| Interview with Roy Khan By: Blissfulviolet |
Roy Khan: Oh hey this is Roy Khan of
Kamelot am I speaking with Denise?
Kamelot am I speaking with Denise?
Blissfulviolet: Hey Roy this is Denise. How
are you doing?
are you doing?
Roy Khan: Hi I’m doing pretty good; How
are you?
are you?
Blissfulviolet: I’m doing great. Thanks for
taking the time to do this interview, where
are you calling from?
taking the time to do this interview, where
are you calling from?
Roy Khan: I’m calling from Norway.
Blissfulviolet: That’s great. Knowing that
you’re from Norway, with the majority of
you’re from Norway, with the majority of
Kamelot based in the US; do you mainly stay in the US or Norway?
Roy Khan: Oh I’ve always lived in Norway.
Blissfulviolet: You guys just recently came back from the Ghost Opera Japanese Tour how
did that go?
did that go?
Roy Khan: It went great. Japan has always been a great country for us. It’s like another
different world there. It’s a big city but in a way it’s a little like New York, but the people are
different, the stores are different a lot of funny letters…But the fans are really devoted, very
polite and everything is extremely well organized in Japan.
different world there. It’s a big city but in a way it’s a little like New York, but the people are
different, the stores are different a lot of funny letters…But the fans are really devoted, very
polite and everything is extremely well organized in Japan.
The US tour also went good. We did about a month in the US/Canada. The US is definitely
one of our target areas. It’s a market that we have seen growing these days. People from the
US have been more and more trying to seek out different stuff from what is currently in the
main scene. I don’t know why but for some reason it seems to be growing, which is great. This
tour was like 20% better then what it was last time; depending on what day we played and stuff
like that of course. What’s happening in the US these days is very interesting.
one of our target areas. It’s a market that we have seen growing these days. People from the
US have been more and more trying to seek out different stuff from what is currently in the
main scene. I don’t know why but for some reason it seems to be growing, which is great. This
tour was like 20% better then what it was last time; depending on what day we played and stuff
like that of course. What’s happening in the US these days is very interesting.
Blissfulviolet: I noticed as well that the demand for Kamelot has been great. Ghost Opera
has been doing extremely well in the charts and you guys are even adding a part II to the
European tour, is this correct?
has been doing extremely well in the charts and you guys are even adding a part II to the
European tour, is this correct?
Roy Khan: Yes we are going to do another run next spring, I believe in April. We are also
talking about doing the same thing in the US. It makes sense to tour again, even though there
is not another new record out, it makes sense to go back. There are many people out there
that didn’t get to see us for what ever reason when we played in their hometown, and there are
defiantly those people who would like to see Kamelot again. After that we are going to start
thinking about the new record.
talking about doing the same thing in the US. It makes sense to tour again, even though there
is not another new record out, it makes sense to go back. There are many people out there
that didn’t get to see us for what ever reason when we played in their hometown, and there are
defiantly those people who would like to see Kamelot again. After that we are going to start
thinking about the new record.
Blissfulviolet: Have you guys been throwing out any ideas yet for this future album?
Roy Khan: Not really, we have talked about setting a song writing session in January or
something. Right now we need some vacation and time off. We are going to take from now till
Christmas off to spend some time with family, friends and do normal stuff. We also got a real
good offer from South America, which I’m not sure if we’re going to do. It’s an option, but there
is still more videos, song writing to keep us busy till the next European run in April. We still
haven’t talked about new songs yet, not even any ideas for songs. We have been so busy
with promoting this album.
something. Right now we need some vacation and time off. We are going to take from now till
Christmas off to spend some time with family, friends and do normal stuff. We also got a real
good offer from South America, which I’m not sure if we’re going to do. It’s an option, but there
is still more videos, song writing to keep us busy till the next European run in April. We still
haven’t talked about new songs yet, not even any ideas for songs. We have been so busy
with promoting this album.
Blissfulviolet: I see…so what did you enjoy most about making Ghost Opera?
Roy Khan: What did I enjoy the most? Hmmm…Well the whole process. There are 2 reasons
why I even do this at all…The process of creating a song and the actual performance of a
song, which is the live situation.
why I even do this at all…The process of creating a song and the actual performance of a
song, which is the live situation.
When we start to write a song it might start off with a melody, a groove or guitar riff or lyrics.
The song writing isn’t really in until the last tweak in the studio. I really enjoy the whole process
of writing and recording music. It’s also always fun to work with all the people that we work
with…Sasha, Euro, Amanda…
The song writing isn’t really in until the last tweak in the studio. I really enjoy the whole process
of writing and recording music. It’s also always fun to work with all the people that we work
with…Sasha, Euro, Amanda…
Blissfulviolet: The Ghost Opera album lyrics are some
of the darkest and heaviest lyrics that you have ever
written in a recorded Kamelot album. Would you agree?
of the darkest and heaviest lyrics that you have ever
written in a recorded Kamelot album. Would you agree?
Roy Khan: Yes and that was very direct. The last two
records ‘Epica’ and ‘The Black Halo,’ we sat down and
worked on the lyrics to the songs first. This time around
we did all the music first and I think that made the song
writing process different from our previous recordings
because this time we let the music inspire the lyrics. The
music in Ghost Opera is very melancholy and some of it is
really heavy.
records ‘Epica’ and ‘The Black Halo,’ we sat down and
worked on the lyrics to the songs first. This time around
we did all the music first and I think that made the song
writing process different from our previous recordings
because this time we let the music inspire the lyrics. The
music in Ghost Opera is very melancholy and some of it is
really heavy.
It was not a very conscious process, sometimes I just find
a line catchy and then I start spinning on that. More then
anything I can say the music inspires the lyrics. I’d say 8
out of 10-11 songs were inspired by the music…like the
chorus for the title track Ghost Opera, that haunting line
(hums Welcome all to curtain call) That line, well we
a line catchy and then I start spinning on that. More then
anything I can say the music inspires the lyrics. I’d say 8
out of 10-11 songs were inspired by the music…like the
chorus for the title track Ghost Opera, that haunting line
(hums Welcome all to curtain call) That line, well we
sat down and thought about what this song was going to be about and we felt that it should be
something Ghostlike, the feeling. Although the song is about this lady thinking back on her
days as an inspiring opera singer on her way to her debut concert, she gets raped on the
way…a very macabre story.
something Ghostlike, the feeling. Although the song is about this lady thinking back on her
days as an inspiring opera singer on her way to her debut concert, she gets raped on the
way…a very macabre story.
Blissfulviolet: But you guys also incorporate your personal experience into your music as
well…
well…
Roy Khan: Absolutely. I don’t think there is anybody that writes or plays their own music that
doesn’t use their personal experience in their music. It’s magic. It’s kind of magical the way a
song is written, when you think about… I mean you take something out of nowhere and it
might not make sense at first but you create a song out of it.
doesn’t use their personal experience in their music. It’s magic. It’s kind of magical the way a
song is written, when you think about… I mean you take something out of nowhere and it
might not make sense at first but you create a song out of it.
Blissfulviolet: Do you feel that this new album will take Kamelot in a new direction?
Roy Khan: Yes, I think it has. We are gaining new fans and our old fans seem to like this
album as well. This album is for sure going to take us further forward; it’s going to help us
grow and make our fan base wider. I can’t really say that it’s a new direction for the band
music wise though. I mean in the band we all like gothic elements, which explains that sound in
our music.
album as well. This album is for sure going to take us further forward; it’s going to help us
grow and make our fan base wider. I can’t really say that it’s a new direction for the band
music wise though. I mean in the band we all like gothic elements, which explains that sound in
our music.
Blissfulviolet: How would you say your musical career has been so far this past 10 years?
Roy Khan: It’s been great. I can’t really explain but the band keeps growing and growing but
that of course is also a result that the genre for this type of music has been growing.
that of course is also a result that the genre for this type of music has been growing.
Blissfulviolet: What do you think sets Kamelot aside from other bands that are out there
today?
today?
Roy Khan: I think that my voice is very different in this genre…I can’t really explain it but I
would have to say the way we write songs is also unique in this genre as well; the way we blend
all types of styles in our music. We have used everything from rock, goth, power metal, black,
opera and I think this is one of Kamelots trademarks.
would have to say the way we write songs is also unique in this genre as well; the way we blend
all types of styles in our music. We have used everything from rock, goth, power metal, black,
opera and I think this is one of Kamelots trademarks.
Blissfulviolet: I’m sure that you have been asked this many times before but what influenced
you to become a singer and interest you in this style of music?
you to become a singer and interest you in this style of music?
Roy Khan: If I really go way back I think it was Elvis Presley. My dad was a huge Elvis fan and
I think that must have inspired me consciously somehow. And then there’s Geoff Tate of
Queensryche. The style I don’t know it’s hard to say…Judas Priest, Queensryche, Iron
Maiden. I just happen to like real heavy guitars and melodic vocals.
I think that must have inspired me consciously somehow. And then there’s Geoff Tate of
Queensryche. The style I don’t know it’s hard to say…Judas Priest, Queensryche, Iron
Maiden. I just happen to like real heavy guitars and melodic vocals.
Blissfulviolet: As a singer and song writer do you have any future goals that you would still
like to one day accomplish?
like to one day accomplish?
Roy Khan: More recordings and of course everyone wants their band to be as big as the
planet. We always like to challenge ourselves…new style, new stuff on every record. We
always manage to reinvent ourselves to keep our fan base happy.
planet. We always like to challenge ourselves…new style, new stuff on every record. We
always manage to reinvent ourselves to keep our fan base happy.
Blissfulviolet: Awhile back that some of the guys of
Kamelot had you go skydiving? How was this
experience?
Kamelot had you go skydiving? How was this
experience?
Roy Khan: That was a PR thing, when they asked I
said yes right away but it was kind of a scary
experience. It felt pretty good at first but once you’re
past so many feet your body feels compressed. I could
feel all the wind up my nose and ears, it was very cold; I
don’t think I’ll ever do it again.
said yes right away but it was kind of a scary
experience. It felt pretty good at first but once you’re
past so many feet your body feels compressed. I could
feel all the wind up my nose and ears, it was very cold; I
don’t think I’ll ever do it again.
Blissfulviolet: Thanks for your time. Is there anything
else Kamelot fans should be on the lookout for?
else Kamelot fans should be on the lookout for?
Roy Khan: More touring, we can’t wait to get out there
and a new album in the near future. Thanks it was nice
talking to you.
and a new album in the near future. Thanks it was nice
talking to you.
| The metal world seems to be yearning for something different when it comes to mainstream music. Kamelot is the perfect example of one of the few bands that has succeeded to capture a wide audience with their use of elements ranging from goth, power, rock, to symphonic progressive metal. Their latest release Ghost Opera, has conquered by the storm and it’s no wonder why this band stands on a plain of their own. |