TIMO TOLKKI INTERVIEW

<< back

He was the mainman and guitarist of Stratovarius and now it's the guitarist and main compositor from the new band: Revolution Renaissance.

With Stratovarius he recorded 13 albums; "Fright Night" (1989), "Twilight Time" (1992), "Dreamspace" (1994), "Fourth Dimension" (1995), "Episode" (1996), "Visions" (1997), "Visions Of Europe" (1998), "Destiny" (1998), "Infinity" (2000), "Intermission" (2001), "Elements Part 1" (2003), "Elements Part 2" (2004) and "Stratovarius" (2005).

He also worked in another projects as Avantasia, and he made two solo albums, the second: "Hymn To Life" (2002) with Michael Kiske as guest musician in the amazing ballad "Key To The Universe".

Fanclub: You're a musician but also a producer. What's your favorite part from recording an album: to record the songs, to produce and mix the songs or to play on tour?

Timo Tolkki: Like all in art, it depends on so many things. But I prefer to make music, but I hate studios so I usually try to record in very unusual places. Cabins in a forest and stuff. Like vocals for example I always record face to face with a singer the distance being 1-2 meters. For mixing I have to rely on professional studio of course.

Live playing is great if the crowd and the band has interaction. Without that it can be really awful. With it, you literally feel the energy.

Fanclub: How did you decided to form Revolution Renaissance? Is a long project? Does this mean the end for Stratovarius?

Timo: It is the end of Stratovarius and a continuation to that. It is not a project although the first album is a bit like that.

I am searching for musicians at the moment.

Fanclub: The album will be a similar sound of Visions from Stratovarius but will it be a concept album like Saana?

Timo: No no, it has 10 melodic Power Metal songs. But it sounds very much like Visions, except the vocals are better. ;)

Fanclub: Why hasn't there been any news about this album until now? Did you want to keep it "secret" for a reason?

Timo: Yeah, there were legal reasons and I was also taking my time to make the final decision regarding Strato. I thought about it over a year.

Fanclub: Where did you record the album? In your own studio?

Timo: I have a room which I call "Santa..s Workshop", lots of stuff there. Drums and mix at Sonic Pump in Helsinki.

Fanclub: The album is completely finished?

Timo: Yes.

Fanclub: Tracklist?

Timo:

01. Heroes (Sammet)
02. I did it my way (Kiske)
03. We are magic (Rantanen)
04. Angel (Kiske)
05. Eden is burning (Rantanen)
06. Glorious and divine (Sammet)
07. Born upon the cross (Rantanen)
08. Keep the flame alive (Kiske)
09. Last night on earth (Kiske)
10. Revolution Renaissance (Kiske)

Fanclub: Why didn't Kiske sing on Saana (which perhaps fits better to his taste now) but instead sing in Revolution Renaissance?

Timo: There was no character that would fit to him but there is in part two...

Fanclub: Are you happy with the first sales from Saana? Do you think it's the best way to share your music?

Timo: Yes I am, although I havent done any promotion for that. I don't want to give this album to some journalist who doesn't have a heart or any understanding of its spiritual content and message it carries.

It is a good way to distribute music and it makes the prices reasonable for the fans too. CD's are way way too much expensive.

Fanclub: When will you release the second part for Saana?

Timo: I really don't know. First part took me 1 year of my life.

Some people say I did it in a hurry :)

Probably within 3 years or so.

Fanclub: What do you think about Michael Kiske as singer and musician?

Timo: He is one of the greats up there that you can instantly recognize no matter what music he sings. He is open, he feels and that makes all the difference.

Fanclub: What do you like from Kiske's voice or the way to sing?

Timo: The emotion. I always look for emotion in vocals and Michael is very good in that because his emotions are obviously available to him. It varies from silent whisper to the most powerful high pitched stuff.

Fanclub: Are you following Michael's music?

Timo: Yes always. His two songs "All solutions" and "Do I remember a life" helped me through the last Stratovarius tour. Because I am taking lithium for my bipolar disorder, I cannot drink alcohol and party and I dont want to anymore in fact. So after each gig I basically went to the bus and to my bed, put on my iPod and listened to these 2 songs. They gave me hope somehow.

I have to say that I admire Michael's dedication to his values and beliefs. He hasn't chosen the easy way. Many people are telling bad things about him, but this man has given us so much and we should be thankful for that.

I like his solo stuff very much and I think that he is on his way to make something that nobody has done before. I think he got what it takes.

Thanks a lot and good luck!

Interview by © Michael Kiske Official Fanclub.