The idea of having many guitar players making solos for the different versions of the song, came to the picture a bit later in the production. Legendary guitar player Joe Satriani performed a guitar solo for the album version, Jason Hook, known from American metal band Five Finger Death Punch, for the single version and Argentinean guitarist Julian Barrett for the free download version..”              Taken from Press Release.        the blog team

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We are making progress every day. Now all the orchestral songs are mixed. We worked again with Slamm Andrews, at Remote Control Studios. Slamm mixed my last record and it was a pleasure this time to see my ”movie” songs come alive with his guidance!

Jim Dooley came to say hi and to listen to the final touches for the song “If You Believe” that he produced with me.

It feels just unbelievable that after being in the process so long, almost 2 years, the album is getting ready. I have truly won my fears, lack of confidence and belief that I was not going to make it alone. Is great to have succeeded in what I wanted. It feels good I can tell.

At this moment I am working with Tim Palmer in Austin, Texas.

First time I am in Texas! It’s lovely here though, the city of Austin is full of live music everywhere and it’s warm, as I like it.

Tim is great, a very nice man to work with and having the understanding of the artistic needs that I have. He has an extended musical career and has forged tons of hits and great music.

We already mixed three songs including a guest solo from the guitar player of an amazing heavy metal band from Los Angeles. Today we are working on another song with an outstanding vocal group from Europe.

The last mixes will take place during this week and next time I’ll write to you is when I’ll have the complete album finished!!!!!!

With love, Tarja

When I landed to Heathrow, the airport got closed because of the volcano ashes from Iceland! I was very lucky to get here right in time. Actually the people at the studio were not expecting to see me any more when I arrived.

Now my songs are really starting to kick some a**!

Colin has been working very hard on the songs and he does his job carefully, with lot of thought and passion.

It has been nice to see that he seems to like what he hears, so it probably makes him work even better

I am very happy with what I can hear so far. These songs that are going through his fingers, are definitely sounding lot heavier than any of the songs from my last record.

Just the sonic difference in guitars makes the songs radically heavier. I have always liked how he treats the guitars with the bands that he works with, like Slipknot for example.

In the morning I sent some songs for the band to start rehearsing for the summer shows.

Alex was the first one to react and this is what he said:

“ thank you for sending the song and: yes, fucking killer!!!:-)
very cool- sounds really cool- guitar sound is the bomb- the song turned out great! the ambience sounds and choirs are also amazing.
vocals are very nice- pretty dry and clear- cool!

wow! yes!

i think this is how it should be- great job to all you guys.
it turned out great and (of course) over the overall sound i love the guitar- sound! please tell colin an extra thank you!:-) “

Anyway, you cannot expect me to make only a heavy metal album either. I am making Colin sweat with cellos, orchestras, choirs and sound ambient design 

Among the songs Colin mixed there is a duet

I haven’t been really working with such impressive vocals before. Courtesy of “All That Remains’” singer Phil Labonte.

With him the song “Dark Star” reached another dimension. Thanks Phil!

It has been a great pleasure to work with Colin and his engineer Martyn Ford. We have had many good laughs!

Tomorrow I will have new photos taken by photographer Paul Harries. I am very excited about the forthcoming session.

Also quite many journalists came to listen to my new material in the studio these last days. Soon you’ll be able to read studio reports from London written by media from Germany, Finland and UK.

For the first time in my life I had the chance to see London Philharmonic Orchestra´s with the The London Voices and The London Oratory School Schola in the Royal Albert Hall. They performed the score of the movie “Two Towers” from Lord of the Rings while the movie was projected at the same time on the big screen. It was just stunning. The whole thing gave me goose bumps… Howard Shore, the composer of the score was also there presenting the music.

For now, this part is over. Colin and Ginge will get back home and I will continue the mixing process in LA.

With love, Tarja

Only waiting for some guests that will record few parts and send them over.

It was a great last vocal session. I am grateful that everything I planned was accomplished. Also the things that we decided on the way have only improved the songs making the overall picture clearer in the end.

It’s going to be a very nice and powerful album!

It has been a “long and winding” road, but definitely worth every step.

You see who came to visit me in the studio in these last couple of days? Both my lovely and talented brothers Timo and Toni shared their vocals with me in one particular song, which you are going to hear pretty soon in my summer shows with orchestra and choir.

The name of the song of course will need to remain as a secret until that

It was so wonderful to sing with them. I am very proud of them. We are all very different kind of singers, which makes us a very unique musical family

The next challenge is the intense mixing process that will take place starting from … tomorrow!

I can’t believe that I am at this point in the production. Makes me really thrilled!

We have decided to mix in three different locations with three different engineers to get the best out of each song.

The first stage will take us to London!!!! I am going to spend next couple of weeks mixing part of the album with Mr. Colin Richardson at Miloco Studios.

We have met after my last show in London and since then we have been working already in the songs.

I am truly looking forward our collaboration. Colin is very kind and a true British gentle man.

London is also one of my favourite cities in the planet, so I cannot be more than happy to be there. Maybe I’ll have some time for shoe shopping (as you know already), if I am lucky!

Now I’ll enjoy a glass of red wine that I feel I’ve well deserved it.

Be well my friends.

With love, Tarja

It was great to sing with Scorpions, of course! I have to tell you that these guys from the band are SO kind. They were treating me like a queen and I was very delighted of their support and trust.

Is funny to see the bigger “names” with humble attitude that allows them to see and understand. Many times better and faster than people around you who you need constantly to convince of what you want and like.

I had very nice talks especially with Klaus and his family. They seem to be a great team and we share many similar things in our private lives.

I also found out that the writer Paulo Coelho, who is a great inspiration to me, is also a friend with Rudolf!

I wish The Scorpions the best for their last album and tours and congratulations for the great chart entries in the world! I am sure we will meet very soon again.

Few nights ago I had a chance to see Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Love never dies” musical and I fell in love with it in an instant. It was just a wonderful performance and an amazing piece of art. There is still hope, since good music really exists and people are willing to hear more.

I finished writing the lyrics for a song that I composed last in the writing process. It is a piano/orchestral piece that I could have called “Oasis 2”. This time it has English lyrics and continues the story of “Naiad”. During the piano recordings at Petrax studios, this song changed quite radically, because I decided to write an improvised piano piece in between the song. It feels good to be free and open to hear suggestions, but also to follow my own instincts.

In few days I’ll get back into recording the vocals for the last songs and immediately after I’ll let you know where I am heading to mix the album.

The orchestra and choir are already recorded!

There are exciting times ahead of me. Getting the final album in my hands is getting closer and closer day by day.

I have been trying to re gain the lost energy in these last couple of days and it feels I was able to do exactly that. I am ready for new challenges.

I think I already mentioned you the song called “Crimson Deep”.

Find here the lyrics we wrote with Angela.

Sometimes I see the pulse

numb I feel,

so unreal.

Blood on my lips I taste the heavy lead.

What can I find behind the mirror,

I’ll never know.

Who’s the reflection within?

Should I frame for you the other world?

Another world?

I’ve heard the voices of Elysium.

The scent of a sudden wish,

never there, everywhere.

Read me the space in-between.

Sharp is the edge of all discovery,

now I see.

A scar without suffering, impossible.

I’ll wait until my last day

with no shame.

Who’s to blame?

Shaping the signs left for me.

Come to me

I cried

I need you.

I am seeking

the gates unfold inside

my lost soul

in the dark.

Far beneath my breath

I’m burning

at my core.

Show me how

let me see beyond

I will find

my Crimson Deep

With love, Tarja

It is very exciting indeed to imagine how everything will sound in the end when these two important elements are recorded.

This time we have decided with Jim Dooley and Tim Davis who will conduct the orchestra, that the recordings will take place in few days in Bratislava. Slovak National Symphony Orchestra and Choir will be playing on my record.

I am very happy with the work of Jim who put his heart into my songs. I got again very emotional by listening his work. It’s unbelievable how gorgeous gift of music he has. You’ll hear pretty soon what I mean

Here I am with Jim in his studio at Remote Control.

I left the sunny LA a week ago to return to Buenos Aires to record vocals for few more songs.

Still there are 6 more to go. It feels endless, but we are working hard to get everything done in time.

I am satisfied with my vocals since I feel that I have learned quite a lot in these last few years and the people that are working with me this time, are really helpful and supportive.

It is absolutely important that during my vocal recordings I am neither worried nor nervous for any reason. That would affect my performance in an instant.

It has been just great to be able to be free and produce my own record for the first time. Is strange feeling to have recorded already around 10 albums, but still “What Lies Beneath” process has been so far a gift, a learning process and such a joy. In many ways feels like the first time.

I won’t go to common places to say that MWS was just fine and WLB is the best!

I do have MWS in my heart and will always be like that. If those were the first steps, with WLB I learned to run.

Both albums are equally important for me, both part of a life process.

There have been so many moments to cherish and cheer which I will always remember and keep in my heart.

Next flight will take to Salzburg where you’ll see me performing with Scorpions in the most successful TV show in Europe called “Wetten Dass..?” on next Saturday 27th. Don’t miss it! I am sure I will have a good time there with the band and it is a great honour for me to take part in their performance in this particular show.

Until then…

With love, Tarja

This trip is not a holiday trip though. I am working with Jim, Slamm and Bart at Remote Control Studios again. We are getting the orchestra arrangements ready and we are starting to discuss the mixing process with Slamm. He is going to be the one to mix all the orchestral tracks. Other mixing engineers will mix the rock/heavy tracks, but I’ll tell you more about that later

On these days, I hope to meet Mel Wesson as well who was working with the ambient music design on my first album.

The progress of the album is going smoothly but steadily ahead. I have realized during this last month that some of the songs that I thought were not the strongest ones during the writing process turned out to be really good songs now when everything has been recorded. I will definitely have some trouble in choosing the ones that are going to end in the actual album. I guess it’s a nice problem though.

The vocal recordings will continue pretty soon after this LA trip.

Now I would like to tell you something that has been on my mind for some time already. Usually I am not interested in giving my opinions and comments about things that are outside of music and my career, but this time the happenings around just touched me deeply.

There was just a while ago a terrible earthquake in Haiti, followed by other one in Japan and later on in Chile and more recently in Turkey.

It’s just so unbelievable to think all the suffering and trouble that people need to go through in their lives. I am truly speechless and sad. Except for Haiti, I have been in the other countries were I have met lovely people. Is difficult to think that some of them or their families might have been reached by the horrible situation. I am just having them in my thoughts. I send them all my humble and honest love and prayers.

This is the sad reminder for all of us to live our lives as best as we can every day, so that when it’s our time to go, we die alive.

You will never know what is waiting for you tomorrow, so today is the day to cherish.

With love, Tarja

Six songs are now ready with trillions of backing vocals and Tarja choirs.

Everything is going very fine and few elements remaining to be added to some songs. I am still having good time even though the sessions have been tough and days very long.

I haven’t been posting lately too often because I really have too much things on my mind at this moment and there is barely time for one short break in a day. I hope you’ll understand…

Is not just about singing, but deciding all parts from each instrument, fixing arrangements when needed, checking the files with Jetro and telling Jim what we are looking for each one of the orchestrations.

I have been receiving more orchestra arrangements, almost daily, including massive choirs.  Max has been also sending his cello tracks.

For the opening track of the album I am preparing a real surprise for you! It’s sounds SO freaking well already that it’s making me dizzy with happiness

“Anteroom of Death” will shock you certainly since it truly is a freak song, but that’s how much I love theatre and how great it is to feel free.

I can’t wait this album to be ready…I would just love to see all of your faces when you hear this song!!!!

You have been anxiously waiting for a glimpse of what was going on in my photo session with Jens for the album artwork. So here you go

I’ll try to write again in few days.

With love, Tarja

So if I don’t consider myself as a piano player, you shouldn’t do that either

The feeling in these songs is the most important matter and I think I captured it. It has been really nice experience for me to work with our engineer Jetro who has been so supportive and a great help in my “troubles”. He has good ears and is very, very fast and talented.

Still feels awkward to be playing an instrument (rather than my voice) in songs where Mike Terrana, Doug Wimbish, Will Calhoun, Alex Scholpp, Christian Kretschmar and Marzi Nyman are displaying their talents.

I received already the second orchestra arrangement today and it sounds very promising as well, so we are progressing. I was also recording vocals for one song that is considered by the record company and all the musicians to be one of the first singles. Let’s see later if you like it or not

Today we said goodbye to Petrax and it’s lovely people, Tiina and Petri. We were really happy to work at their beautiful place and I am sure it won’t be the last time they will see us there. Everything went marvellous and we felt like being at home. Many thanks to Tiina for the delicious food and care and Petri for his support, efforts and understanding. We wish them just the best.

We will resume the vocal recordings later. These couple of weeks have been full of work and concentration, since I am producing this album on my own and with the help of the dear ones around. Now I think I need at least some rest.

I will leave you in the meantime with few lines of a song I already recorded my vocals.

Who can change this memory?

Inside it needs to burn

Worship by the enemy

The guilty take their turns

Watching as it’s disappearing

Shadows all that remain

Wishes slowly crossing over

In this parade of pain

I will come back to you soon.

With love, Tarja

It’s great to be able to realize that some of the songs are already ready, just missing my vocals…

I was using one microphone that I very much liked in my previous recordings, but when we started asking for it long time ago, we couldn’t find that microphone in Finland at all!

So yesterday we went through quite many microphones that we had here with us and it was very useful. There can be really big differences between microphones and from my experience, the ones that are usually used in vocal recordings, are not so good for my voice.

Most of the microphones cannot handle my high register, so I need to find one that has good high end, but that can also be warm enough to transmit the softer moments.

I am going to be recording my vocals in two different studios; in Petrax where I am singing most of the “rock” tracks and in El Pie Studios in Buenos Aires where the more organic, movie kind of songs will be recorded.
Today we had another guest with us. Marzi Nyman came to add his guitar effects for some of my songs.

I know Marzi already from my Xmas concerts. He has been playing on my last couple of tours in Finland and I have always loved his way of using the pedals and effects.

He creates unbelievable moods as Doug does with bass.

Some of the songs on this album require special atmospheres and its better to do them organic ways rather than using samples.

Thank you Marzi for your thoughtful work.

Another nice thing happened today. I received the first orchestra arrangement from Jim and I have to say again that he is SO talented. He just blows me away every time with his work.

The orchestra will sound massive and beautiful, just as I wished it would sound. Just wait to hear!

I started recording vocals for the first song “LL”. It was the easiest choice to start with. The song will be absolutely and definitely the heaviest track on my album and written by Alex, Johnny and me.

I think everything went fine with the song and it was fun to record it. Very easy, took me just few takes to get it right
I’m heading towards new challenges tomorrow.

With love, Tarja