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Tarja Turunen’s My Winter Storm album didn’t get tons of love in Decibel. But that’s explainable. Our target audience digs blasting, crusting, and horns throwing stuff. Music girls love to hate. Flowery, Baroque-like things just aren’t adored by the Deci-staff and Deci-faithful. Well, unless you’re Adrien Begrand, Rod Smith or me. We’re sensitive scribes (don’t tell anyone that).
Loads of drama surrounded her departure from Finnish megastars Nightwish in 2005. All that’s past Tarja now. Her debut album expectedly went to #1 in Finland, where it also holds platinum status. It also rocked the charts in Russia, Germany and Austria. Nightwish may’ve catapulted Tarja into the hearts of teary-eyed metallers the world over, but she’s now on her own and wouldn’t have it any other way.
What’s going on in Tarja’s world?
Well, the first album is out. It has been nice for it to be so successful. I’ve been working quite a lot with that. It was the first time I was able to compose songs on my own. It was fantastic. It’s learning experience. I’ve been touring a lot for this album. I’ve done Europe three times and South America once. Now, I’m coming to the USA, Canada, and some other countries in Latin America.
You’ve been here before with Nightwish.
Yes. Yes, I’ve been. I have an official fanclub called Winter Storm. They’re in the USA. So, I really hope to see some of those people. I’m very happy. I’m working on the next album, composing songs for an album to be released next year. If everything goes fine. [Laughs]
Were you ever insecure about working outside of Nightwish?
Definitely, the biggest challenge was making sure everyone understood what the heck I was going after. Sound- and music-wise. The record company, which is a new record company for me, understood that I’m not seeking an album that’s only heavy metal. An album that is categorized in one category. They understood I come from a different perspective with a different background. I have to somehow tell my story with the album. That was the biggest challenge. Making sure everyone understood what I was going for. And then to be the only person responsible for everything was a lot of work. But I was so lucky to have all these beautiful people working with me. The band is great. Some of those musicians are still part of my band. It’s been a good learning experience. Writing the music was a big step for me. I needed the courage to go for it.
Did you know exactly what you wanted to do musically?
Yeah, I was able to see it clearly from the beginning. I really fought for the sound I wanted. It was not an easy way to go, but from the beginning I knew it was the only way. Definitely.
There’s a lot of drama regarding your departure from Nightwish. Have you read Mape Ollila’s Once upon a Nightwish book?
No, I haven’t read the book.
Have you ever wanted to seek guidance from your former bandmates?
No, it never occurred to me. I’m very aware of what I want and how I live my life. I’m really OK with everything.
You mentioned a new album. Can we expect a similar album to My Winter Storm?
Variety will exist. I’ll cut it short. I feel that I’m a singer. I can’t be categorized. People tend to categorize you. For me, it has never been easy like that. I do not feel it’s a weak point—it’s a strength actually—for me to sing heavy metal and classical music. I’ve worked hard. I work on my voice. That’s still going on. For the first album, I missed a bit of the harder side of me. When everything was done, I wasn’t satisfied with the guitar sound. It wasn’t as powerful as I was expecting. That is something I’m going for on the new album. The heavier parts need to pop out. There will be variety in the songs.
My Winter Storm was very orchestral…
…I love that. It’s very important to me.
What I liked was that it didn’t sound like a bunch of layered keyboards.
Yeah, it’s a real one. [Laughs] Definitely.
You’ll hire an orchestra for the new album?
Yes. I hope that I can work with the same guys. I think they’re expecting to work with me on future albums. They’re guys from Los Angeles. They’ve been working for most of their careers in film music. They are really talented. They’re arranging the orchestra, composing soundtracks and they were very helpful when I was putting the album together. I’ll meet them when I go to Los Angeles. I’m really looking forward to what we’re going to come up with.
Will the next album be a spring or a summer album?
[Laughs] Was my last album a winter album? I don’t know. Actually, the next album will be more personal. I don’t think there will be songs on the album that anybody but me will compose. I don’t think seek someone else’s songs. This album needs to be really personal. All the aspects of my life will be there. My life in general. Living in two different cultures in Argentina and Finland. This all has to do with my music.
What’s it like to live in Argentina? As a Finn.
I’ve been a lucky girl. I’ve traveled a lot. When I was a little girl I traveled with my parents in Europe and in the USA. It was, for me, a life-changing experience. I realized I needed to be more open-minded, seeing different cultures and people. It was a learning experience to see people can survive the same situations but differently. There is never one way to do things. Stuff like that. With Nightwish, I traveled a lot. Now, I seek to perform in places I’ve never been. To live in Argentina…I love the country. I love the people. They’re open-minded. They have teaching me a lot to open up about myself. To talk about problems. Inner thoughts.
That’s not very Finnish of you.
Really. I’m serious. It’s not the culture my homeland supports. We are very cold and closed people. We are not too open to discuss why you don’t like what you do, for example. There’s a definite difference. But it hasn’t been a problem. I’m so enjoying the situation.
On a related note, do you feel strange putting personal things out there in your music and lyrics?
Ahh, that was a step I took with My Winter Storm. It was a brave step I needed to take. I was very nervous in the beginning. I didn’t know how people would react. I didn’t know if people would think I was chicken chick. I was nervous that the music wouldn’t be clever. Stuff like that. I had lots of thoughts like that. I had people to encourage me. They gave me support. I then realized there’s nothing for me to lose. If it’s from the bottom of my heart, people will feel that. The message will go through. The reality is I can’t make music for everybody’s taste. You can only make music for yourself. If other people like it then it’s a beautiful thing. [Laughs] All this is behind me now. I enjoy facing my fears. By the way, I got my first grand piano today in my home. After this interview, I’m going to run to it. It’s beautiful to be able to create something on your own.
A grand piano. What’s the first thing you played on it?
Well, I had the pleasure to play on it a couple of times. It’s a very old Bechstein, a German piano from 1928. It has been fully restored. Beautifully done. Except the outside parts. It’s a very old shiny black piano. I think the first thing I played on it was something very moody.
I kind of picture you playing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.”[b]
[Laughs] No way in hell! I’m a moody player.
[b]So, “Chopsticks”?
[Laughs] No! Even worse!
www.tarjaturunen.com