band and that I’m devoted to keeping the dream alive.
KZ: Did you put a lot of effort into this
album? How you can describe work over
this album? Can you share your favorite
or funny moments of the album’s
making?
DVG: Oh, wow! Well I wasn’t that involved in
production because when I joined Xandria the
songs were already written and recorded. So
what I did is edit the vocal lines a little bit to
match my voice to them--so yeah, I only
changed a few things so that I could feel a part
of it--and I added some extra high notes. About
the rehearsals--we were very serious in the
rehearsals, so we weren’t exactly joking
around. I recorded the vocal line with SASCHA
PAETH (EPICA and RHAPSODY OF FIRE)--he’s
located near Wolfsburg. We recorded all the vocals and the harmony parts in nine days and it is really
great!
KZ: I especially like “Dreamkeeper”, “Nightfall” and “Our Neverworld”. Can you tell
something more about these songs? Where did the idea to write such lyrics and create
such catchy melodies come from?
DVG: Well, all the lyrics and the three songs you just named are from MARCO. There are very different
songs. One is a love song about taking your love on a journey together, and going into this neverending, fairy tale, and being happily there together. “Nightfall” is about how people are wasting time-and are generally ignorant about how we are really destroying nature (and many other things). And
then you also have “Come with Me”, right? These songs are profound and ask to look into one’s deep
self. I think it expresses the whole beauty of romantic love that comes across in a very natural way.
KZ: What topics are the most important for you to describe in lyrics? What are your main
influences as a vocalist?
DVG: For me as a vocalist, it really important is to have enough sleep and eat healthy, so I get my
vitamins and make sure I exercise enough so that my body is in condition. Well, that is difficult to do
when touring, because we are so busy and you have late night shows. After that I just have tons of
energy and I’m not tired at all, but then the morning after, I’m totally tired! Luckily most of the time,
I’ll just listen to some music and chill and then I have the strength for another evening. Also, I don’t
smoke at all. I always stay away from people who smoke--it is so bad for the voice! I also do not drink
alcohol while I’m touring. I warned the guys I might be a little bit boring while touring. Yeah, but they