Interview with an Artist - Sara Vertanen

Living in the Sunshine State, we do have a good list of metal bands here like Kamelot, Seven Kingdoms, and Iced Earth, but as well have some independent artists who are starting their own solo careers. Here, a local flutist by the name of Sara Vertanen, with whom I first crossed passed with back in 2014 at a Lacuna Coil concert, is on her way to releasing her symphonic metal flute album that is yet to be named, planned to be released sometime next year. Sara has gained attention on YouTube with her flute covers of songs by popular symphonic metal artists such as Epica and Nightwish.

Aside from being a full-time student, engineer, and an up and coming solo artist, I wanted to take a chance to chat with Sara herself to talk about her Symphonic Metal Flute album that is in the works and a way to have her name out there to get listeners interested into this genre that she hopes to break boundaries with her flute being the main voice. With hard work and dedication, she has managed to promote her music by performing at arenas, talent shows, and opening for sports competitions, showing off her musical abilities to the people in Orlando.

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Joshua: "Hi Sara, thank you for taking the time to join us for this interview, how are you doing?"

Sara: "I’m doing great, thank you! Hope everything is going well with you!"

Joshua: "I'm doing very great as well, thank you. So, I've been keeping a track of your updates working on your debut flute album, how exciting is it to have something big like this in the works?"

Sara: "It’s honestly a dream of mine that has come true. I never thought I’d be able to embark on a full-length metal album, especially being a classically trained flutist!"

Joshua: "It sure is, and I'm excited that this dream of yours is coming to fruition! Aside from the global pandemic we have, how do you still continue the process of the upcoming album?"

Sara: "Fortunately, most of what I do on a daily basis is all remote work so there wasn’t too much of an adjustment. The musicians and artists that help me are national and international so online collaborative communications are a very natural part of what we do."

Joshua: "While maintaining the social distancing guidelines, do you happen to have a production team that is working the album as well, or is it you own your own?"

Sara: "I definitely could not do this on my own! I have a rather robust team that includes composition support and orchestration by Ricardo Giarratana (Canada), Kurt Moulison (USA), and Andrew Rycots (Italy). Guitarist Roman Nemtsev (Russia), Bassist Marcin Palider (Poland), Drummers Daniel J. Gallardo (USA), and Kristian Campos (USA), Graphic Artist Vinicius Hummel (Brazil), and a few additional guest musicians I’ve worked with for other songs. I’m so grateful for their hard work and talent. They really bring the songs to life and each person has such a unique style that adds a ton of character to each song they record."

Joshua: "As we've discussed the album you're working one, would you like to give our readers an introduction to who is Sara Vertanen and the music you create?"

Sara: "Sara Vertanen is a crossover artist specializing in merging flute with symphonic metal music. I try to take some of the elements from the classical sector and integrate it into heavy instruments to create something unique where the flutes get their moment in the spotlight."

Joshua: "As mentioned above, the flute is taking the role of the voice in the spotlight. What gave the idea that you decided that this instrument will be taking the lead on this album?"

Sara: "Having performed Symphonic Metal covers on the flute, replacing voice with flute is how I honestly love to hear songs. Original Symphonic Metal music with flute as the lead has not been done before (to my knowledge) which provided a great avenue that’s completely open to exploration. The best part of having an instrumental lead melody is that it can transcend all language barriers and accent preferences. I was inspired by Apocalyptica and their instrumental music and thought that flute could also do something similar."

Joshua: "From what you explained, what do you hope fans will take away from this album?"

Sara: "My hope is that people can see that flute has the potential to do much more than classical or any of its stereotypical roles. Even when the flute is used in metal, I’m working to create a spotlight for flute in areas beyond the folk and traditional styles. I also hope that I can really change the way that Alto Flute is used in modern compositions. It’s such a dynamic instrument that can be used for more than harmony or in the “Spa and Relaxation” genre. Overall, I’m hoping to expand and normalize the way the flute is integrated into heavy metal music."

Joshua: "What do you think will be the unique selling point of the album?"

Sara: “Without giving too much away, I’d say the unique selling point of the album is that each song is very different from each other and the arrangement in which I use the flutes (C Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo, and Bass Flute) will be something incredibly unique to both the classical flute genre and the metal genre."

Joshua: "Is there anything that you would consider on this album that makes it special that you did something different in some way?"

Sara: “I think just the overall concept of the album is incredibly special to have flutes take a strong lead and blend with a heavy rhythm section. I think this will bring a new version of Symphonic Metal that hasn’t been experienced before."

Joshua: "The flute is your voice, how long have you been playing it and what musical training do you have under your belt?"

Sara: “I’ve been playing the flute since 2006, so 14 years now. I was a huge “band-geek” throughout middle and high school. I took private lessons and studied under the supervision of Olesya Pankiv (National P.I Tchaikovsky Conservatory Opera Studio) and Irene Pruzan (Vice President of the Florida Flute Association) and was a member of the University of Central Florida Flute Choir under the direction of Dr. Nora Lee Garcia. I’ve performed with the University of Oregon Ensemble and numerous other ensembles throughout Central Florida. During high school, I was a member of the marching band which had an incredibly rigorous practice and competition schedule. I’ve competed in Solo Performance at both the District and State Levels for Flute, Piccolo, and Piano. I’ve also performed and competed in Jazz ensembles on electric bass guitar as well. Having a classical background is such a major influence for the music I do now and I’m incredibly grateful for the experiences I’ve had as a soloist and ensemble member."

Joshua: "Prior to working on your original solo album, you do have a music career through YouTube from covering songs from bands like Epica, Nightwish, and Within Temptation. Going from doing covers to an original composer, what has changed the way you approach the music?"

Sara: “Going from covers to originals was incredibly intimidating. The most intimidating part was going from performing songs that were proven to be amazing and well-received to doing something completely new. I remember the first time I performed my first original song, 'Blackened Heart of Gold', for an audition to perform at the Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, FL. I was so nervous but the warm reception I received was incredibly encouraging. The main change is having the confidence to perform something that is so personal versus something that belongs to another band."

Joshua: "While on the topic from transitioning from covers to original music, were there any moments you found the compositions were easy or songs that have been difficult to write?"

Sara: "Honestly, working with the musicians that are a part of this team makes everything seem easy! It’s more difficult to decide which direction a song should go, how the production is going to work out, and if any additional instruments or effects need to be added. I love how everyone adds their own personal touch to things and it just makes the whole process so much more enjoyable. The most difficult part is working out the timing, logistics, and communication since everyone is spread out across the globe."

Joshua: "Though we're still midst in a pandemic and not knowing when this will end, are any live performances in the works on after the album is released?"

Sara: "Originally, I was planning on performing at the Addition Financial Arena on Oct. 21st, 2020 to debut my upcoming single, "Manifested Imagery"; however, that was canceled. I’m most definitely looking into doing some sort of special live event that’s socially distanced and/or live streamed for when my full-length album comes out. Even though I didn’t perform symphonic metal flute very often live before the pandemic since YouTube is my main platform, I’m always looking for more opportunities to perform this new style of music for people!"

Joshua: "You just answered my next question, but for emphasis, would you consider doing a live stream or some kind of live acoustic or a studio rehearsal session?”

Sara: "I’m most definitely interested in doing a live stream! My group arrangement gets a little difficult to perform together live considering we’re all in different countries with very busy schedules. As much as I’d love to do a live acoustic or studio rehearsal, I’d have to really be creative with how that can be achieved. I mostly perform solo since everyone else is so far away so I’m also constantly looking for opportunities to perform that way as well."

Joshua: "What is something that you think people don’t understand what it takes to be a musician?"

Sara: “I think that the time and money dedication is significantly underestimated. Lessons cost money, the instruments cost money, and everything for the recording side, the production side, the distribution side, the marketing side, etc. just adds up. The time I’ve spent on this album is significantly greater than I ever expected but I’ve learned so much from this experience that it’s all worth it.

Joshua: "For bettering their careers, do you think musicians should get into music law when it comes to being an independent or unassigned to a label?"

Sara: "It’s definitely something every musician should be aware of. Understanding more than the basics is essential to make sure nobody is taken advantage of or being swayed by label/management/PR/etc. contracts."

Joshua: "For you, what have YOU learned about being in the music business?"

Sara: "I’ve learned more than I ever imagined! It’s such an interesting business that can get very complicated before you know it. The general business has been something that’s interested me for a long time and I’ll even be achieving my master’s degree in Engineering Management in December. My education in Engineering Management definitely ties into how I perceive the music business. The main things I learned about the music business is that clear communication, professionalism, organization, and being aware of every small detail are incredibly important."

Joshua: "What do you think about the way music affects people’s lives, even changing them?"

Sara: "As we can see from the pandemic, art and music have been paramount to helping people get through difficult times, whether it’s through listening or actively playing. For me personally, the flute is my life and it’s so important to help me take a break from Engineering, school, and other areas of life."

Joshua: "Outside of the business aspect, how has music affected you, personally?"

Sara: "Working on this album has helped me tremendously in how I communicate my ideas to people. It has given me the confidence to know that I can be a part of a genre that I love so much even as a flutist. It’s like a way of breaking boundaries from the strictly classical world."

Joshua: "Anyone or anything, what has been your inspiration to your music?"

Sara: "In general, my main music inspirations are Epica and Apocalyptica. For the album, I’ve definitely incorporated influences from Epica, Nightwish, ASP, and Orphaned Land."

Joshua: "Where do you see your music career in the next 5 years and what are your personal goals or dreams in life?"

Sara: "I hope to be continuing to produce Symphonic Metal Flute songs, albums, and other content and perform live. My long term personal goals for flute are to perform at an outdoor festival and an open-air stadium and it would be a dream come true to perform with Epica and/or Apocalyptica on stage."

Joshua: "That's certainly a dream I would like to see happen before my eyes live if there was a show planned here! So, is there anything else you would like to add that I might have missed before heading onto the last question?"

Sara: "Please check out my new and upcoming single, 'Manifested Imagery' on your favorite streaming platform!"

Joshua: "How would you finish this sentence? Music is…"

Sara: "...soul. And I don’t mean soul as in the genre! To me, my flute is like a way to communicate the passion I have for what I do."

Joshua: "We have reached the end of our interview, is there anything you would like to say to our readers?"

Sara: "I just want to give a heartfelt “THANK YOU” so much for all the support and open-mindedness to a new genre of Symphonic Metal and I look forward to making more music for everyone!"

Joshua: "Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview, Sara! I wish you a lot of luck on your debut album!"

Sara: "Thank you so much!"

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Connect with Sara Vertanen online:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Bandcamp | Spotify