“Find your inner strength” is the main meaning behind the album, called “Tempation’s Gates, released this June, more precisely at the end of the month. Tuomas Seppälä, the founding member and keyboardist of the band, talked about the record with Metal Imperium. We discussed some subjects, like the new singer Nicole Willerton, how well she fits with the band, the tracks and touring. A great interview to read with an open mind!
M.I. - “Temptation's Gates” was released on June 26th. If you had to describe the album in just one sentence to someone who has never listened to Amberian Dawn before, what would you say?
The album is kind of a Metal album (Symphonic Metal). It’s always really hard to put out a label for your music, but I think it’s kind of Symphonic Metal, with some heavy guitar riffs with keyboard sounds.
M.I. - The album title suggests mystery, choices, and crossing boundaries. What does "Temptation's Gates" mean to you personally?
It’s an important album! It’s the first one with our new vocalist Nicole. So, we’re kind of the new process for me for starting to work with a new vocalist. Exciting also! It’s a very special album, of course! We had a great time recording it!
M.I. - Looking at your entire discography, where does this album fit in the evolution of Amberian Dawn?
I think it’s kind of a traditional Amberian Dawn album! It’s really diverse! There are a lot of different songs (fast, heavy songs). Even one ballad! Lots of different kinds of music! I think if you’re an old Amberian Dawn fan, there are no so big surprises there for you, but there’s still something old and new. So, it’s kind of a combination!
M.I. - Was there a particular theme, story, or emotion that inspired the songwriting process for this album?
Not really! I don’t think there was anything special going on. It was a natural process of writing music. It always happens at my home studio. It starts from an idea: it can be, for example, a melody, that gives me an inspiration. It would be a starting point! Then I build this song from there and it builds from itself! It’s a natural process!
M.I. - Which song on the album was the easiest to write, and which one challenged you the most?
Maybe “Temptation’s Gate”! The opening track was the easiest for me for some reason! It was one of the first songs I composed for the album! I already had Nicole on board, so I knew her abilities as a singer! So, I knew that she was able to sing all those pretty insane vocal lines! “Temptation’s Gate” was the easiest one! The hardest (it’s hard to say), “Life Is Art” was challenging, it’s kind of an operatic song, it’s based on a Verdi opera. We made it work!
M.I. - Is there a track on the album that you feel deserves special attention from fans because it reveals a different side of Amberian Dawn?
Yeah! “Unchained” it’s a good example of the diversity of the album! There’s a different kind of music going on! For example, there are these traditional guitar riffs, haunting keyboards, but also, growling parts in the chorus. That’s something new with our music! We didn’t have growling before!
It was really great making that experiment! In the future, we are making more experiments with our new singer, because she’s able to do some different things.
M.I. - As a composer and keyboard player, did you try anything new musically or production-wise on this album?
Not anything new, but it’s like we’ve been doing music for many years with Amberian Dawn. We’re getting, of course, better and better with our instincts. I believe that I’m better at arranging those songs. I think there’s some evolution there.
Also, I was taking more part in guitar playing for this album. I played, maybe, half of those guitar riffs and even one solo! It was a comeback as a guitarist!
M.I. - Was there a moment during the recording sessions when you realized that this album was becoming something truly special?
It was surprising at the beginning! After Nicole demoed the first song for us, I knew immediately, that it was going to be great, because there’s something unique about her voice! I knew it from the start!
M.I. - What makes "The Vision of Dreaming" a good introduction to this new chapter of Amberian Dawn?
I don’t write the lyrics at all: I just write the music. So I’m not sure about those stories behind it, but, as far as I know, Nicole told me that there’s this strong thing about finding your inner freedom in this album. It’s a recurring theme in almost in every song: finding freedom, finding who you are, how you can be yourself, no matter what everyone is expecting of you.
That’s the one of the main themes, lyrically!
As I said, Nicole has written all those lyrics, so, she would be the person to answer that!
M.I. - At what point did you know that "Unchained" had the potential to be a single?
Usually, it’s hard to pick those singles, it’s only after the album is ready! When we were choosing the singles, the album was quite ready and we already knew how it was going to sound. It is impossible to make a decision in advance, because every song changes during the process. After we have mixed the album and it was ready, we just needed to pick four songs and for some reason, we all agreed that those were the right ones.
M.I. - Nicole Willerton is the new voice of Amberian Dawn. What was your first impression when you heard her sing?
I think she’s really unique! As for me, I think that’s the uniqueness in the voice! It’s the most important thing for a singer, because when you hear someone singing, you have to recognize her or him immediately. With Nicole, it only takes a couple of seconds, and you immediately recognize her. Her voice is unique! So, that’s one of the most important things for me! Also, she has a very good technique, so she’s able to sing all those difficult melodies. It’s a combination of technique and uniqueness!
M.I. - Did Nicole's voice inspire you to approach songwriting differently compared to previous albums?
She inspired me, that’s true, but still I don’t think there was anything different in the process of the songwriting. It has always been the same. It’s something you do by yourself, at home, without being disturbed by anyone else. It’s always been like that, but it was the case when I heard Nicole singing. When I saw what she’s able to do, it kind of gave me some new inspiration. That’s true!
M.I. - How has the chemistry between you and Nicole developed since she joined the band?
We’re really happy to know her! We’re feeling like a small family! We’ve known her for a year and heard her tens times. We’ve spent a lot of time together, so we’re starting to know each other. We’re like the same!
We like the same music, videos. We have the same humour! It’s really easy to be with her!
M.I. - Nicole comes from her own musical background and previous projects. What elements of her musical journey have enriched Amberian Dawn?
To be honest, I haven’t heard some of her other projects! I know that she’s part of some Gothic Punk Metal band. Something weird! I haven’t heard that so much! I only heard her singing in her YouTube channel cover songs from other bands, like some Devin Townsend, for example. I don’t know about her other projects so much in fact!
M.I. - Was there a particular song in which Nicole exceeded your expectations during the recording process?
Maybe it was “Life Is Art”! That’s the really operatic song and it’s very challenging for any singer! So, maybe I was really surprised to see how well she was able to sing it.
M.I. - Which song from "Temptation's Gates" best showcases Nicole's abilities as a vocalist?
Maybe it’s “Unchained”, because there are those different kinds of styles in singing in the verse and the chorus, they’re so different. There are those growling correspondences. I think that’s the reason “Unchained” might be the best case. It’s about her abilities in general, but also the song reflects the mood of the album very well.
M.I. - On June 28th, just two days after the album release, Amberian Dawn performed at On The Rocks in Helsinki. How special was that show be for the band?
It was a special concert: the first with Nicole! We played a lot of new songs. We played four new songs from our new album! Then we played older ones too! It was a kind of mix: old and new! We also had this supporting band: Dark Sarah! It was a very special event! If you went there, you could see our new singer and the old one in the same show! It was interesting!
M.I. - Does performing the new material live so soon after the album release add excitement, pressure, or both?
Both! We had our first show at the end of last month already. So, it was all maybe two or three weeks until we are on stage together. It was exciting for all of us, because everything is happening. It’s a new situation! We just have to be ourselves and do our stuff! It’s not so serious! If something goes wrong, it’s not a big thing! The most important thing is that we’re having fun on stage! We’re human beings and there’s room for errors! Nobody is perfect! We’re excited! That’s the best to describe it!
M.I. - Are there any songs from the new album that you are particularly excited to perform live for the first time, and which track from "Temptation's Gates" do you think will become a fan favourite at future concerts?
All of those songs are great to be played on the stage! I can already tell this: we’re going to play all those singles! All those songs are going to be on our setlist! There’s going to be “Temptation’s Gates”, “The Vision Of Dreaming”, “Unchained” and “Moon”! All those four songs are going to be there!
Hard to say, but people are singing those songs and “Moon” is going to be the winning horse, if you have to bet! It’s a fast and furious song, with some great folk melodic elements!
M.I. - Are there any tour plans or festival appearances that fans should keep an eye on after the album release?
Yeah! We’re trying a tour happening for next year! We already have been discussing a couple of touring options! I’m not sure if it’s happening or not! Let’s see!
Nowadays, you have to plan those tours really well, with even eight or six months ahead!
So, if we’re planning to make a tour next year, it’s going to be in early February or March.
So, that’s what our aim is: maybe yearly some kind of an European tour and a Meet and Greet, here in Finland.
M.I. - How do you decide which classic Amberian Dawn’s songs stay in the setlist, when there is so much new material to introduce to the fans?
Like I mentioned, we played four songs of our upcoming new album and older ones. I think we always have to play songs like “River Of Tuoni”, “Wild Grease”,” Magic Forest”, “Dragonflies”. I think those are the songs people are expecting us to play and also, we enjoy playing those live!
M.I. - Looking back at your career, what still excites you the most about creating new music?
Creating new music is something we still have to do, because it’s what we want to do! It’s been twenty years already and we have done a lot of touring and over ten albums! So, we have really achieved a lot in this business and still feels like we want to do it! For me, I think I’m going to make music all my life, because I don’t know what else I’d like to do! Music is our dearest hobby. It’s something we want to do in the future.
M.I. - If you could play "Temptation's Gates" for the younger version of yourself who founded Amberian Dawn, what do you think he would say?
Maybe he would be positively delighted, because I think I still can do it! I’m able to make new songs and be happy with the results! So, what can we say? I’m kind of thankful that I’m still able to do it!
M.I. - If each member of Amberian Dawn had to guard one of the "Temptation's Gates," what gate would Nicole guard and which one would you?
(laughs) Tough question! About that, there are some symbolisms. There’s a meaning with those things about finding your inner freedom and those gates are representing kind of the society with this blocking your identity and you have to break free through those gates!
M.I. - If "Temptation's Gates" were a fantasy movie, who would be the main villain?
Something superpower, it would be some kind of a wise man. I think he would be a kind and good man, not evil. We would like to do good things, not bad!
M.I. - What musicians inspire you the most?
Nowadays, I’m inspired by classical music! For me, at the moment, if I’m driving my car, I like to listen to classical music, then I also enjoy preparing food, barbecuing. So, that’s something I like to do! It gives me inspiration for everything! Also, I like listening to 80’s bands: Heavy Metal and disco bands from that decade!
M.I. - One year from now, what would need to happen for you to look back and say: "Yes, Temptation's Gates was exactly the success we hoped it would be"?
I’m pretty sure that, after one year, I’ll still be satisfied with the album. We just hope that everyone else is also liking it, because it always starts with yourself! You still have to like it and the music! You still hope that everyone is enjoying it! So far, it seems that most of our fans are accepting our new singer and our current style!
I’m confident that we are going to be here after one year and still going to be happy about this situation!
M.I. - Finally, what message would you like to send to Amberian Dawn fans around the world as they prepare to enter the gates of temptation?
I would advise you to listen to the album with an open mind! Don’t expect anything, because then if you’re expecting something, you’re going to be disappointed. If you expect something out of the music and if it’s different, you’re going to be upset, but if you’re not expecting anything, it’s easier to get the feeling of the music.
That’s my advice: listen to the album with an open mind and hopefully, we’ll see you on tour. Maybe next year!
M.I. - Any final words for the Portuguese readers?
Someday, next year, it might be our first time playing there! So, I just hope it happens!
For Portuguese version, click here
Listen to Amberian Dawn, on Spotify
Questions by Raquel Miranda
