01. Many people appreciate you as the voice of Nightwish, others simply know you as a rock diva or a feminine star. Who is Tarja Turunen behind or beyond this public image?
I am a person that is trying to be honest to myself and to my affects. People around me, even the neighbours, know that I am a quiet shy woman. I enjoy listening to people rather than being in the middle of attention. I love to perform and to be on the stage but that stardom is very far away from me when I am living my life in private. As a Leo that I am, I enjoy good company, great food. I am always trying to make things happen the best way possible so that the people close to me could enjoy and be happy.
02. You had the major role in creating the musical success of Nightwish, which turned to be a real "trademark" if we may say so. Not to mention the good publicity Finnish rock scene had through your work. What have been several of the most important musical achievements of your career?
It was a couple of years ago when I realized that I could sing the songs of Nightwish without major problems. It took me many years to learn how to use my voice in that kind of music and mostly the problems at the beginning existed on stage while I was performing with the band. There was no one to help me with the technical problems, so I needed to find the solutions on my own.
The whole career of Nightwish has been a long learning process where I was trying to make progress as a singer. It was very challenging and interesting.
It felt great to receive the first gold record award from Finland in 2000. There will be a day that I might understand better the value of all those amazing awards that Nightwish has achieved during nine years of career.
03. You started your musical career at a very young age (18) and rather inexperienced. Will you please point several specific high-points and major experiences that turned to be very important for your personal becoming as a professional musician.
When I was in a music high school, I got from my first singing exam excellent degree. I was the first student in that conservatoire of music to achieve that. My first singing teacher saw a talent for classical singing in me and she was pushing me to continue with it after the school. She encouraged me and I made my decision to continue my singing studies.
After the high school I got in the only Music University of Finland, Sibelius Academy and that was my dream come true. I knew that there was no turning back; I was studying to become a professional singer.
04. Could you tell us which direction is your solo career going to take from now on. You already tour with classical repertoire for some years. However, should we expect you to release (on a regular basis) albums oriented towards pop music, for example, or will you continue in the "rock / metal" world?
I see myself as a singer, not a particular cathegorized singer doing only one kind of music style. Now many people are thinking that I will be only making Opera since I have been doing classical music for so long, even before Nightwish and also during the band’s career. I will definitely be making classical concerts or taking part in Opera productions in the future, but this doesn't mean that I will be making ONLY classical music.
Nightwish gave me a huge life experience in many ways. It introduced me into metal music and I was accepted in this genre, as myself, no matter what my background was. I learned to like some bands, sounds and elements of metal in my long career with this music style. This means me so much that I just cannot throw it to the garbage. I will use some elements, sound wise from metal in my solo albums. This doesn't mean still that I will be making a metal album! By combining these elements with my voice and a classical orchestra I will reach a bombastic sound and that is something I would love to hear. That sound does not exist in a music market nowadays.
Production wise my goal is very ambitious and I will need help from many musicians and producers.
05. a. Two years ago when we talked backstage after a Nightwish concert in Münich, we recall you feeling great with the “voluptuous heavy guitar sound” (as you described it) and telling it actually took you some years to learn enjoy this properly. What does a guitar sound and a head-banging crowd offer to a musician who also says its favourite composition is Von ewiger Liebe by Brahms?
It was amazing to perform with Nightwish. Even though my voice is not common in rock scene, it has been always me singing through my heart and soul. We were making a show where you could see all the differences of our personalities. The fans and great concerts gave me the energy to perform the way I did. I felt connected with the head-banging audience and founded myself on stage following the same habits!
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