Posted by Intro by Claudia Ehrhardt & Nicky N. Meyer
Stratovarius might be on a break, but Timo Kotipelto is anything but idle. With Waiting for the Dawn, his first solo outing, the Finnish singer takes a detour into ancient Egypt, musically and thematically. We met him in Dortmund at Century Media’s office, luggage lost, voice recorders missing, but armed with caffeine, curiosity, and a bit of improv spirit.
Into the Desert: Egypt, Concept Albums & Childhood Fandom
Timo didn’t just wake up one day and decide to sing about pyramids. “I’ve always been better in history than music at school,” he admitted with a grin. After a holiday in Egypt in 2000, he found himself drawn into the world of pharaohs and myths. “I read about 25 books when I came back,” he told us, still clearly enchanted by the past.
The result? A conceptual album that blends historical fiction with melodic power metal, anchored in 80s roots and delivered with the finesse fans expect. “It’s kind of like modern Rainbow or Iron Maiden,” Timo said. “There’s a bit of Stratovarius in there of course—it’s my voice—but this is more influenced by what I used to listen to before I started my career.”
On Labels and Learning Curves
Waiting for the Dawn comes out via Century Media, not Stratovarius’ label Nuclear Blast. “Some labels offered more money,” Timo admitted, “but they wanted control over everything.” Instead, he opted for freedom. He even started his own label to retain artistic ownership and gain insight into the business side of things. “It helps that Century Media is in the same building as our management and booking agency,” he added. Strategic and smart.
Juggling Acts: Stratovarius, Solo Shows, and Wacken Mayhem
Even though this was Timo’s solo project, don’t expect a massive world tour. “I’ll play a few club gigs in Finland and open Wacken Open Air this year,” he revealed. “We’ll be the first and the last band—because I’ll burn the stage down after our set!” he joked.
His studio lineup featured friends and fellow musicians like Jari, Janne Wirman, and Mirka, with Roland and Mike contributing but unable to tour. “Everyone brought their own touch to the songs,” Timo said. “That’s part of the magic.”
Between Day Jobs and Dusk
Stratovarius fans, don’t panic. The band isn’t dead—it’s just working behind the scenes. “We’re recording a new album. It’ll be called Elements Pt. 1 and is scheduled for early next year,” he said. The tour is already taking shape, with spring 2003 dates likely.
But what about personal time? When we ended with our usual word association game, Timo was quick with wit:
- Music? “My life.”
- Travelling? “Just boring. Planes and buses suck—but meeting people is cool.”
- Egypt? “Still developing… incredible history, not much modern culture.”
- Independence? “Very important for Finns.” (Cue: a quick, passionate history lesson.)
- Pride? “I’m proud of my friends, not myself.”
Final Words
Despite lost luggage, rushed schedules, and upcoming Stratovarius commitments, Timo Kotipelto was generous, witty, and thoughtful. Waiting for the Dawn isn’t just an album—it’s a personal journey into history, independence, and creative freedom. With Wacken on the horizon and Elements Pt. 1 in the works, we’ve not heard the last from this multi-layered musician. But let’s be honest—we wouldn’t want to.