Nightwish Mainman: We Are Not Looking For A Tarja Clone
Band Photo: Nightwish (?)
NIGHTWISH mainman Tuomas Holopainen has finished composing two new songs for the group's next studio album which is not expected to surface until 2007, the keyboardist revealed in a brand-new interview published in the Finnish newspaper Keskisuomalainen. According to Holopainen, the band are hoping to begin recording their next album in September 2006, but if need be, they are willing to push back the projected recording sessions for their next CD even further so that a suitable replacement for the recently departed singer Tarja Turunen can be found.
Like 2004's "Once", the group's next CD will likely take at least six months to record, which means that the new singer's contributions to the new album will not be put down on tape until sometime in early 2007 — giving the band more time to find the right person to replace Tarja.
Holopainen told the Keskisuomalainen newspaper that the band's style will not change now that Turunen is gone. The next NIGHTWISH album will follow the same musical path as the band's most recent releases, but with a new female vocalist.
"It will be interesting to see how many singers will apply for the position," Tuomas is quoted as saying. "After all, Tarja is is a first-rate singer, and replacing her will not be easy.
"The new singer will be chosen not only for her singing skills. She must also be beautiful, charismatic and she must possess a great deal of self-esteem.
"We will not necessarily pick a Tarja clone," Holopainen continued. "We will be open to a slightly new sound, especially when it comes to the vocalist."
Although the band's requirements for the new singer are high, Holopainen knows that the group's fan base will not necessarily welcome their return with open arms.
"Of course, we will get a few beer cans thrown on the stage when we fist start playing out with the new singer," Tuomas said. "Some of our fans are die-hard Tarja devotees and those people will never accept the fact that we can go on without her."
Source: Blabbermouth
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21 Comments on "Nightwish: We Are Not Looking For A Tarja Clone"
Member
2. writes:
thank god. as much as i love tarja's vocal abilities, they sound a bit forced and not natural enough.
i'd like to hear someone who wasn't classically trained, yet can still sing on key and have a power voice.
i think they are on the right track, just as long as they stay true to what they say and don't make another evanescence like sounding singer, not that many people have, just alot of bands have that whole 'gothic' sound to their band, or have that softness in their voice. what makes tarja great is that she does have power backing her vocals. that is lacking these days.
i'm excited for a new album and new songs with the new singer. i think it'll be an improvement from once.
6. writes:
They have a perfectly good male singer already, Marco f***ing rocks! I liked Tarja's voice, but I also think they are right in trying to find someone who is going to be themselves, rather than a Tarja wannabe.
"The new singer will be chosen not only for her singing skills. She must also be beautiful, charismatic and she must possess a great deal of self-esteem."
Seems superficial, but I Tuomas isn't stupid, he probably thinks a lot of Nightwish fans would turn on them if they had some warty toad singing for them. He'd probably be right.
7. writes:
Taja is hands down the best female singer in the music world and i know she will do great on her own .alot of people in the world will love to work with her as for nightwish will alwasys rock(maybe a male front femail backing) the only thing that was not good was the band"s way of handling her departure from the band very childish, anyway we will have two kick a$$ bands to listen to now. Tarja we will always love you all the best.
9. writes:
Meh, I liked Tarja but I also think this is a good opportunity for the band, although, they are setting the standard quite high.
Tuomos is a very talented musician, his skills are multiple.
But I think they could sound better if they didn't get another opretic singer. It suited some songs but got a bit trying after a while...
10. writes:
Tuomos is a genius and no dout is going to make more kick a$$ music maybe its time for a more solid metal sound not so opretic . its cool but new singer new sound will prove they dont need a tarja clone to be wicket and will bring more of a fan base to real music and less people listen to nu metal the better( i hope it dies soon) if anyone can its Tuomos.
Member
14. writes:
Too bad Tarja has left the band. Maybe Nightwish will sound interresting with a new vocalist but I hope
Nightwish won`t end up like Sepultura did when Max Cavalera departed from the band.
P. S.: I think someone should kick Marcelo`s a$$ for changing Tarja`s attitude.
16. writes:
find a good singer for nightwish will not be an easy work .. Tarja is the best female voice I ever heard ... I hope nightwish will carry on.. but it will be a very difficult thing.. may be nightwish is over..Tarja's voice was the thing that make nightwish a superior band.. ,Marcelo is a ......................................
Supporter
17. writes:
Tarja's vocals were amazing - there's more than enough heavy music with male singers. Nightwish brought something new to the scene with an entrancing mix of operatic vocals and mind-blowing music, and all the comments about ditching the "chick" singers... Well, go listen to virtually ANY OTHER BAND if you don't like it. Everything else sounds about the same.
Also, for future note, if you think that Tuomos is being superficial when he says Tarja's replacement must be beautiful, perhaps you're the superficial ones - he never clarified whether he meant physical or spiritual beauty. Left that for people to make their own assumptions on, I would imagine.
18. writes:
I think Tarja wasn't the best classical voice I heard. I had the chance to sing with many good classical singers in my life and much of them were a lot better. Sometimes, her voice wasn't good and I was switching songs. I hope the new singer will be really better... (So I don't have to switch the songs that the voice is awful!!!
19. writes:
Its sad that Tarja is leaving the band but having read his letter as to why I can understand why Tuomas and the others told her they were getting a new vocalist. I'm looking forward to hearing the new singer, hope she is good! I think she will be, because Tuomas is an amazing musician and wouldn't let anyone sing for them.
Its great that they are keeping with the female singer, it makes Nightwish original and different to other bands and suits the operatic style.
20. writes:
I definately appreciated Tarja's voice, however I wasn't sorry to see her go. I think Tuomas made the right choice. I don't know if anyone has already thought of this, but I reckon they should make Marco the main vocalist. He has an awesome voice, and it would suit their style perfectly. Plus he's already in the band anyway, so they won't have to get anyone new. He actually contributes to the band musically. They could still use opera sometimes, but i don't think they should all of the time, or people will start to take the sound for granted.
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1. Angelique writes:
yeah! you don't need another Tarja
I believe that this is a new beggining, so, there is no reason why you should take a vocalist that fits exactly with Tarja's voice, but you should take another vocalist with a lot of talent and lots of new ideas for the band, not just another voice, but another mind and heart for the band
Greetings from Monterrey!