TOMI JOUTSEN

I wanna be me

Although he started his adventure with music many years ago, nobody heard about him until he was appointed leader of one of the most important metal bands on the Continent. He made a good job of it very soon winning approval and favour of fans. Who is actually Tomi Joutsen? He’d better tell about it himself. I hope the interview below will shed light on this modest and really nice guy. Enjoy.

- When few weeks ago I got to know that your newest album is ready to be released I was surprised. We are unaccustomed for AMORPHIS to work in such pace. Apparently when you joined the band it got a second wind.
Yes, it went fast and smoothly. I can’t judge my contribution in it but I’m really glad if I helped even a bit. Comparing to the previous recording session, this time the works went definitely easier. Maybe because the fact that we managed to integrate and become closer to each other in that time. For sure one of the reasons for our album to come out that fast was unaccomplished plans of tour across the United States. We had some time and we didn’t know what to do with it. So we started writing a new stuff.

- Why the mentioned tour fell flat?
There were several reasons. Mainly we had some organizational problems. Well, we got some offers but we didn’t find them particularly interesting. Besides, they interfered with our private life. You need to know that most of us has steady work, we have families to support and it’s really hard to reconcile this all. The problem here is of course money and time, we can’t afford any breaks in making a living and you also aren’t granted a leave in a moment. However, we didn’t waste that time, we created the new album without any pressure. This all influenced the character of “Silent Waters” for sure. It’s definitely better to write in Finland than in a bus driving across American devious paths (laugh).

- How would you compare your initial plans with the result you gained? I know it’s hard to judge objectively, nevertheless it shouldn’t be a greater problem, cause since “Eclipse” you haven’t changed that much.
Yeah, if you liked „Eclipse” then you’ll certainly like „Silent Waters” as well. Of course they are not identical but all the basic features of our style have been kept on the new album and it’s still easy to distinguish the nature of AMORPHIS in these sounds. Differences, however, are noticeable. As for my vocals, they seem to be more diversified this time. There are more growling parts, there’s more going on in the background, the arrangements are more complex. I had more time and at the same time a greater distance to this material which let me better think over particular solutions. As for music side – it’s sheer AMORPHIS. There’re many melodic guitars, a great number of acoustic parts and you can also hear sitar in several places. I think this album won’t particularly surprise anyone but we just have a good music foremost in our minds. There are opinions that “Silent Waters” is more melancholic than its predecessor and I think it has to do with it, as it seems to be more epic than “Eclipse” for me.

- It’s a second album of AMORPHIS in which you take part in. I guess you now feel much better in your role than when you had to take place of Pasi Koskinen in record time?
Oh yes, definitely. Joining AMORPHIS was a great challenge for me. There was a time when I was completely scared. You know, Pasi was a really important person in the band, he had a style characteristic of him, a strong personality.. Taking place of such person is never easy.

- Did you have any doubts about how you would come across?
Of course. I had no idea what to expect from fans who, all in all, loved Pasi. Damn, It was really stressful. However, I decided not to be Pasi number two. The only way to gain fans’ respect was to show them that I am - and wanna be - me. Pretending to be my predecessor would be insincere and unnatural. That’s why even old tracks of AMORPHIS I try to sing more like Tomi Joutsen than Pasi Koskinen and I’m glad that people accept it. Coming back to “Eclipse”, the great reception of this album gave me confidence and for sure positively influenced vocal parts on the new album. Besides, we played several concerts after its release and fans were really friendly for me. It’s inspirational. I’m really grateful to them.

- How do you recall your first gig with AMORPHIS? You are said to have been very uptight then…
Oh yeah, very much. It was in Helsinki during the charity concert for tsunami victims. However, we played only 4 tracks then so the first serious test was a secret gig here in Lohja which we played as AMORJENS. In Finnish it means more or less the same as AMORHELLO (laugh). The concert was held just before our leaving for USA. We prepared a really long set for this tour but it came off well and we were really satisfied with it.

- And how did you find your place in band? It seems you didn’t have a chance to meet before?
Yes, we didn’t know each other at all! It wasn’t easy at first, since when you know nothing about people which you are to spend lot of time with, then it demands a full openness and mutual understanding. They were got used to Pasi and I was accustomed to people I had been playing with before. Suddenly we clashed and in addition we set out on tour in USA just after I joined the band. I think that due to this tour we could better get to know about each other. Our flaws, habits, likes and dislikes. Today I feel honoured by being in the band. People creating it are really exceptional musicians, remarkably creative artists and recently my friends as well.

- I was wondering how do you cope with rock’n’roll nature of your fellows? Once Esa told me that you completely differ in this case. You keep away from any substances whereas the rest – as you know – likes the hard stuff…
You know, I realized that they like to have fun very soon and I was a bit afraid if we wouldn’t have some arguments in this field. In fact I really appreciate a peaceful life, I don’t exceed substances although I like to drink a couple of beers from time to time. However, it turned out that I dealt with really strong-minded band in which each of us has his role to play and nobody butts in. If, for instance, we’re on tour and I feel like being alone they respect it. If I don’t want to drink with them they don’t urge me, I really feel comfortable with it. I think I couldn’t live with people who drag you out of bed in the middle of the night and persuade you to party with them. Remember that the band is not only our passion but a hard work as well. I’m a vocalist, I need to be in good form and rock’n’roll style of life clashes a bit with it (laugh).