James LaBrie interview (excerpts)

R: What was the best and the worst moment of this [solo] tour so far?

James: I don’t think that there have been any worst moments. To me it’s very different because it’s like touring like I did between with Dream Theater, 13 years ago. When we were touring in the States, we were travelling around with a van. I haven’t done that since 1992. But over here we had a tour-bus. There haven’t been any bad moments. It’s really cool. You know, it’s exciting to know that the other guys in the band are loving it, that they’re having a good time. I think, the intimate settings because of playing in smaller venues than with Dream Theater playing for a long time... so, that’s kind of cool because it’s much more intimate and much more in the face of the fans, so I think, it’s all been good. I think, it’s a matter of coming out next time when we decide to do this and having it promoted a bit better. That there’s a bit more awareness, so that the people can plan for it.

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R: Is there anything you didn’t achieve with this final album [Elements of Persuasion] that you felt you wanted to?

James: No, I’m pretty happy with it, we achieved a lot of the goals that we felt we needed to and that we wanted to show this site of us musically. One of the great things doing a solo project is, that I’m able to let the fans hear other things that inspire me, other passions of certain styles of music. And I sing differently than I normally sing in Dream Theater, you can hear different colours of my voice, different ways of expression, different sounds of my voice. I’m extremely happy with this album.

R: Did you get any feedback from the DT-guys?

James: Yeah, I mean John Petrucci and Jordan have both expressed, that they love the album, I think it’s great. I didn’t really talk with Mike or John Myung about it, but they liked it. John Petrucci thinks that Marc is a great guitar player, he is very impressed by him. Well, he is a great guitar player.

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R: In between your singing career you had some problems with your voice. Today you sound better than ever before. What were the reasons for your problems and how did you get your full range and power back?

James: Well, it happened December 30th 1994, my wife and I had gone down to Cuba, when I became extremely ill. It was a food poisoning. I got very sick and I got to the point, where nothing was left in me, but I still had to vomit. I ruptured my vocal cords doing so. I went three years to nose and throat specialists and they didn’t said that I have an irreparable damage, that I will be okay, but it is gonna take a long time to heal, because of its bad.  So from this date, December 1994 to two years ago my voice was very inconstant, I lost some of my range, my voice wasn’t that strong anymore, and I couldn’t rely on it. So live I was very inconstant having a good night and a bad night, I constantly was cracking while singing, what was very, very frustrating, very depressing for me. Finally about two years ago I went to a specialist again, because I felt that everything went good again, feeling my voice really coming back, then I said “everything is right back normal.” They looked down and with their scope and said that everything looks great and everything is all back normal and “you are completely healed.” I only thought “wow, that’s amazing!”. So what I did is to even help me to really get back my top ability, I started to work with Victory Thomson, she was great, she told me that she can teach me to sing properly and that I should stick with her for three weeks, if it is making a difference. I could feel it after two weeks; I could feel my voice responding to her technique. I think now, after this tour, everyone is noticing it. I think I’m singing better then I ever have. I’m singing with more power, more ranges I’m completely back. It’s just really good, you know

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R: A few words to the new DT album, please...

James: It is called up “Octavarium” and it is our eighth-studio album and our last studio album of Atlantic.
All I can say is that it is one of the best we recorded. It is a very powerful album, being progressive and being technical, but still being heavy. There is a lot of atmosphere on this album. I cannot speak for the other guys, but it hits me personally with all its power.

R: How far have you been involved into the writing process this time?

James: I am there right from the beginning of the writing process of the songs until we finish recording and I’m finishing my lyrics and my vocals. But normally John Petrucci has some ideas, Jordan has some ideas and John Myung has some ideas and then, from those seats, Mike gets involved. Before those guys getting really involved, arranging it and shaping and making it become what it becomes, and then I stick into it and hear if I like it or if I’m hearing something different. And when it comes to writing the melodies, it is basically Mike, myself and John Petrucci, so we three sit down, listen through al the songs and write the melodies. Lyrically, Mike takes these songs, John takes another batch of songs and I choose some, so that’s how it works.

R: Are we going to hear one lyric from you on this album?

James: No, two.

R: That’s great!!! 

James: Yeah.

R: Anything else you want to say?

James: No. Well, there should be some surprise left. There are many hidden meanings in the album, eight songs on it. It is really cool! The outwork was done by Hugh Syme, who is famous from all the Rush albums. It is very great and I can’t wait to transcend these songs into a live performance.

R: One note to the official bootleg DVD, where you are performing “When Dream & Day Unite”: I saw it, and it seemed to me that you all especially enjoyed it....am I right?

James: Oh yeah, it was a fantastic evening. We had a great time. Charlie is just such a great guy and it was really fantastic being out there and singing together. It was cool to perform the entire first album and them have Derek come back and join us for a few of the songs as well. It was just a memorable and very cool evening!