Much has been said & written about the change of Kamelot’s singer. Lots were skeptical & others were glad to see a young & talented guy taking over the vocals on Kamelot. Tommy Karevik is undoubtedly an amazing vocalist and that’s obvious not only when you listen to Kamelot but also his previous albums. Tommy talked to Grande Rock and described how he felt about that “strange” transition in his music life & about the new Kamelot album…
Hi Tommy. How do you feel now that everything has taken its course? I bet it has been a tough time since the day you were announced by Kamelot, huh?
T: Hello! Yeah it has been kind of hectic the last year, but it has been a lot of fun as well! I’m just back from the European tour with a lot of great shows and at the same time as it is very energy draining to be on tour, it is also very rewarding in a way. I can’t say that I won’t enjoy some rest now though…
So, it was kinda hard but you managed to be in Roy Khan’s shoes. The album is excellent and your performances are great as well.
T: Thanks! I am glad it turned out this way. I enjoyed working on the album together with Sascha. Of course, it is hard taking on the task of being the new singer of such a well known band, it would be for anyone. It was important to me from the beginning that the fans feel that I am not replacing Roy. I just pick up where he left of to carry on the legacy and to create a new bright future for Kamelot. I try to sing all the old songs with a breath of familiarity to do them justice. When it comes to the new songs, I wanted to keep that feel but integrate me as a singer and person more. (i.n.: You managed to do that in a great way though…)
How is the feeling to become the frontman of a band that you were a fan of?
T: To be honest I wasn’t a fan in that sense before Thomas called me. Of course I had heard of the band and I knew of some of the songs but that was about it. I joined the EU tour in 2011 and that is when I really started to be a fan for real. I listened to all the songs to learn them and suddenly I was hooked to the mood and feeling of the songs.
I think that Kamelot fans may need a little time to get used to you but then… they will embrace you, as they did with Roy in the past. After all, most of them are enthused with the album so far.
T: There will always be people that will remain skeptical, that’s the nature of it. I would probably be just as skeptic if my favorite band changed singer. I understand that some people will have a hard time accepting it. With that said, I was expecting a lot more negativity than what has been coming my way. The fans have been overall very welcoming, positive and supportive and I have been getting a lot of love from all over the world and I am so thankful for that. I think, all in all, the album and the massive touring during the last 3 months really helped the transition in the eyes of the people. (i.n.: Surely, but I also think that you fit perfectly to the band no matter what…)
What was your biggest fear as soon as you stepped in Kamelot?
T: To be accepted for what I am.
How did you experience the whole recording-writing session? Were some things different from what you used to know?
T: It was a lot of fun working together with Sascha in Wolfsburg. I have never before worked with a producer in that sense before so that was a huge difference. I am use to working on my own a lot, making a lot of the decisions on my own. We really had a short time to work with a tight deadline so that was also a bit different, but we made into a challenge to make a great album in such a short time! I am really happy about the result! Sending files on the internet between the US and Europe is not a big difference to how we have been working in Seventh Wonder earlier.
Were the vocal lines ready for you or you also used your own and made some changes in the end?
T: None of the vocal lines or lyrics were written before I joined the band.
Tell us what “Silvethorn” implies and how it is related to the album cover artwork?
T: I would say that would be to spoil it for the ones that did not already buy the album. I can tell you it is a very crucial detail in the story and that it is presenting in the booklet. The cover is an imaginary picture of how young Jolee would look if she would have had the chance to grow in to a woman.
There are a bunch of guest musicians on the album. Elize Ryd (Amaranthe), Alissa White-Gluz (The Agonist), Sascha Paeth (Avantasia, Edguy, Angra, Shaaman, Rhapsody of Fire, Kamelot, After Forever, Epica etc.), Miro (Angra, Shaaman, Rhapsody of Fire, Kamelot and Heavens Gate), the Children Choir - Emilie Paeth, Noa Rizzo and Annelise Youngblood & Eklipse among others. How important was their help so as to enrich the music of the album? I’m sure you enjoyed it as well.
T: Very important! All of them contributed with great thing to support the story and overall feel of the album! It really takes the listener on a rollercoaster ride of emotions and enriches the color and the experience! It was a choice we made very early since we wanted to go full force with a well though out concept.
Which are your beloved songs from the album and which ones do you mostly prefer to sing on stage?
T: It is hard to say… But if I had to choose one I have to say that “Song for Jolee” is the one I am most connected to. That was the first one I tried lyrics and melodies for and it is also the song that kind of got my singer position. Other than that, “Sacrimony” has been a lot of fun playing live. We got such a good reaction playing the song even before the song was out. Never had that before.
The video for “Sacrimony” is very impressive. It seems that you had a great time along with Elize Ryd and Alissa White-Gluz, right? Who wouldn’t with such beautiful ladies by his side after all!
T: They are both very talented and great at what they do! The fact that they also are great people does not hurt at all. Both did a fantastic job in the video and kicked ass on tour. Every show was a lot of fun on the US tour. We had a great team spirit within the group.
How is/was the European Tour? Which are the news things you experienced while being on the road?
T: Well it was my first headliner tour as the lead singer, so for me it was a big learning experience. We had a very busy schedule with few of days and for a singer that is a hard thing to cope with but it turned out great in the end! I got to meet all of the European fans out there and since Kamelot has a very strong following here it was a lot of people.
We see that labels and bands/musicians are suffering from people that are only downloading and not buying. Even though there are some guys (like myself) that still buy music… that’s not enough for the music industry and the bands/musicians to survive nowadays… right? Will the CDs and LPs be left only for the romantics in the end? We are on a terminal point here. What will the future bring though?
T: Something drastic has to change… What so many don’t understand is that it costs time, energy, love and a lot of money to be able to present a new album to the world every 2nd year. Illegal downloading will kill the opportunity to do so. Every band is forced to tour like crazy to make ends meet and in the end we have too many bands on the road at the same time fighting over people’s money. This means lower attendance at the shows so it is a downward spiral really… CDs will most certainly disappear soon so the musicians will have to find new ways of reaching out to the people… less charming ways IMOP.
And some weird Questions now!!! Which will be the best soundtrack to play the day we will be forced to evacuate planet earth?
T: “The Great Escape” by Seventh Wonder...
Were you obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials that would represent the whole human music evolution, which album would it be and from which band/artist?
T: A best of record by Queen. For all the obvious reasons.
Which is the record you wish you had written and why?
T: “Bad” or “Thriller” by Michael Jackson. Fantastic albums and two of my most listened to.
If you had the chance to travel in time… where would you choose to go? To the past or the future and why?
T: Well the future of this planet doesn’t look so bright so I would chose to travel back in time. I would try to influence humanity to take care of mother earth instead of killing her.
If you were a God’s messenger what would you tell Him to do for the well-being of humanity?
T: Show yourself. (i.n.: hehe that’s a good one…)
Imagine that your life partner is selling your whole album-collection just to buy an expensive ring for herself. How would you react?
T: I would ask where she kept her collection of shoes… (i.n.: hahaha spot-on dude!)
Thx Tommy for this interview. The last words of this interview belong to you… Take care!
T: Thank you! Hope to meet you all on the tours to come! Take care of each other!
T: Hello! Yeah it has been kind of hectic the last year, but it has been a lot of fun as well! I’m just back from the European tour with a lot of great shows and at the same time as it is very energy draining to be on tour, it is also very rewarding in a way. I can’t say that I won’t enjoy some rest now though…
So, it was kinda hard but you managed to be in Roy Khan’s shoes. The album is excellent and your performances are great as well.
T: Thanks! I am glad it turned out this way. I enjoyed working on the album together with Sascha. Of course, it is hard taking on the task of being the new singer of such a well known band, it would be for anyone. It was important to me from the beginning that the fans feel that I am not replacing Roy. I just pick up where he left of to carry on the legacy and to create a new bright future for Kamelot. I try to sing all the old songs with a breath of familiarity to do them justice. When it comes to the new songs, I wanted to keep that feel but integrate me as a singer and person more. (i.n.: You managed to do that in a great way though…)
How is the feeling to become the frontman of a band that you were a fan of?
T: To be honest I wasn’t a fan in that sense before Thomas called me. Of course I had heard of the band and I knew of some of the songs but that was about it. I joined the EU tour in 2011 and that is when I really started to be a fan for real. I listened to all the songs to learn them and suddenly I was hooked to the mood and feeling of the songs.
I think that Kamelot fans may need a little time to get used to you but then… they will embrace you, as they did with Roy in the past. After all, most of them are enthused with the album so far.
T: There will always be people that will remain skeptical, that’s the nature of it. I would probably be just as skeptic if my favorite band changed singer. I understand that some people will have a hard time accepting it. With that said, I was expecting a lot more negativity than what has been coming my way. The fans have been overall very welcoming, positive and supportive and I have been getting a lot of love from all over the world and I am so thankful for that. I think, all in all, the album and the massive touring during the last 3 months really helped the transition in the eyes of the people. (i.n.: Surely, but I also think that you fit perfectly to the band no matter what…)
What was your biggest fear as soon as you stepped in Kamelot?
T: To be accepted for what I am.
How did you experience the whole recording-writing session? Were some things different from what you used to know?
T: It was a lot of fun working together with Sascha in Wolfsburg. I have never before worked with a producer in that sense before so that was a huge difference. I am use to working on my own a lot, making a lot of the decisions on my own. We really had a short time to work with a tight deadline so that was also a bit different, but we made into a challenge to make a great album in such a short time! I am really happy about the result! Sending files on the internet between the US and Europe is not a big difference to how we have been working in Seventh Wonder earlier.
Were the vocal lines ready for you or you also used your own and made some changes in the end?
T: None of the vocal lines or lyrics were written before I joined the band.
Tell us what “Silvethorn” implies and how it is related to the album cover artwork?
T: I would say that would be to spoil it for the ones that did not already buy the album. I can tell you it is a very crucial detail in the story and that it is presenting in the booklet. The cover is an imaginary picture of how young Jolee would look if she would have had the chance to grow in to a woman.
There are a bunch of guest musicians on the album. Elize Ryd (Amaranthe), Alissa White-Gluz (The Agonist), Sascha Paeth (Avantasia, Edguy, Angra, Shaaman, Rhapsody of Fire, Kamelot, After Forever, Epica etc.), Miro (Angra, Shaaman, Rhapsody of Fire, Kamelot and Heavens Gate), the Children Choir - Emilie Paeth, Noa Rizzo and Annelise Youngblood & Eklipse among others. How important was their help so as to enrich the music of the album? I’m sure you enjoyed it as well.
T: Very important! All of them contributed with great thing to support the story and overall feel of the album! It really takes the listener on a rollercoaster ride of emotions and enriches the color and the experience! It was a choice we made very early since we wanted to go full force with a well though out concept.
Which are your beloved songs from the album and which ones do you mostly prefer to sing on stage?
T: It is hard to say… But if I had to choose one I have to say that “Song for Jolee” is the one I am most connected to. That was the first one I tried lyrics and melodies for and it is also the song that kind of got my singer position. Other than that, “Sacrimony” has been a lot of fun playing live. We got such a good reaction playing the song even before the song was out. Never had that before.
The video for “Sacrimony” is very impressive. It seems that you had a great time along with Elize Ryd and Alissa White-Gluz, right? Who wouldn’t with such beautiful ladies by his side after all!
T: They are both very talented and great at what they do! The fact that they also are great people does not hurt at all. Both did a fantastic job in the video and kicked ass on tour. Every show was a lot of fun on the US tour. We had a great team spirit within the group.
How is/was the European Tour? Which are the news things you experienced while being on the road?
T: Well it was my first headliner tour as the lead singer, so for me it was a big learning experience. We had a very busy schedule with few of days and for a singer that is a hard thing to cope with but it turned out great in the end! I got to meet all of the European fans out there and since Kamelot has a very strong following here it was a lot of people.
We see that labels and bands/musicians are suffering from people that are only downloading and not buying. Even though there are some guys (like myself) that still buy music… that’s not enough for the music industry and the bands/musicians to survive nowadays… right? Will the CDs and LPs be left only for the romantics in the end? We are on a terminal point here. What will the future bring though?
T: Something drastic has to change… What so many don’t understand is that it costs time, energy, love and a lot of money to be able to present a new album to the world every 2nd year. Illegal downloading will kill the opportunity to do so. Every band is forced to tour like crazy to make ends meet and in the end we have too many bands on the road at the same time fighting over people’s money. This means lower attendance at the shows so it is a downward spiral really… CDs will most certainly disappear soon so the musicians will have to find new ways of reaching out to the people… less charming ways IMOP.
And some weird Questions now!!! Which will be the best soundtrack to play the day we will be forced to evacuate planet earth?
T: “The Great Escape” by Seventh Wonder...
Were you obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials that would represent the whole human music evolution, which album would it be and from which band/artist?
T: A best of record by Queen. For all the obvious reasons.
Which is the record you wish you had written and why?
T: “Bad” or “Thriller” by Michael Jackson. Fantastic albums and two of my most listened to.
If you had the chance to travel in time… where would you choose to go? To the past or the future and why?
T: Well the future of this planet doesn’t look so bright so I would chose to travel back in time. I would try to influence humanity to take care of mother earth instead of killing her.
If you were a God’s messenger what would you tell Him to do for the well-being of humanity?
T: Show yourself. (i.n.: hehe that’s a good one…)
Imagine that your life partner is selling your whole album-collection just to buy an expensive ring for herself. How would you react?
T: I would ask where she kept her collection of shoes… (i.n.: hahaha spot-on dude!)
Thx Tommy for this interview. The last words of this interview belong to you… Take care!
T: Thank you! Hope to meet you all on the tours to come! Take care of each other!