It’s more than two decades since Tarja Turunen was dramatically kicked out of Finnish metal giants Nightwish. Undeterred, she forged an impressive – and diverse – solo career incorporating her love for classical music, Christmas songs, folk and even electronic experimentation across 10 albums. Her latest, Frisson Noir, sees her return to the symphonic metal sound she helped turn into a global movement.
The first music I remember hearing
My parents had beautiful singing voices, and my brother is seven years older and used to play drums and some guitar at home, so there was always music around. But the first thing I really remember was Bonnie Tyler. I really paid attention to her because she was so different from everything else. I was about six years old and had just started playing piano, but hearing Bonnie Tyler’s voice on Total Eclipse Of The Heart had me singing along.
The first song I performed live
As a kid I’d perform at every little party there was in my village. I performed as a piano player and did Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. I remember being terrified going up to play that.
The music that terrified me
I’m not a dark person, but I’m aware there is a darkness within me that I create from. As a kid I was the youngest singer in the opera. When the men were singing Wagner’s Tannhauser, there’s a scene for the male choir only and it’s super-dark and bombastic. Metal came to my life later on and brought me a beautiful darkness that reminds me of that.
The best song ever
The best song ever written is Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, from A Night At The Opera. There are other songs – great songs – on that album, but that one takes your attention. That song is amazing because it takes you in.
The guitar hero
I’ve been very lucky to work with amazing guitar players. Joe Satriani’s sound is very particular and he’s amazing. I’ve seen him live a few times. I remember being in LA many years ago working on my third album [What Lies Beneath], and I was looking for a solo. Doug [Wimbish], my bassist, suggested getting Joe, and I was like: “Come on, he’s not going to want to play on my record.” But he called him up, and he did Falling Awake in a matter of two days.
The singer
Whitney Houston is, for me, the voice. After Bonnie, I discovered Whitney, and my teacher at school insisted I do things like Greatest Love Of All. I could never do it! Her voice was insanely gorgeous and powerful. I’ve got all her albums, live recordings, everything. The album Whitney is incredible. What an emotional voice.
The songwriter
I’d probably pick a composer. Hans Zimmer has written songs too, but he’s more of a film composer. His music has been a huge inspiration for me for many years. I even ended up working in his studio on my first album because I loved the score to Gladiator. That’s still one of my favourite soundtracks of all time. I couldn’t move because I was crying so much in the theatre, all because of the music!
The best record I made
The new one. No, really! I’ve never said that out loud. To be honest with you, I can say that Frisson Noir is my best record. My last album was seven years ago, but I’ve kept myself very busy with live shows, and covid all between. With this album, it represents who I am and where I am at this moment. It’s very personal to me and I’m proud of it.
The worst record I’ve made
Nightwish’s ‘first record’, Angels Fall First, was actually just our second demo. It takes a lot of courage to listen to it; I sound like I had a potato in my mouth! At that time I was studying in the music university and had started taking professional opera training. So I go into the studio for this, and it all took different takes and a completely different voice. I just couldn’t do it at the time. It wasn’t until the last couple of years in Nightwish I actually felt comfortable with my singing. There was nobody out there to teach me. But it did go gold, I suppose.
The most underrated band ever
I lived in Argentina for almost ten years. I discovered a lot of great local artists who were huge in their country, but totally unknown abroad. I love Alejandro Lerner. His melodies were just beautiful.
The song I want played at my funeral
If there’s going to be a funeral, I want it to be ABBA. Seriously, that’s my guilty pleasure, ABBA. On the tour bus, after a couple of glasses of wine, I’ll be blasting it out with my dudes. I went to see the ABBA Voyage twice in London, crying and singing along.
Frisson Noir is out now via earMUSIC.
(LouderSound)
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