Tarja Turunen

Since many years, I realized that I have a darker side in me, even though I still believe I'm a very positive person. But still, there is still darkness that makes me write music and create in general, and it affects everything that I do. I believe it's a beautiful darkness.

I have to be cautious about how I dress, what I eat/drink and when I sleep so that my voice can shine as its best in each of my shows.

Until the governments don't have a clear law against piracy and the digital downloads are not working worldwide properly, the record industry will keep on suffering.

Actually I do not listen to much opera music.

I listen to classical music when I need to relax. It depends a lot on mood.

I go to metal concerts as well as classical concerts, and I love both of them.

When I need some energy in the morning I can put a metal CD in my player, because it gets me going! Classical music will send me off the road!

I've been requested by hundreds of metal bands to be part of their albums or side projects.

I feel my voice can fit in many things so it's very interesting to combine things and music styles.

Christmas for me is a time for being close to my family and those close to me.

We go to church every year on Christmas morning.

I have sung at Christmas many times in Finland, especially in churches.

I never thought in my whole life of becoming a heavy metal singer, but it just happened because I took the challenge.

Every time I sit down in front of my piano, I like to improvise with the instrument. It depends on my mood of that day what kind of melodies and rhythms I am playing around. Sometimes, even before starting to play I already have a quite clear picture of a song I would like to compose, or at least the sound of it.

Sometimes a song can be born in few minutes, if the feeling is right, some other times it can take days.