Talking with . . . Brazen Abbot
Interviewed 4/30/2006 by Brett VanPut
Interview with guitarist Nikolo Kotzev
Nikolo Kotzev is a Bulgarian musician who first came to be known for his participation in the rock band Baltimoore. He put together the band Brazen Abbot and released three albums; Live and Learn, Eye of the Storm, and Bad Religion, in the nineties. A few years later he released the Nostradamus project before returning with two more Brazen Abbot albums; 2003's Guilty as Sin and 2005's My Resurrection. Among the legendary singers Kotzev recorded with are Joe Lynn Turner, Tony Harnell, Glenn Hughes, Goran Edman, and Jorn Lande. Here is Nikolo to discuss his work.
What are you working on these days?
I am writing a new rock opera. It's gonna be a similar format to the previous one I made, with a symphonic orchestra and different singers. I'm still writing it and I'm midway, it's gonna take a very long time to complete it. It depends on if I'm gonna be home a lot. I'm trying to finish it as soon as I can.
Will it be similar to Nostradamus?
It will be similar, stylewise it's gonna be more progressive, more complex. The story is very good, it calls for special styles. I'm really pleased with how things will turn out.
Will you play shows with Brazen Abbot?
Nothing is planned yet, but I'm talking to a few promoters about getting some festivals together. At this point in time, nothing's confirmed. I love playing live. This is my real virtue. This has been a project for a long time and it was never my primary focus to get Brazen Abbot on the road but now is the right time to get it on the road. After the tenth anniversary of the band, I'm gonna enjoy playing live and I hope we have some occasions.
Have the reissues made American audiences interested in Brazen Abbot?
The only impression that I have is that the reviews have been surprisingly great, especially the American audience. I would really love to come to play in the States. I don't have the right contacts now, but the first chance I get I will be there.
How do you like living in Finland?
I don't know how the mainland of Finland is, I live on an island in the Baltic sea. It's a country, within a country since we have independent status. We have people who speak Swedish here. It's uncommon to meet Finnish people on the island. It's a very small place. I enjoy being here when I write. When I write I have to disconnect myself from the world and try to transport myself into an imaginary world where I can hear the music I want to write. It's the wrong place to be when I search for contacts within the business.
What's the weather like?
It's much warmer than central Europe. Central Europe has temperatures below zero.
What was it like working with a thirty one piece orchestra?
I have worked with the orchestra several times, but having it for this was quite refreshing. I happened to be in Bulgaria, which is my home country, and I was thinking how cool it would be to have these powerful riffs on the new album backed up by a full orchestra. I arranged things for a few days and we went in and recorded the orchestra. It's always cool to work with a lot of people and have a huge recording. I really enjoy that. I'm used to working with many people. It's not my first recording of that magnitude. It was very rewarding because I could hear the songs take a new life. It was different from just having a rock band.
How did you hook up with Tony Harnell?
I'm always looking for new talent for Brazen Abbot. Frontiers is in contact with some fantastic singers. I went out and bought the latest T.N.T. record and it was very good. I simply got in touch with him and it worked out.
Are there any singers you haven't worked with that you would like to?
There are some legends and they have their own careers so it's not easy to recruit these people. I've tried to get David Coverdale, who is one of my favorite singers and I didn't even get a reply. It would be cool to work with Ronnie Dio, Alice Cooper. He would fit one of the roles in my new rock opera.
Your music has a timeless quality to it.
I don't think a composer should adjust to time or the new way of music. A good composer should just right from the heart and if he's good enough the audience will understand him. I can't say that I don't really listen to what's happening but I still try to remain true to Brazen Abbot. I try to improve the production and sound. I always try to take a step forward. The style is always gonna be like Brazen Abbot. On the last album I really made an effort to try different styles, but still in Brazen Abbot's style. Picking the right singer for the right song is very important. If you have a band you're locked. If you become enemies with someone, they literally pack their bags and go. Bands are always associated with their singers, that's why I started this project rather than a band. The first project, I started out working with three singers.
Have you considered bringing your music to the stage or film?
There have been talks. At least ten occasions there was an initiative born and started talks but it always became obvious that we lacked the budget. If you engage all your effort and energy to do that and not succeed you become bitter and not achieve anything. I decided to not make an effort to do this and go and make more music. If Nostradamus was meant to be put on stage, it will happen. I'm just waiting for the right people to approach me.
Discography:
2005... My Resurrection (Frontiers)
2003... Guilty As Sin (SPV)
1997... Bad Religion (U.S.G.)
1996... Eye Of The Storm (U.S.G.)
1995... Live And Learn (U.S.G.)
Current line-up:
Tony Harnell... vocals
Joe Lynn Turner... vocals
Goran Edman... vocals
Erik Martensson... vocals
Nikolo Kotzev... guitars and keyboards
Wayne Banks... bass
Mattias Knutas... keyboards
home.aland.net/brazen.abbot
[Link to this page]
<< Back
