Dreamtale

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Interview : Dreamtale

When and how was your band created?
Dreamtale was born in 1999, when our guitarist Rami Keränen broke-up with his previous band. He started gathering some musicians around him and finally this band become Dreamtale. Rami is also the only original member of the band.

Was the choice to become professional difficult to make? Why?
Well I think it to be a little boys dream to be a rock star, or even professional musician, but if I had known all the difficulties involved being a metal musician I think I'd reconsider my choice of career. Nevertheless I enjoy being a musician, I love working in studio and I like meeting new people, which you do a lot when your a musician.

What musicians or artists did have a major influence in your life / work?
Well, personally Kai Hansen (ex-Helloween now GammaRay) has made huge impact in my life as a guitar player and a songwriter. I also listen a lot of classical music, Chopín being my favourite composer.

What are the positive and negative aspects of being a musician / singer (in Finland)?
Positive aspect is definately the fact that in Finland metal music is a very big phenomenon, metal bands can enter finnish charts as number 1. And metal bands sell quite well in Finland. Audience is also great. Negative side is that you can't make too good living in Finland by being a musician, unless you play "humppa" or other dancemusic (I don't mean techno or that kind of dance music, but these more traditional dances like waltz etc.). The money you get from the record sales and gigs is far too little to support you financially.

How could you qualify your style of music?
We play melodic heavy metal. Some people call our music power metal,
which is also fine with us.

Have you ever considered the possibilty to change totally your style of music? If so, what style of music would you choose?
If have considered it sometimes, but I think I never leave metal music. I can do other projects from time to time, but I always come back to metal sooner or later. I love playing folk music, especially irish. I also enjoy medieval/early reneissance music a lot...

What are stories/topics you tell/treat in your songs?
Nature preservation and society critisism is among them, I also am an escapistic person, so I often write fantasy stories also. But I always have something to say, even when I write these fantasy lyrics, I tend to include moral in the story.

What is your favorite song in your repertoire and why?
I personally like Dreamland and Farewell... a lot. Dreamland is little more simpler than usual Dreamtale song that's why it has some appeal in it. Farewell... is also very different from our usual material, that's why it stays in my mind a little bit longer than the rest of the songs. But I like every song on the album also...

Do you tour regularly? Do you actually prefer performing your music live or in a studio?
Well it's quite different to work in a studio than to play to live audience. I love both of them. In studio you can do the songs in a way you have always wanted to do them, if you want to have 13 guitars on a song, you can do it in a studio. But in live performances the adrenaline what you get from playing for people is intoxinating. I love performing to audience. Unfortunately at the moment we are unable to do live performances due the fact that we have a new singer who has to learn to songs before we can tour.

During the process of making an album, what is the stage that you prefer? Why?
You can't beat that feeling when you hear the songs first time mixed and mastered. The album is ready and you can hear the complete versions of the songs finally. It is something that makes it worth while.

What kind of music / What artists do you currently listen?
I am now in middle of a classical music period, I have spend few days now listening Edward Grieg and J. S. Bach, I have also listened some older Quuensÿche albums lately.

What are your actual and future projects?
Dreamtale is my primary projest, but I'm also having this metal band which sings in finnnish, we play this sword and fantasy type of metal with that band...

A stupid question but... what is among all the songs you've been listening in your life the BEST song? Why?
Helloween - How many tears. It is amazing song, I would have wanted to write it. Structurally it's ingenious and lyrically very adept for a Helloween song. You'll have to listen it to know what I mean.

Internet is something interesting for musicians because it gives them the opportunity to touch a larger audience but it is also a threat for them (regarding the copyrights). What is your opinion regarding this medium?
Well for us internet promotion has done a lot good, but I sometimes it really annoys me to find our album freely downloadable. People should know their responsibility, it is not nice to work without salary. If the band willingly distributes their material in the web, then it's ok, but if someone else does it without the permission of the performing band, then I don't approve it.

Do you use computers or home studios during the process of making an album or a song?
Yes, we do. I personally write all my songs with a midi sequencer, and Rami (our other songwriter) uses these recording softwares like SEKD Samplitude and Pro Tools etc. It helps to hear the song in the making process and you can think the arrangements more clearly, when you can listen the song that way.
Interview by Vincent Lefrançois - 2002