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Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Interviews
Forum Description: Original interviews with Prog artists (which are exclusive to Prog Archives)
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=75092 Printed Date: November 26 2024 at 16:42 Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Forgotten TalesPosted By: toroddfuglesteg
Subject: Forgotten Tales
Date Posted: January 16 2011 at 14:53
Forgotten Tales was formed in Quebec City in October 1999 as the result of a music project proposed by Rene Pineault (manager), as a tribute to the Power Metal movement well-known in Europe. As pioneers of this style in Canada, and eager to promote this type of music with enthusiasm, Forgotten Tales produced a few sold-out concerts before doing the opening act for the Finnish band of international renown, Nightwish, when visiting Montreal in november 2000. From then on, the idea of producing an album of original material rapidly takes shape in the minds of the band members.
I got in touch with the band and Marty answered my questions.
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Our Forgotten Tales biography is quite extensive so let's bypass
the formalities.
But were any of you involved in any other bands before you joined
up in Forgotten Tales, which bands were you influenced by and why did
you choose that name?
We all were in other bands before Forgotten Tales but nothing of
interest actually. They were in majority cover bands. My main
influences were guitarists of the 80’s, especially Vinnie Moore.
Metal bands like Iron Maiden, Helloween and Megadeth were big
influences too.
Why did you choose your type of music instead of pop, folk music,
punk or brass bands?
Like I said, Helloween was a big part of what I have listened to
when I was younger. I always liked the classical mood of their songs
and the energy they had back then. It’s a really inspiring style of
music to play and you need good skills to perform in it.
Let's go straight to your debut album. Please tell us more about
The Promise from 2001.
At the beginning, Forgotten Tales was a tribute band to power
metal. We did the first album because of the fans. They were always
asking for original stuff and that’s what happened. It took us
around eight months to compose the entire album and three to record
it. The results were very satisfying considering the fact that it was
made very fast. The lyrics on the promise were a bit naïve but I
think that the music compensated a lot.
Please tell us more about your second album All the Sinners from
2003
All the Sinners is a result of three years of hard work. Since I
composed almost everything, even the lyrics, I needed a lot of time.
This album is more progressive than the first and the sound is much
better.
I used a 6 song concept on the opening followed by 4 tracks on
different subjects. Even the lyrics have taken a step up.
Please tell us more about your third album We Shall See the Light
from 2010
I think we reached another level with WSSTL. The production, the
songs and the lyrics are much better from my point of view. I decided
to compose differently from the two others by adding more progressive
stuff and by writing lyrics about something different than medieval.
Sonia’s voice is more natural and I think that it’s what makes
this album our best.
How is the creative processes in Forgotten Tales from coming up
with an idea to it's being recorded?
I always begin by the lyrics because I think that it’s very
important in order to find the right ambiance. I must know what I’m
talking about if I want the music to be relevant. Once it’s done, I
let my fingers and my brain work. I put every idea I have on my
computer until I have everything I need. When the frames are done, I
give the songs to the other musicians so they can put their own ideas
on them. Then, after some arrangements here and there, we’re ready
to record.
For those of us unknown with your music; how would you describe
you music and which bands would you compare yourself with?
I can’t think of any bands that can be compared to Forgotten
Tales but what I can say is that it could be a mix of a lot of my
influences. There’s a bit of Helloween, Rush, Vinnie Moore, Angra,
Stratovarius and Rhapsody. It is definitely power metal but with a
touch of progressive and some jazz fusion influences in the guitar
solos.
Your albums have been released without supports from a big record
label. What is the pros and cons of going it alone?
Actually, there are more cons than pros. We don’t have a label
behind us to make us play in festivals or distribute our albums
worldwide. We have to do all that by ourselves. The positive point is
that we have the entire control of everything. We have the support
of small record companies in some countries who help us with the
distribution.
How is the live scene in your area and how active are you with
gigs these days?
Not very active since we were in studio recently but we’re
working hard to go back on stage. Here, power metal popularity is
decreasing a little bit since promoters saturated the market. Metal
fans are still there but less willing to pay for tickets that are
more and more expensive.
What are your plans for next year?
Next year, we will work on a video or two. We’d really like to
go on tour anywhere in the world and we’ll work on that. I’ll
certainly begin to work on new stuff.
To wrap up this interview, is there anything you want to add to
this interview?
I want to thank you for this interview and thank the fans for
supporting us all these years. Without them we wouldn’t exist.
We’re looking forward to play in your area, wherever it is.
Be part of the tale…
Thank you to Marty for this interview
Their PA profile is http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=1473" rel="nofollow - and their homepage's http://www.forgottentales.com/" rel="nofollow -