Interview with Thomas Youngblood
By Kamelot France - Sept. 2011

Let's start by talking a little bit about the last "US Tour". American fans, like Europeans some months before, have welcomed Kamelot with a huge enthusiasm. Many concerts sold-out, a very good feedback. Can you tell us about "your" U.S. Tour ?

Wow! That's the first that comes to mind regarding the tour. The fans that came out will forever be part of something unique and the shows were so intense, each and every night. As a band we are tighter than ever and the connection with the fans is more direct than ever. We also did meet and greets for the first time and it was great to talk to so many fans directly.

Have you tour in bigger concert rooms and new cities ?

Some new cities, like Salt Lake City. We didn't know what to expect but it was packed and the fans there were as loud as anywhere in the world. Most of the venues were similar to before but this time there were more people.

How do you see the future of Kamelot in North America within the years to come ?

Big things coming! I can't discuss this now but around the beginning of 2012 we will have some awesome news for touring North America.

EUROPEAN TOUR 2012

The US Tour is barely over, and we already know that 2012 will be a very busy year for Kamelot. Do you plan to visit the whole Kamelot Nation during the next Tour ?

Yes, we will do some select festivals in 2012 and finish the new album.

Is a stop in Japan, Australia, or any countries that claim you since a long time already planned ?

A return to Japan is a must in our eyes, we love that country and the people. Also now that there are some changes in the band we will be able to tour more regions, Australia is on our hit list.

Do you already know when you'll come back in Europe ?

A full headliner tour is being discussed for late 2012. Very select cities with full pyro shows!

After the awesome feedback from the "Printemps de Bourges" in France, is Kamelot thinking of renewing the experience ? Others French or European festivals for example? Or maybe taking part of an event like the "70,000 tons of metal" cruise ?

Yes, we are open to new ways of touring, as long as we can keep our standard of being able to put on a show that the fans expect and deserve.

Will a new DVD be planned for this upcoming 2012 Tour ?

YES! Not sure what city but we will probably shoot two concerts for the DVD and make it really unique.

It seems many videos and "On the road" videos have been done during the last tour. Will all these videos be added on a bonus DVD ?

YES ;) We have a lot of them now and everyday there are new Kamelot fans coming to the fold. So it will be cool for the new fans and also fun for us to go back and see these tour videos.

NEW ALBUM

Thomas, you said that you've already started working on the new album, and already have three songs in progress. Can you tell us a little bit more about what you've done so far ?

I have some very strong basic ideas for songs. We are far ahead of the last album regarding good and album worthy songwriting. Oliver Palotai is also hard at work with new song ideas, which is a very exciting addition to Kamelot.

Will the album be, as you had suggested, a concept album, more epic, more "back to sources"? If yes, do you already have subjects in mind about the story of this concept ?

I am planning for it to be a concept, that is the direction. The concept is about…...

Do you change your approach to work on this new album or do you keep the same well-established "modus operandi" ?

My approach is the same, start with strong riffs, chords and significant ideas. Vocals melodies will come last, just like all Kamelot albums. I am also considering using an orchestra on this new album.

Have you ever discussed about the degree of involvement of each member of Kamelot into the writing process ?

I have opened this up to all the members, they will submit their ideas and in the end the best stuff will be on the album. Sometimes it's a matter of taste and maintaining the Kamelot style. That's something I will not play around with, each Kamelot record is different from the other but the Kamelot signature must be there.

Have you already contacted some musicians that will appear as guests on this album ?

Yes, many have contacted us and I have some interesting ideas and guests planned for it.

In particular, will you keep working with Fabio for this album ?

At the moment Fabio is doing a great job with us live, he is one the best singers I have seen live, next to Freddie Mercury and Geoff Tate. Never out of pitch and always engaging with the crowd. Will he continue with us, that is being discussed but for now we are still receiving videos from singers around the world for the spot. Some are very well known some are obscure. The vocals will be the last thing we record on the new album, also the same thing we have done in the past.

Are you personally more happy to compose now than before ?

My motivation is the same as before, the process will be very similar to the past records. Of course its exciting to have some new blood in the process and I am looking forward to working with Oliver and some other friends on songwriting. Sascha Paeth is also very excited about the new album and working with us again. We plan to bring back the "fun" part of creating and recording albums. That is something that was lost a bit on the last two albums.

Have you already planned when this album will come out ?

Tentative late 2012.

NEW SINGER

The research of the future leadsinger will begin just after the end of the US Tour. I guess Kamelot management has received dozens of demos. Have you begun to sort through the demos you've received ? Can you enlighten us about how you plan to manage the selection ? Do you intend to organize auditions ?

We have received around 1000 submissions for the spot. We are still getting requests at kamelot@kamelot.com and until a final decision is made we will look at all "legitimate" submissions.

Knowing that the CD is already in preparation, will the choice of the "voice of Kamelot" be decisive for the next album ?

The voice will not change how we write the songs. The songs and melodies will be in the same vein as previous albums. Now, if the new singer can do some new things that we have not done before then we may add that to the song…

Will the new singer have the time or the opportunity to take part in some writing session of the album ?

Depending on when the decision is made, yes. I would prefer for the singer to write some of the vocal melodies, then they are more likely to put emotion into the lines.

SOME MORE QUESTIONS…

Who thought of the last ideas for merch (the last girlies design is killer). Do you think of developping even more merchandising ? If so, have you any new item in mind? (Car stickers, etc ...)

Our longtime web and shirt designer Pako made some of the new tees based on some rough ideas I sent him. He is amazing! We are always thinking new Kamelot items for the fans to fly!

Will you release a tabs book of Kamelot songs one day ? Even in a limited edition…

I don't think so…not unless someone else makes it ;)

Kamelot has written more engaged songs, on more modern themes. Will you carry on that way ?

We will continue to use modern themes but I also want to bring back some melody to the new album.

When you write your lyrics, do you have in mind the fans who will read them ? Do you write your songs in order to make people think, or consider the main topics of today?

Lyrics must have an intelligent approach but also touch the soul and hit a common nerve with the listener. Many of the songs for Kamelot are based on love, hate, religion and tragedy… these themes are universal and lay an open ground for lyrical content. Challenging the listener to think about things is a big point for me and has some weird irony, especially on religious subjects.

The music industry has changed dramatically in recent years. Does the explosion of the digital stuff and the slowing of illegal downloading have a positive impact on Kamelot sales ?

I would hope that making digital downloads easier has helped. I never download anything illegally, never. If I cant pay 1 Euro for a song or 10 for an album then I wont download it. With the Iphone its so easy to find and download a song or album. Our digital sales are very strong, because our core fans have a belief and understanding in supporting the band. It's the same with concerts and merchandise, without this income we cannot exist.

Does it make a difference for Kamelot to have your own record company in the US ? (more independence, freedom of movement but also more responsibility ...)

It's good and also it can be too much to handle if you want to only be a musician. We have gotten several new offers for the next album from different record companies. I am considering them now. Having the control has been great but it comes with more responsibility.

In the same vein, do you plan in the future to invest in your own recording studio to release (or remaster) Kamelot's albums ? Have you ever thought of producing young music bands ?

I still like traveling and recording in different studios. I will do some solos and small parts of the new album at my home studio. I don't have a lot of interest in producing other artists, I am looking at expanding the management and artist development of KMI Entertainment.

Have you worked on the solo project you spoke of several times before ? (I know that this question come back every time, but we want it !)

Maybe after this next album, I wish I had more time because there are some many great singers and artists that have offered to appear on my solo album. For now it's KAMELOT KAMELOT KAMELOT.

What is your main motivation to carry on with this job that's not so easy ? Is the support of your family, of your friends and of the Kamelot Nation still strong enough to help you keep bringing Kamelot higher and higher ?

My main motivation is the band and the fans. We are like brothers, the band is like my family on the road. The fans are our extended family and their support has been a huge motivator for all of us in the band. But the main reason is that everyone in the band loves what we do, we love touring, performing and meeting the fans.

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