and big situation for me to deal with. I am thinking about how my voice will cope with lack of sleep etc. so I am already now taking more vocal lessons to strengthen my voice for the tasks that are ahead, rehearsing the show at home already to get into the songs and be able to sing them with various techniques. But sleep is THE most important thing for my voice, so I'm gonna try and sleep as much as I can, whenever and wherever I can on the tour.
What do you expect from the forthcoming album release and the following World Tour?
I really do hope that this album is gonna be welcomed by the fans and hopefully we'll gain some new fans also. I hope people will hear that I like to sing the songs and that I really love what I do. The tour is gonna be a hell of a ride for me! I have been longing for this my whole life and here I am, going to see the world with my new "family"...it's gonna be the best time in my life, I'm sure!
Have you had any part in the writing and arranging of the new songs?
No, the songs were written long before I recorded them.
What is your first impression of the new material?
They are as usual very good songs and Tuomas has implemented the orchestra and choir in such a nice way on all the songs... It's an album with a lot of variety, the listener won't get bored...;=) As much as there are powerful songs, there are also very soft and emotional songs on the album. And there's also some ethnic stuff in there...
Tell us some things about yourself. What is important to you besides music?
I'm an emotional person, which means I live life through my heart and stomach, not always through my head....When it comes to what is important to me, I think I really need to feel that I can be myself with the people I am close to, that I don't need to be something I'm not... As much as I am a person who loves to be together with others, I still need my space and possibility to be alone too, to reflect and go into myself. I like to listen to other people, feel them and guide them if they're having problems or difficulties, but I don't give advice if I feel no one wants them...I don't like negative people, so I try and be around positive people if I can...;=) I don't like it if someone says to me that I can't do something, cause there is nothing I can't do! Everything is possible if you really want it to happen!
Is there anything else you would like to say to the fans?
Keep your dreams alive, never stop believing, cause anything is possible!!! Rock on and hope to see you all on tour!
