SuomiRocks was recently invited along to hear the world premiere of Tarja Turunen's new solo album, 'My Winter Storm' in London. This was followed by a press conference by the former Nightwish singer and a signing session for fans lucky enough to win a competition through the UK's Rock Sound Magazine.

The session started with a video of Tarja in the studio in Ireland explaining the thoughts behind the album, followed by eight audio tracks that which were literally hot off the mixing desk and hadn't even been heard by Tarja in full yet. She later told us that there'll be 13 on the final album, including the tantalising announcement that there would be a cover of Alice Cooper's 'Poison'.

So how did the album sound? Absolutely HUGE.

You have to remember that I was not a particular fan of the old Nightwish or Tarja's voice. But this album blew me away at the first listen and left me open-mouthed and wanting to hear it again.

'Lost Norther Star' opened and totally floored us like a hurricane hitting a building, setting the scene for the album. It starts atmospherically with Tarja's operatic voice... and then the guitars crash in, heavy rock style. Anyone who thought Tarja would retreat to the more classical side of her performances is going to be very surprised. It also immediately became clear just how much work has gone into this album, the arrangements, the production... it's all massive. There are 74 vocal tracks alone on this song apparently. The sound just hits you like a wall.

'My Little Phoenix' is a track that is a little more pop / rock with atmospheric drums and tinkling chimes, before a hugely operatic chorus. There's a beautiful instrumental section that builds up and sounds like a soundtrack to a film, something else that is a repeated theme on this album. Tarja made no secret of all the film soundtracks she had been using as inspiration to get the sound she wanted, and she's succeeded, many of the tracks here could be used in such a way.

'Oasis' was next and was a track written solely by Tarja, originally as an instrumental, showing that she has more strings to her bow than some give her credit for. It is a beautiful song complete with haunting cellos. It has you drifting along, before the piano comes in and then has Tarja humming along, reminding me of old Clannad tunes, maybe the Irish influences of the studio playing a part. The vocals bring up images of running barefoot in the forest, again succeeding in creating imagery and atmosphere.

The next track we heard was 'Sing for me', which has whispered words like voices in your head. Dark lyrics such as "It's getting hard to breathe", "Virgin soul inside of me, getting raped by insecurity" belie the fact that this has some catchy and light parts and a huge operatic chorus, with Tarja backed by a large choir. You could feel the emotion in this, just as she wanted.

'Die Alive' is a great rock track with heavy guitars and a catchy chorus. It stands out as slightly more commercial and builds into a huge crescendo.

'Minor Heaven' has a pretty start with a piano and violin / cello sounds, and is a slower ballad style song, with Tarja hitting some pretty high notes and showing off her range. Again it has a strong chorus and there is a lot going on in this song so sometimes it was a little difficult to make out all of the lyrics.

'Ciaran's Well' Tarja goes metal. Machinehead would maybe be proud of this. Heavy metal guitars and screaming, which I personally found really too much. It was a bit like a nightmare for me, but maybe that's what it's supposed to convey?

'The Reign' was the last track we got to hear and was labelled a "reflective soundscape". Tarja's voice floats up and down with a pleasant melody and beautiful string arrangements.

The room was left in silence, all pretty stunned by the sounds we'd heard. 'I Walk Alone' (the first single from the album) and 4 more tracks make up what is going to be an album to win Tarja some new fans and surprise even her rock solid existing fans. She wanted to make an album that could touch people, that had massive sounds to blow your mind, to challenge and surprise, to conjure up images of power and beauty and her home country... she has succeeded on all counts.

Tarja came along after we'd heard the tracks and seemed endearingly nervous at first before relaxing and having some fun. She answered a flurry of questions and explained how she hopes that the album will characterise her as a singer. There were of course questions about Nightwish to initial boos, but Tarja honestly answered most, and cannily avoided some others. We'll not go into details about what else was said as all the interview will be published in Rock Sound in mid November, but she was sweet, interesting, funny, articulate and a delight to listen to. Very different to the quite stand-offish persona that sometimes came across when she was Nightwish's singer, and she was a total pleasure to meet.

And yes, we did of course ask her if she'd been to moominworld and who her favourite moomin was in good old Suomirocks tradition. The answer... she hasn't been, but did reveal a secret she's never shared before: she dressed up as Mama Moomin for her graduation party!

Tuomas may have played a total blinder with Nightwish's new album, Dark Passion Play, but Tarja has more than matched him; My Winter Storm is quite amazing.



by Lynn, http://suomirocks.com