Greetings from London!
It has been wonderful in beautiful and sunny London these last two weeks. The weather has been just perfect, chilly at times, but full of light.
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
158 Responses to Greetings from London!
Corinne says:
Posted on: May 11, 2010 4:12 amJust a little addit to my previous comment.
I realize that the Artwork cover is meant to reflect the word “what lies beneath”. No drama, no artifice, no theatrics but Tarja in her simplicity, beautiful and true.
It is not working for me now but It might when I have the album in hand.
Cheerio!
Corinne says:
Posted on: May 11, 2010 3:19 amI will have to say that I am disappointed by the cover artwork.
I am all for simplicity and elegance but I find Tarja’s face too much “in your face”, if it makes sense.
I am aware that Tarja’s image sells, she is truly beautiful, so I guess that might work.
However, I don’t particularly like this photo (the smoky eyes, the carmine mouth, the creaminess of the skin all taken individually are beautifully shot but as a whole I don’t find it is making the most of her features given the angle the photo was taken).
I find this cover somewhat boring. I thought the cover would stage something much more theatrical. I guess I will find it inside the album.
Anyway, it is just my opinion and the music is what counts really.
I am also perplexed at the choice of Phil Labonte. I guess I will have to trust Tarja on this one. I have listened to some of the songs where he doesn’t grunt and I can’t say that I was that particularly impressed.
Nils K. Rue (Pagan’s mind) or Tim Owens (Ex Judas Priest) would have been my choice, they are truly impressive underrated singers.
Any date set for the album release?
Keep up the hard work!
Cheers
M@ria says:
Posted on: May 10, 2010 1:15 pmHello, dear Tarja!
I am madly glad that your new album coming soon! For me, it will be the most important event of the year! Good luck in life and work! Thank you for being so happy about me and your fans!
justacodename says:
Posted on: May 10, 2010 9:35 amI’ve just realized that Miskolc is getting closer and closer – any hints about the possible setlist?
(Those covers: first I didn’t like them much, now I think they’re brilliant. Lots of hidden little things, though I still hope they’ll be a teeny bit more noticeable on the actual cover. And Joker hardly invented that ‘smile’.)
Maxime says:
Posted on: May 10, 2010 4:43 amHey Tarja!
, me too, sometimes i can be Two Face or Mr freeze.. 
Where are you dark star baby?
Well,i ‘m not a big fan of the artworks but maybe i will change my opinion,a little, if the music of WLB suits with them,i simply think it’s too simple compared to these one’s of MWS or Die alive single covers!
Jewel case cover is the less bad but why the hell there is a piece of crap on your little nose?a scar? did you receive a pendulum in your beautifull face..:/
The cover of Falling Awake single is horrible,i really hope (and cross my fingers) that the song is better than it,are you fan of Batman? last time she was Catwoman ,now she is the Joker,ahahah.
The positive thing about these covers can be said in one word: DARK,hope you accepted them because of that and not because you drunk too much red wine..
Once again,it’s just my opinion,the only important thing is music!!!! and i’m still impatient ,it’s so long to wait!
Please ,update soon,you have so much to tell about your work again.
Big kiss honey
Jele(Croatia) says:
Posted on: May 9, 2010 4:13 pmHello Tarja!
I’m glad to hear everything is going good! I saw those covers of What Lies Beneath and Falling Awake. They look really cool to me
Anyway i found an EPIC pic of the true reason why you and Tuomas REALLY had a fight…I almost cryed from laughing XD
You can find it on my youtube page.A.K.A
“Youtube – ISeeAnIdiot’s Channel”
Anyways…I simply can’t wait for What Lies Beneath! Ahhhhhhhhh…
Ok Bye Bye, I hope You’ll come to Croatia Again!
Cheers!
Mariël Rohrbach (Amsterdam VIP) says:
Posted on: May 9, 2010 8:37 amGood morning Sweetheart!!!
First of all: How are you doing?? Are you in the USA right now? With every new blogpost of you I am getting more and more excited and anxious about the new album! I need to be a little more patient… but it’s hard
I do not really care about a release date… I care more about you being a 100% or 150% sure about your music before you send it to the world! I also care for a good production and I know that when you rush things, it won’t sound or look the way you like it and then it will not be “you” in a way… you know
Personally I like the album cover(s) very much! I really do! Why? They look mature, deep, real, and most of all: It looks like there is a flip-side or a somewhat bittersweet feeling about it: We can see your gorgeous face but in your eyes and your total expression I can feel a lot of emotions and a hint of grief and pain. But also strength, passion and dedication! And I thinkt that this is a VERY GOOD PHOTO!!! but then again, this is my opinion
So, if you give all your passion to the album and if you are absolutely sure about it that you love your own album, I will be very happy too! I am already so proud of you, dear!
Hope to hear from you very soon! I love you with all my heart, you know that! I am always there for you!
Miss you dear!
Love, Mariël
laura Ull-Mendez says:
Posted on: May 9, 2010 7:07 ambnoo tarjita…
tu aun no eres mama, pero igual feliz dia de la madre….
y gracias a tu mama que tu naciste
gracias a todas esas personas de tu familia y tus amigos que te acompañaron en tu camino hasta llegar a ser lo que eres ahora… para mi, y para los otros fans!
TE QUIERO MUCHO!
feliz dia, laura (colombia)
Joseph Mckinstry says:
Posted on: May 9, 2010 5:10 amThe moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new. ~Rajneesh
Happy mothers day Tarja Turunen Cabuli, I love you and your music and voice inspires me to keep on even in pain, suffering and dispair. yes, I miss you in nightwish, but yes I will be thankful for the years of bliss you all have givin me.
Without your voice and music I would have long givin up.
I hope your mothers day is the best ever and that you share it with those you love and with song from the soul. thank you, Joseph.
Juan Pablo - 80XxbelialxX08 says:
Posted on: May 8, 2010 11:58 pmThank you Twiekie!!!! see? I have a heart after all…
a very rottened and black one, but a heart in the end… 
.
PS: I agree with Twiekie (Henry) Tarja, you should write a new post, telling us a bit about what’s next on our desperate long waiting for “What Lies Beneath” …