Dreamtale have been on the metal scene since 1999, their first three albums were released via Spinefarm between 2002 and 2005, winning listeners from Finland to Japan. Notable collaborators include names like Marko Hietala, Jarkko Ahola and Timo Tolkki. In 2019 the band refreshed their sound with the addition of a second singer, Nitte Valo (ex-Battle Beast). After the release of their latest album “Everlasting Flame” in 2022 they tried out for the UMK pre-selection for the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Battleheart”, and are now preparing to release a new full length. Our reporter Cristina had the chance to meet the band before their tour in China and find out more about the line-up changes, their music and much more

Hi guys how are you doing? 

All: We are fine, thank you for asking. 

You were great tonight; how do you feel about this gig? 

Rami: Thank you, we had a good time and feeling great right now! It went really fast even if we played almost 2 hours.
Nitte: We gave it all. It was warm, it was full, it was a really great feeling being on the stage. 

Dreamtale was founded in 1999, since then the lineup has undergone several changes, especially regarding the singers, because at the beginning there was only one singer and now there are two… 

Rami: I actually had the idea for a long time that there would be a male and female singer in the band. I already tried to propose it to Seppänen, but it did not take off. Now it was time to do it. This was immediately clear after Erkki and Seppo left the band. 

Did you already know you wanted Nitte as singer? 

Rami: No, but the same night we got in touch I knew she was the right one.
Nitte: Years ago, you placed an ad for a group in a musician’s webpage that I responded to but at the time it did not happen anything.
Rami: Yes, I contacted you for another band where we needed a female singer. As for Dreamtale, we got in contact that same evening, it probably did not take more than ten minutes from the time the ad was posted that she sent a message. 

And this was in 2019, right? 

Rami: Yes, it probably was 2019. 

And with Jarno? 

Jarno: So, it started with the fact that we had the same drummer in our bands for many years. In a way, it was very easy to approach Rami and send a message that I was interested in joining the band, also because we had already shared a rehearsal space for many years.
Rami: Of course, we first took the demos of the singers and all the others. When the demos were listened to and checked to see what sounds would work, it was clear that Jarno’s voice works great on our songs. And then Nitte and Jarno’s voices are incomprehensibly similar in certain frequencies, that when they sing at a certain high note, they are no longer separated from there.
Jarno: And then, on top of that, probably the fact that Nitte and I had known each other for years. We had been at Maiden Fest for many years.
Nitte: Yeah, singing Iron Maiden songs. So, at Maiden Fest, there were three Dreamtale singers singing at the same time.
Jarno: True! Erkki, Nitte and me.
Akseli: I also played at Maiden Fest, probably in 2020.
Nitte: And indeed, there is still such a funny photo of us from many years ago, where Jarno, me and Erkki are in the same photo, not knowing what each other’s fate is. I think it is kind of funny. 

“Everlasting Flame” was released in 2022. Are you working on a new album or what is going on at the moment? 

Rami: Yes, it is almost ready. It was just put aside because of other activities and to be honest I have not really felt like working on the album. But now it is almost done, the recordings have been made…
Jarno: The new songs are damn good. I like them even better than the ones from “Everlasting Flames” that I actually love.
Nitte: There are some fucking difficult songs on this new album, vocal-wise this new record is very difficult.
Jarno: I will probably never be able to pull them off live (EN. Laughs).
Nitte: But the new songs are difficult vocally, although you can tell that neither of us are bad singers. Now, it is really such a record that you have to work hard on it, which is a really good thing. Rami, you have made songs with such high pitches thinking we could sing.
Rami: Sorry guys! I always try to think of them in tune, so that they stay in tune with both of your voices. 

Rami, do you write all the songs? Or how does it work in your band?  

Rami: 90 percent maybe…
Jarno: Yes, Rami is the main composer and sometimes he also listens to our opinions on the songs. 

You tried to enter UMK (Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu). Why did you decide to apply for this contest? 

Rami: Yes, we thought why not give it a try, there was nothing to lose and if we could get through it would be really nice and a great PR thing. 

Are you planning to try to enter the UMK contest again or not? 

Rami: I do not know. It is not the kind of thing we plan. If a suitable idea comes along, why not?! 

What is your favorite Dreamtale’s song to play live? 

Rami: I do not know. At least it is hard for me to say which are my favorite songs, there are so many. 

All?  

Rami: Not all of them, many are nice to play. We have over a hundred songs and in the set, there is always room for a little change, so we do not find ourselves playing the same songs over and over again.
Akseli: For me it is “October is mine”, with this song the party starts.
Jarno: Yeah, it is hard to choose. I would say “World’s Child”, I do not know what it is, but maybe the melody and everything. I just like singing it.
Nitte: I cannot agree. But the difference here is that not all the old songs work for me. There is really a lot of work behind to make the various parts work between our voices on the old songs. Dreamtale has always had a male singer and this probably reflects in the fact that we have very different favorite songs, I am not saying that they are not good but the fact that I do not feel them as mine. 
Akseli: It is great for Dreamtale that Rami writes such different songs that there is something for everyone. We are not the typical power metal band that does that basic dragon slayer mood, that always starts hard, but in our music, you can find different moods.
Rami: Maybe it is because my musical taste is so broad, that I listen to so many different genres, that I do not want to make music that is boring to me.
Jarno: It is about melody…
Rami: Yes, exactly! Since my childhood I always thought that the melody is the most important part. It does not matter what kind of music it is, whether it is Finnish rock or disco humppa from the 80s, if the melody works it works. 

You said you listen to different music; can you give us some examples? For example, what did you listen to today or yesterday? 
 
Rami: What I am listening to lately is some Finnish pop and Euro-pop but as I said the genre does not really matter. Sometimes I listen to some good old power metal like Helloween.
Jarno: I do not really listen to much music these days. I can drive a car for ten hours during a normal work day and listen to a little bit of radio. But then if we have a gig in the evening, I practice with the songs from the set for two or three hours, after which I need silence, sometimes I talk on the phone with a friend. So, there is background music in general, but I do not listen to music these days.
Akseli: Same thing for me. The fact that I joined the band at the age of 16, at the time I had Nightwish, Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius and then Dreamtale. In 2006 there was an online ad looking for musicians and they were specifically for Dreamtale. I remember thinking “shall I give it a try?”, I asked a friend of mine who encouraged me to apply and I joined the band. 

But now I have a story for you, I met Akseli in 2006 through MySpace and we were talking about music… 

 Akseli: Yes, I linked you a video of Dreamtale. 

 That is right, you told me that it is your favorite band. 

 Akseli: And here I am in the band. 

What are you listening to, Nitte? 

Nitte: I also listen to very little music in general, but if I have to mention one band then I would say Nightwish. And also, of course, Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius and all these bands that I have listened to since I was a little girl. Nowadays Beast in Black is one of my favorite bands.
Akseli: It is also the best band for me at the moment.
Nitte: With Akseli we have the same taste in music.
Akseli: Especially when it comes to Nightwish.
Nitte: Speaking of Nightwish, since I have always been a fan of theirs, I had the honor to go on tour with them, which was a really incredible experience. But what I think is really incredible is the song “Farewell” that I first heard many years ago on Klaus Flaming’s Metalliliitto, I recorded it on a cassette, and listening to it I thought; what a badass band this is, a damn loud song, and this woman sings so well that I wish I could sing it someday. And here I am now singing it. The fact that I had these two fantastic opportunities is like winning the lottery for me. 

This is amazing! 

Jarno: I have a similar story about how I got to know Dreamtale, the song was “The Mirror” sung by Jarkko Ahola. It was my first contact with the band. This song has never been performed live, but maybe at some point.
Nitte: Can I show you something? 

Of course!
Nitte: I have this amazing bag here. This is a Dreamtale bag. It was made by Jarnon Laukkupaja, and he wanted to make a Dreamtale bag like that. There is only one of these out there at the moment. I am not selling it, so it is nothing, but I also want to advertise. I think it is amazing. I will take it with me to China.

Rami: What is this picture?
Nitte: Well, this is us.
Akseli: This is a drawing made by a grateful fan.
Nitte: Yeah, and I wanted that on purpose because I think this is an image that resembles me, it’s so fun and playful and then over here there is the Battleheart. I feel privileged to have such great friends. 

You said you are going to China. Is this tour planned for next week? 
All: Yes. 

And it is supposed to have six shows, but I heard there are problems with a couple of places… 

Rami: Well, yes. Stories are to be lived and here now you do not really know what to expect.
Akseli: It depends a lot on the Chinese government. And it is up to the bureaucracy how these shows are realized. I think all six shows will take place. With the licenses it takes a while.
Rami: And then you have to have permission to go to all the cities to be able to perform.
Jarno: And you need permission at the concert venues.
Rami: True, for the concert venues you need permission even if it is in the same city. 

Have you ever been to China before? 

Rami: Yes, in 2017 and we did 6 shows then too.
 

What is it like to play there? If you compare it to Finland for example, what are the differences? 

Akseli: A very passionate audience. They live for the music from start to finish.
Rami: “The Dawn” is a big deal there, in 2017 when we were there a lot of people cried during that song.
Jarno: I have not experienced it myself yet, but I will soon. I expect people to take all the songs with joy, because Dreamtale is first and foremost a band of joy, if I may say so.
Akseli: Sympathetic power metal. 

What about other concerts around Europe? Is that possible? 

Akseli: We would like to tour in Europe, but we need to find contacts. So, if you want us to play, contact us.
Rami: It is hard to find promoters who organize tours.
Akseli: There is a lot of potential here. Sonata Arctica is touring, Stratotvarius is touring, why not getting also Dreamtale on tour? Take Dreamtale on tour!

We are at the end of this interview, thank for your time, would you like to tell something to your fans and people reading this interview?  

 Jarno: Listen on YouTube instead of Spotify.
Nitte: Thank you, and thank you to the people who follow, listen and stick around. Despite all the twists and turns. Now it is time for karaoke.
All: “Can you feel the love tonight? Can you feel the love tonight? Where we are? It’s enough to make kings and vagabonds Believe the very best”.
Rami: Thank you! 

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