BW&BK; scribe Carl Begai recently caught up with ex-NIGHTWISH vocalist Tarja Turunen to discuss her forthcoming solo album, My Winter Storm. He has issued the following report:

The first thing that strikes you about Turunen is that she isn't the diva she'd supposedly become, the factor that ultimately led to her dismissal from Nightwish if accounts are to be believed. The smiles and laughter come off as more than mere window dressing, particularly when one considers the seemingly endless string of interviews she's doing in support of her forthcoming solo album, My Winter Storm, many of which focus on the Nightwish bust-up first and her new work last. Having interviewed Turunen several times, I was quite surprised to discover she was no different from five or six years ago. In fact, she was downright fun in spite of some uncomfortable questions, such as whether or not she's made peace with having been fired from the band and successfully replaced.

“Yes, but there really isn’t any peace to make," says Turunen. "I feel very free inside, I feel very happy at the moment. I needed to go through that struggle and the crisis that came with the sudden change. And the way it happened, which was unexpected. That is the thing I may not ever understand – the reason behind all of that – but I didn’t have any options. I wasn’t given any options except to move on."

I mention that in a recent interview with Nightwish founder Tuomas Holopainen (BW&BK; # 106), the final voice in the decision to fire her, he admitted that he could see himself and Turunen "back as friends sometimes, and maybe working together."

“That’s quite interesting. Send me the proof (laughs).”

Asked if she's heard the new Nightwish album, Dark Passion Play, featuring her replacement Anette Olzon...

“I haven’t heard the complete album. When I was back home in Finland I saw that the record company had sent me the album, which was a surprise, but I haven’t had the time to listen to it. I’ve heard only a couple songs on the radio in Finland. It seems everyone wants to know what I think, but come on, I’m not the one who should be making opinions about it (laughs).”

And with regards to whether or not Turunen will present many Nightwish songs during her upcoming tour, she reveals there will be a few surprises.

“The concerts are based, of course, on My Winter Storm, but I will definitely bring along a few Nightwish songs. I don’t see any reason not to. It’s going to be very interesting, definitely. I’ve already made a setlist, and maybe I’ll be doing some Nightwish songs that we never played live. I can’t tell you which ones (laughs), but those are the songs that when I performed them in the studio it was such a struggle. I want to go back to those times and those memories of sitting on the floor of the studio crying because it was so hard (laughs). I want to bring those songs to life. With the voice that I have now it’s so much easier and so much more fun to do those songs.”

Watch upcoming issues of BW&BK; for the complete story.