 |
"The Christmas-woman"
While Tarja Turunens first Soloalbum in in preparation, the Christmas CD Henkäys Ikuisuudesta is released - unfortunately just in Finland and Argentina. Exclusively for Metal Hammer, the former frontwoman of Nightwish talks about Santa Claus and her plans for the future.
The translation of the album title Henkäys Ikuisuudesta means "Breath from Heaven". In Tarja's finnish hometown something else is already falling from Heaven in the middle of November. "I have to shovel the snow a few times a day", Tarja laughs. "In my driveway, there is half a meter of that white stuff again." At least, regular shoveling of snow keeps one in shape, although her appointments book is full again.
Interviews were the programme for this week: Newspapers, Radiostations, TV stations. In Finland, Tarja has the status of a Superstar, so there are detailled reports although it's just a Christmas Album. "At five o clock in the morning, my Make up artist stood in front of my hotel room door." Tarja sighs. "I welcomed her with the words that she was the least person I wanted to see at this time of day." No bitching - both women are close friends.
Friendship and family play a huge role in Tarja's life. The annual meeting of her relatives at christmas time means a lot to her: "I'm no christmas fanatic who starts to celebrate in August", the finnish woman explains. "But I finally can be with my whole family again." For Tarja, this is accompanied by a comtemplative mood, candle light, certain smells and maybe one or two glasses of wine. And music. "It's a tradition that I play the piano while the others are singing together." Such songs are to find on Henkäys Ikuisuudesta as well as classical pieces or international Popsongs. The singer made a selection among all the songs that were most appreciated by the audience on her last concert trip; tradidional Christmas songs and pieces that match to the season and mean a lot to her personally. "Although it was supposed to be a finnish album, I wanted it to make my own."
The singer dedicated the first single, the Cori Connors song "You would have loved this", to her deceased mother. "In that song, Cori digested the same experiences of loss I had to go through myself." Tarja says. Besides the comtemplative aspect, there is also a cheerful and happy part. "I was incredibly happy when Benny Andersson of ABBA gave me the permission for my version of their song "Happy new year", she tells with a smile. "As well the english as the spanish version can be found in my record collection. I chose the less kitchy one."
According to Tarja, the plan of doing a chistmas album existed since 2003, but it couldn't be done because of the activities with Nightwish. But why her german fans can just order it from foreign countries, she can hardly explain. "It was supposed to be released in Finland only", explains the singer. "Such christmas albums are a tradition here. But since I live in Argentina too, it's exciting to see how the people there will react." Obviously, the european record companies are not aware of the huge interest in any of her releases.
The finnish way of celebrating christmas seems very exotic in Argentina. "Children there seldom believe in Santa Clause." Tarja winks. "No wonder - with chocolate melting at over 30 degrees." But the finnish woman has a strict opinion about the origin of the bringer of gifts and presents: "Of course Santa Claus is cominand presents: "Of course Santa Claus is coming from Finland!" Tarja yells. "There is no doubt about that!!"
But how was the singer able to get in christmas mood in the middle of this hot summer? "My husband decorated the whole studio with Christmas stuff" she laughs. "Everything was full of elves". With a change of studios, the elves moved along, too. The singer wants to enter the studio the next year again to finally record her soloalbum. "As an artist, this is a huge challange for me", she explains. "I have to make all decisions myself, I'm in full responsibility. At the moment, I daily listen to a lot of songs that were offered to me be different composers. I already decided to take some of them." But your patience will have to last until fall 2007.
Scan and translation Karina