ANETTE OLZON Defends Her Decision To Work On Solo Album

NIGHTWISH singer Anette Olzon has commented on her decision to work with Swedish producer/songwriter Anders Bagge on material for her upcoming solo album, which she plans to record during the band's downtime in early 2010. According to Anette, the as-yet-untitled CD "is, of course, just in the starting stage], but I will contribute doing the songs together with [Anders and other songwriters] and I will start that immediately. Anders is thinking on his side and me here... Then we meet and try out the ideas and we'll see what it will be like. But yeah, rocky it will be for sure. Not metal, but rock."

Regarding how her decision to work on a solo album will affect her status in NIGHTWISH, Olzon states, "You all know I love that band, and, of course, this is not a solo career, but an album. I can't sit and do nothing for maybe 1.5-2 years [while NIGHTWISH is preparing to record a new studio album]. None of the guys can either. Marco [Hietala, NIGHTWISH bassist/vocalist] has TAROT and several other bands and projects, Emppu [Vuorinen; NIGHTWISH guitarist] has BROTHER FIRETRIBE and projects, Tuomas [Holopainen; NIGHTWISH keyboardist and main songwriter] [has] bands and projects and Jukka [Nevalainen; NIGHTWISH drummer] [has] his merch company. So, I need something too. And I don't want another band, 'cause I have NIGHTWISH. Then a solo will be just perfect. I can decide when and what I will tour or perform, all in the aspect of when NIGHTWISH will do something new. We don't know that. It's all in Tuomas' hands and he is the creator. We are the
instruments. "

She adds, "I hope people can stop thinking that the singer CAN'T do anything else but the instrumentalists can. I have the same right as my fellow band members to do anything on the side when NIGHTWISH is not playing or touring.

"I am, for sure, excited and I know I have my part to play with the songs and the album and I have already started thinking of songs and lyrics. It was a long time since I did songs, but I will soon be back in business."

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FLOOR JANSEN Performs With RED LIMO STRING QUARTET (VIDEO)

Fan-filmed video footage of former AFTER FOREVER singer Floor Jansen's August 9, 2009 performance with the RED LIMO STRING QUARTET at the Summer Darkness festival in Utrecht, Holland can be viewed below.

Commented Jansen: "Last year we did a similar show, and after many positive reactions, we play[ed] AFTER FOREVER songs again in this special form. Joost van de Broek (AFTER FOREVER keyboardist) made arrangements for this string quartet."

Jansen will next perform with the RED LIMO STRING QUARTET on the Dutch TV program "Podium" on Sunday, August 30 at 1:00 p.m. on channel 2.

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TARJA TURUNEN Announces Finnish Christmas Tour

Former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen will embark on a Christmas tour of Finland with renowned Finnish musicians Kalevi Kiviniemi, Marzi Nyman and Markku Krohn. They will perform in churches in Lappeenranta, Joensuu, Tampere, Haapajärvi and Seinäjoki and at the Sibelius Hall in Lahti.

During 2009, Tarja has performed only three times in Finland: at Rockperry festival in Vaasa, at SOI Suvessa classical music festival in Mäntyharju and with the Tampere Philarmonic Orchestra.

The upcoming shows will mark the last time Tarja will play Finland before the release of her second album, "What Lies Beneath", in 2010.

The dates are as follows:

Dec. 04 - Lahti, Sibelius Hall
Dec. 05 - Tampere, Kaleva Church
Dec. 10 - Lappeenranta, The Church of Maria
Dec. 12 - Joensuu, The Church of Joensuu
Dec. 13 - Haapajärvi, The Churh of Haapajärvi
Dec. 18 - Seinäjoki, The Church of Lakeuden risti

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LEAVES' EYES: 'My Destiny' Video Released

"My Destiny", the new video from LEAVES' EYES - the German/Norwegian band formed by ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY singer Liv Kristine Espenaes Krull and members of ATROCITY - can be viewed below. The clip was directed by Patric Ullaeus (DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL) of Revolver Film Company in Gothenburg, Sweden.





An audio sample of "My Destiny" is available for streaming on the band's MySpace page.

"My Destiny" will be released in the U.S. on September 22 via Napalm Records.
The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. My Destiny
02. The Battle of Maldon (non-album track)
03. Scarborough Fair (acoustic version; non-album track)
04. Northbound
05. Nine Wave Maidens (non-album track)
06. My Destiny (remix; non-album track)


LEAVES' EYES will release its new full-length album, "Njord", via Napalm Records on the following dates:

Finland, Spain: August 26
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Benelux, France, Italy: August 28
Rest Of Europe: August 31
Canada: September 1
USA: September 29

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NIGHTWISH PERFORMS IN FINNISH CASTLE: photos and report

Music-Photocalypse.net attended NIGHTWISH's August 15, 2009 concert at the Olavinlinna castle in Savonlinna, Finland.

Check out gig pictures and a report on this truly memorable performance.

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ANETTE OLZON Taps MADONNA, CELINE DION Songwriter For Solo Album

NIGHTWISH singer Anette Olzon has tapped Swedish producer/songwriter Anders Bagge to write material for her upcoming solo album, which she plans to record during the band's downtime in early 2010.

He has done so many hit songs and has been working with MADONNA, CELINE DION, JANET JACKSON, JESSICA SIMPSON and many, many more. He is also one of the jury members in Swedish 'Idol' [TV talent competition] and a show called 'Made in Sweden'. He is a true CANNIBAL CORPSE lover and rock lover.

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