NIGHTWISH Mainman: I Have Never Understood The Term 'Rock Star'

Brandon Marshall of Denver Westword recently conducted an interview with keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen of Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Denver Westword: Do you consider yourself a rock star or a composer, and do you feel that there is a parallel between the two?

Tuomas Holopainen: I could not be further away from being a rock star. During the whole career of the band, I have never understood the term "rock star," and I have never considered NIGHTWISH to be a rock band. I just don't get the whole thing to be honest. I am a songwriter, a storyteller, a composer. Any of those terms would work. I am proud to be called any of those things, but a rock star.... no way!

Denver Westword: Have you written your masterpiece yet and, if not, how do you envision it?

Tuomas Holopainen: I have been satisfied with all of the albums that we have done so far. Whenever I have gotten the master copy in my hand and have listened to it, I have always felt very content, and the same goes with "Imaginaerum". I don't know if the masterpiece is yet to come or if it has already been done. It is not up to me to decide. I am very happy with the work we have put out so far.

Denver Westword: What has been a personal goal that you have set for NIGHTWISH that you have yet to complete?

Tuomas Holopainen: I find it extremely important that there is continuity. With each album we do, we challenge ourselves and challenge the listeners with something different. You never want to do the same album or even the same song twice, so that is our goal. Every album has been on a different level from the previous one, and we have always been able to challenge ourselves. It's the same thing with "Imaginaerum", because, after "Dark Passion Play", I thought, "What the hell are we going to do next?" Because the music was so diverse. We have used so many deliveries. That was when it occurred to me, "Okay, let's go further and open up the dream of a NIGHTWISH movie." So, things like these are goals.

Denver Westword: How do you feel about NIGHTWISH being categorized by the term symphonic metal, and what is your opinion of bands that have tried to emulate NIGHTWISH over the years?

Tuomas Holopainen: I love symphonic metal, obviously, and I can live with that description. If you want to call NIGHTWISH symphonic metal, then that is totally okay. There is a whole bunch of these big sounding female fronted symphonic metal bands in the world today. I don't think any of those bands are copycats of NIGHTWISH. They all have their own identity. If a band tells me that we have been an inspiration to them, then that is just a flattering thing. I am a big fan of these bands myself, like WITHIN TEMPTATION, EPICA, and so on. I listen to this stuff all the time.

Read the entire interview at Denver Westword.