Jørn Lande - Renowned
An Exclusive Interview with Jørn Lande.
Jørn Lande needs little introduction to fans of hard rock and heavy metal. Renowned for his powerful, unmistakable voice and work with bands including Masterplan and Vagabond, the Norwegian vocalist has built a career defined by both versatility and sheer vocal presence. Now, Lande finds himself part of another landmark chapter in metal history, lending his voice to a collaboration with legendary Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi on Iommi’s forthcoming solo album. Ten Tons Of Tone caught up with Lande to discuss working alongside one of metal’s most iconic figures, the creative process behind their collaboration, and what it was like to contribute his voice to a project carrying such a formidable legacy.
The Interview
Ten Tons Of Tone : You’ve built a career around having one of the most recognizable voices in hard rock and heavy metal, yet every collaboration demands a different side of you. When you stepped into Tony Iommi’s world for this album, what was the first thing you consciously chose not to bring from your own musical identity, and what did you feel you needed to discover instead?
Jørn Lande : I didn’t have any strategies going in, or a different approach really, just went in as myself, and with a very strong desire to give it my very best effort. My only focuswas to naturally create the best possible vocal melodies to go with Tony’s guitar riffs and arrangements, and the fact that I could take the time necessary was essential to the end result. There was never a plan to fit a certain“style” or direction, it came about naturally between two musicians with mutual respect for each other.
Ten Tons Of Tone : Tony Iommi has always written riffs that leave space for a vocalist to become another instrument rather than simply singing over the top. As you developed your melodies, were there moments where the guitar itself dictated the emotional direction of your performance, and can you recall a specific example where a vocal idea changed because of the character of one of Tony’s riffs?
Jørn Lande : Of course, when working with Tony his music naturally pulls you creatively into a darker and deeper mode for melodies and lyrics. Sometimes Tony would change his riffs to fit my melodies, other times I altered my melodies to fit his changes to riffs and musical structures.
Ten Tons Of Tone : Listeners often hear the finished performance without appreciating how many creative decisions happen before a single lyric is recorded. During the making of this album, was there a point where Tony challenged one of your instincts, or perhaps encouraged you to explore a direction you hadn’t initially considered, and did that ultimately change how you approached the song?
Jørn Lande : Tony gave me full freedom to create, he wanted me to write “from the heart” and take the time I needed, which made this a thorough and well crafted product. No strict deadlines like when you’re stuck in a record deal. Because of this there were no compromises in creating this album, everything had to be right.
Of course, if it was something in my melodies and lyrics Tony or Mike wanted to challenge, we would look at alternatives together to improve parts.
Ten Tons Of Tone : As I write this, World Alone has released and has created a buzz amongst rockers and metal heads. Looking back now, from your perspective, which performance on the album best represents what you were trying to achieve as an artist rather than simply as a singer?
Jørn Lande : I feel the whole album represents this, as it was a very personal effort behind it.
However, if I had to pick one song it would be Stormwatcher, as it strongly sums up the individual sounds of both Jorn and Tony, and how our identitiesinteract creatively in a very good way. A great majestic track and a future classic!
Ten Tons Of Tone : Years from now, when people revisit this album as another chapter in Tony Iommi’s remarkable body of work, what do you hope they’ll say Jørn Lande contributed that couldn’t have been provided by anyone else?
Jørn Lande : Hopefully they will recognize the quality and efforts behind the music, like I did when listening to my musical heroes growing up. When something is written from within, the distinct sound or style can’t really be provided by anyone else.
Ten Tons Of Tone : Tony Iommi has said that “Anything’s a possibility” in regards to a future tour. Has there been any internal talks about a tour once the album has released, and if ever, what is the possibility we see the artists of From The Dark here in Ireland?
Jørn Lande : The possibility of any live shows will be entirely up to Tony, but it would of course be great fun and a big event if it happens!
For Jørn Lande, working with Tony Iommi represents another remarkable chapter in an already distinguished career. Ten Tons of Tone would like to thank Jørn Lande for taking the time to speak with us and for sharing his insight into this remarkable collaboration with Tony Iommi.