Wywiad z Tarją dla Voices of enchantment.com

Patty

After the recent events and the two press conferences people are worrying about how you´re feeling at the moment. Did you already get over the whole affair a little bit ?

I am getting on my feet again after mentally very hard and sad weeks. I had made plans for my Christmas concert tour already before knowing that my career in Nightwish would end. Basically I have needed to get better very soon, because my first concert will take place in one week. Anyway, I have never needed to face as difficult period in my life as now. The pressure has been so huge, especially from the Finnish mediašs side that it has been hard to bear. Life goes on, that´s for sure, but definitely in a different light. I want to thank all the people that have been sending me beautiful letters and emails in these last weeks. I want them to know that I have read every one of them and those words were really needed.

A lot of people here think that the way the guys of Nightwish handled this matter in public was very tasteless and immature, especially how they dragged your husband into this. What does Marcelo think and feel about all that ?

Of course he is sad about the way the band handled the situation, but he is not giving interviews to anybody even though there have been many requests. He finds that it is not his position to reply to the band's accusations.

How did you manage to get along with the ongoing smoking, drinking, and partying during the long tours with Nightwish which would have progressively affected your health condition and personal sensibility ?

Well...I was not one of the partying people on tour! My voice, which is very fragile, has always put limitations to me and those limits I have needed to follow. Otherwise I wouldn't have sang since ages anymore in Nightwish or anywhere else. It has been very important to get enough rest for the body and mind in order to have been able to continue touring without getting sick and cancelling shows. Touring was for me somehow time to work, time to meet people and enjoy of the concerts. During tours I kept my body in condition, by swimming when ever I could and vocalising every concert days. I can have fun and go out with my friends when I am in private. That time is not on tours.

After the shows I was the first one to get back to the hotel to sleep, because it was just impossible for me to stay at the venues after the concert partying and talking with the people. After the concert I needed to let my voice relax and calm down. I couldn't talk with anybody, I just had my tea and kept quiet. This situation is comparable with somebody practicing sports. After the performance the body needs to get back to it's normal condition and for me it was vital not to continue speaking with an already tired voice.

For most of the fans the magic of Nightwish was based on the combination of heavy metal and your enchanting voice and charisma. Could you imagine to also realize this tension between "emotion and harshness" in your future projects or are you going to do something totally different ?

I see myself as a singer, not a particular categorized 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 can not 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 is not existing in a music market nowadays. Production wise my goal is very ambitious and I will need help from many musicians and producers.

Are you planning to have children in the near future or are you rather concentrating on your career ?

Our plans for the future haven't changed that much even though I am no longer the singer of Nightwish. I have thought to start building the family in 5 years time because I believe I still have time. I love kids but I don't want to put them in the middle of the most important time of the career. I always wanted to have kids when the time is right. I don't want them to suffer because the mother is too busy with her things.

In the course of your Christmas Tour this year you'll also do two concerts in Germany. So one question that is especially on the mind of your German fans is: May we expect more concerts of you in Germany in the future ?

I really hope there is a chance for me to perform in Germany on my own in the future. My plans for my solo career includes touring on my own, with my band. First of course I have MANY things to take care, make a great album, get a great performing band....In any case I won't leave my German fans out!

Your Christmas concerts definitely will be a beautiful preparation for the upcoming holidays. Where will you spend the Christmas holidays this year and how is Christmas celebrated in Finland traditionally ?

In Finland many people are used to go to the church on Christmas morning, very early morning. Usually the weather is very cold. Last Christmas we had 30 °C!!!! For my family it has been a tradition to go to the church. Christmas has always meant to me time to be with the family and friends. Time to relax, enjoy the peace and remember the real meaning of Christmas. This year my family and I are going to spend Christmas eve at our home, at least that is the biggest wish I have for Santa! Then on the Christmas day I will travel with Marcelo to Thailand for holidays. This is going to be our first holiday both of us alone in 5 years time.

You´ve travelled around the world a lot. Is there any place you like best or with which you associate special memories ?

Costa Rica is such a beautiful country. We were there with friends last January. We rented a car and drove all around the country. It was amazing time. It would be nice one day to return for those secluded beaches...

What do you do to relax after a stressful day and what are the things you like best besides singing and music ?

I like to watch movies. We have pretty nice collection of them at home. Usually when I get home after stressful day, I light up many candles and just enjoy my home and quietness with a big cup of tea and woollen socks.

The last question is something personal which is on my mind, since I'm a quite spiritual person. Do you consider yourself as spiritual ?

I guess I am. I am willing to experience new things all the time and I am looking the world with an open mind. I have people around me that have abilities that not every human being has. Them among other things happening in my life, made me understand the life from a different perspective. Every day is a gift.