Ex-NIGHTWISH Singer Says It's 'Unusual' To See 'Smiles And Laughter' At End Of Tour

Former NIGHTWISH frontwoman Tarja Turunen has posted an update on her official blog. An excerpt follows:

"I came back to Finland after magnificent tour just a couple of hours ago. It feels good to be back at home. The last concert in London gave us just amazing end for it.

"Everything worked perfect during the concert and we just had a lot of fun. It has been interesting for us to see that every concert has felt better than the previous one for us as musicians. Getting more and more into the spirit of the songs and being able to make a stronger connection with the fans every time.

"Anyway, the feeling was quite sad after the last concert because we truly are going to miss each other. There was something very special going on for 4 weeks among us. Everybody agrees on that.

"It has been very unusual for me to be saluted every day by everybody involved in the shows (production, crew, musicians) with hugs and kisses same way that every night after the day was over. No ass faces around, just smiles and laughter. No silence and indifference, but warmness, long chats and stories of every kind and true interest. Above all, respect within the group of people for everybody’s work and music. None of us needed to be dragged into a hotel room after alcohol overdoses

"Is very unique the feeling of looking into the eyes of the people working with you and finding there honesty."

Read more at this location.

Tarja Turunen will release her new solo album, "My Winter Storm", in the U.S. on February 26, 2008. The CD will be made available in two exlusive U.S. versions via Fontana: the standard and deluxe editions (the latter featuring extra tracks not released elsewhere, as well visually stimulating bonus DVD content).

Tarja filmed a video for her next solo single, "Die Alive", on December 9, 2007 in Berlin, Germany. Check photos from the video shoot at this location.

"My Winter Storm" was produced by Daniel Presley (FAITH NO MORE, JEWEL, THE BREEDERS), who has been joined in the studio by a truly stellar line-up of musicians: Doug Wimbish on bass (LIVING COLOUR, ANNIE LENNOX, JOE SATRIANI, JEFF BECK, MADONNA, ROLLING STONES), Alex Scholpp on electric guitars (FARMER BOYS) and Earl Harvin on drums (SEAL, PET SHOP BOYS, AIR), a player personally selected by Tarja after she saw him stealing the show at a SEAL concert. Keyboards and programming, meanwhile, are being provided by Torsten Stenzel, whose previous credits include NELLY FURTADO, MOBY, TINA TURNER, VANESSA MAE and more.

Watch fan-filmed video footage of Tarja Turunen's November 25, 2007 concert in Berlin, Germany: