The heavy-metal singer-songwriter Tarja Turunen or simply TARJA will release her seventh studio album, titled “In The Raw ” on August 30, via EarMusic. The album will be her first since 2016’s “The Shadow Self”.We met the Finnish lyrical-soprano in London to discuss writing and recording the new album:Tarja In the Raw Interview, photo @neilmach 2019 ©I believe you need pain to create music… Photo: @neilmach 2019 ©RAWRAMP: The new album considers caves, shadows, strangers, chambers… it all sounds very isolated… are you a lonely person?“I am not… yet I might be. Being an artist and all. There’s a saying: If you tell people you have one true friend in your lifetime, then you must be blessed… if you say you have two you must be lucky… if you say have three you must be a liar. I think I need solitude for art.”“ I believe you need pain to create music. In this album, particularly, I felt I was working alone, I was working on my own… in communion with my own soul, definitely. And it was a process that I knew I had to go through. I think I’ve gone a long way but I’ve learned a lot and, only now, do I think that I’m standing on solid ground. So that might be the thing you hear on the album. And there’s another word — rawness. It’s just me, only me. Me myself looking at the mirror and me myself looking at my past and seeing why today I am the person who I am.”RAWRAMP: Was it a cathartic experience? Did you feel cleaner after recording the album?“Yes. I also felt very tired. I felt exhausted, because of the emotion. I felt like I could never write a single song again. But when the energy started to flow in again it felt beautiful. It some way this album was a birth — sort of — ”RAWRAMP: So, facing yourself alone? How do you now see yourself? In a different light?Tarja In The RawWe only have limited time and we should not waste it…Tarja In The Raw“I am on a learning path. I started that journey in my last record “The Shadow Self”. I am in the self-discovery part. Things have happened to me, health-wise, and things have happened to me that have shook my ground and made me realize that we only have limited time and we should not waste it. It sounds like a cliché but it’s actually very real when it hits you and you realize that you might not have any time…”“When these type of things happen (for example I lost my mother to cancer) it’s clear that you only have the remaining time you’re given and you must use it in the best way possible. So when I look at myself and I think about the album and I felt absolutely obliterated by the bad-thoughts or the insecurities in the beginning but, when the table was clear, I felt strong again.”RAWRAMP: Tell us about caves. Why do you put yourself into dark places?“I went to Old St. Michael’s Cave because it’s just a few miles from my home. I go running five or six times a week in the hills and countryside, with my husband, and we like to take my daughter out doors. We love it… but the caves… it’s like a voyage of self-discovery. It’s like when you check what’s there inside of you. It’s a kind of scary thing. And you might only realize why you reacted in a certain way — why things went wrong —or why things happened in a certain way, or why you were so upset about this thing or that… the question why arises in a dark echo. The cave is a symbolic thing … a symbol for looking inside yourself and there you might discover the answer to: why.”RAWRAMP: Do you believe in Hades?“Err, I dunno. Maybe, no. But I know there are other levels to that cave. I’d love to go into them. Go down deep…”RAWRAMP: Tell us about Dead Promises… with Björn StridTarja In the RawI really wanted an angelic song that makes people jump…“I wrote the song with my guitar player Alex [Scholpp,] and when I sat down to write the song with him I said I really wanted an angelic song that makes people jump and gives me the power of the band: bass, drums guitar, behind me. There is an operatic part (I like to add an operatic part, just because I can) but it’s a powerful song and I needed that drive. And I wanted that rawness again. When we finished the first demo for this song … it’s a dark story… with light at the end of the tunnel (back to tunnels again!) and Alex makes it really work, he gives it real power.”RAWRAMP: What about the song “Goodbye Stranger” with Cristina Scabbia [Lacuna Coil]?“This is another song that just has guitar players and drums. And that’s quite rare (for me) because my productions normally have orchestration and keyboards. On this one, though, I felt I needed the support of a full band behind me. Because then it comes with a kick. Vocally, I have found I am way-more powerful than I was a few years back because I’ve been training so much… I feel the ground is giving me the power and the energy but I need my full band behind me, it’s almost as if I think, if I fall, they will catch me. So this song, “Goodbye Stranger” is just with guitar and this makes it very atmospheric (again I wrote the song with Alex) he’s the main writer with me…RAWRAMP: Tell us about “Spirits of the Sea” dedicated to the memory of the … Did the Argentinian musicians in your life help to influence you with this?“No, it came from entirely me. Don’t forget I lived in Argentine for over ten years. And when this thing happened it moved the whole world… it was a very sad thing. I wanted to do it for the crew. I did it with Bart Hendrickson (he’s an arranger at the Hans Zimmer studios, Los Angeles) we’ve been friends ever since the first album [sic] and we kept in touch … he’s a dark guy, he’s a drummer and he writes for films so he really gets my background in classical music… but he’s deeper and darker than ever. I wrote the lyrics for the song in one day because it was so inspiring to think about the fact that souls are never lost… they remain forever…”RAWRAMP: Do folk tales come easy to you?“Not really, although I am familiar with ashrays (mermaid changelings of the moonlight) but I wrote those lyrics because I felt it like it was a movie playing-out inside me. Writing it with a movie guy made it even more like a movie. I thought I needed to dive myself into that place… deep down, deep in the dark. Deep silence.”RAWRAMP: Tell us about “ Silent Masquerade”In the RawVery sad things that have happened…“That was made with Tommy [ Tommy Karevik of Seventh Wonder / Kamelot] but I wrote the song some time ago. The piano is my instrument and I like making riffs with piano (I play a little guitar but I don’t do riffs) but for me riffing with piano is easy and it’s powerful and melancholic. As an instrument it inspires me. So this song came out as a very sad story, very related to my family… about very sad things that have happened in the family, and close personal friends of mine… there’s a lot of personal stuff on this album. But this is a very orchestrated song and I have to tell you that I was crying like a little girl in the kitchen when he [Tommy] delivered me the vocal part. He recorded his vocal part separately… I talked to him briefly on Skype, and we talked about the song and I told him what I’d like him to do but — in all my collaborations — I tell them to be free to express themselves. I like to give them a lot of space… otherwise the collaborations don’t make any sense for me… so anyway he delivers forty-eight tracks! As I started to go through them all I wept like a little girl. I was so proud of us, and so proud of our moment.”RAWRAMP: Do you feel any anger, at all, about any of the things that have happened to you?“No, not really anger. I feel disappointment. Anger, no. I always tend to try to find positiveness in us. I am still naive. Today I am still very naive. I still believe in the good things. The good things in us. So it hits me very hard when I get disappointment. But no, I don’t get angry. That’s too much. Too far.”RAWRAMP: So how do you keep yourself emotionally fit?“Well, performing music is my exit. For everybody, whether it’s the creator or the consumer, music gives healing. And for me to be able to work with music I feel very privileged and then again it’s a blessing. But I also go out to run, I see nature, I see blue sky and hear birds singing and I take that deep breath. And, obviously, when I am seeing my little girl running around I always say to myself, well at least I’ve done something good in my life…she’s six.”RAWRAMP: Will any of the guest stars perform alongside you on the Raw Tour?“I would love that, if they can. But they are all very busy with their own touring and recording schedules. But maybe we can figure out something, even it’s at a festival or something. The tour is going to be a long one. It starts in September first in Russia, then in South America. I have a classical concert in between, at Christmas — it’s a church tour in Finland, plus a few other places. Then back to work with the European leg of the tour that starts in the new year, so we won’t be in England until then. But before that, in January, I am going to do some very special concerts… in fact they are going to be so special that I can’t even talk to you about them yet! There’s going to be some very exciting news soon…”“When I finish an album production I start to tour for two years. I have done this with every album I have done. Then I start writing a new album. It’s always like a 3-year cycle. Except, this time, it’s only been two years between the recordings. It’s a never ending story. And thank goodness it is…”Thank goodness. And congratulations on an immense and thoroughly satisfying new album.Tarja was talking with Neil Mach 2019 ©
arja gave the chance to few fans, members of the Winter Storm fan club, to review each song from "In The Raw".The reviews will be shared starting today.Be aware that what you are about to read is written with the heart and won't be as impartial as a journalist, but still... from fans to fans, here is a taste of "In The Raw"!And for a listening preview of the entire album... come back on Monday!DEAD PROMISES“Dead Promises” is the powerful intro to Tarja’s new album “In The Raw”.From the very beginning a bass from the deep reveals the entry to a dark cave of raw wonders where, inside, a roaring guitar meets us with pride like an ancient animal, creating one of the most heavy riff to date in Tarja’s solo carrier. We immediately understand that we’re in for a mythological ride through the human’s mind and it won’t be a soft one. The soprano’s voice welcomes us with the main melodies of the song, like a primal overture with a promise of music not as “Dead” as the title track suggests.The chants go on, the lyrics start, and when the duet begins we immediately feel the duel aspects of the human soul: angelic with primordial feelings, unfiltered as the guest vocalist Björn “Speed” Strid from SOILWORK converges with the hard rock sounds of the band and the ferocious voice of the Finnish Soprano, resulting in a trinity of equal powers. No half term emotions here, just naked pain.But we’re not out yet, the emotional journey has just started, and with the heat wave of this first song, the ice has been shattered.GOODBYE STRANGERNow that we have been stripped down to the core by the powerful introduction of “Dead Promises”, it’s time to “leave the past behind and face yourself alone in the raw” with this great hard rock song which contains the second collaboration of the album and takes on board the Italian singer Cristina Scabbia from “Lacuna Coil”.The song starts with delicate guitar’s echoes, but rapidly change into a strong and aggressive classic hard rock style which works really well with both the singers who are able to combine their exceptional skills and support each other throughout the track with unique back vocals in a symbiotic union of drums, bass, guitars and voices.Despite being very heavy, “Goodbye Stranger” has at the same time a light and airy feeling, ending up being one of the most enjoyable ride for its listener.The last guitar’s strings, reminiscence of Vangelis (Composer of “Blade Runner”) are leading us to the next piece “Tears in Rain”.TEARS IN RAIN“Tears in Rain” is one of the strongest songs released so far, filled with heavy sounds and so much energy to shake the earth.The mystical cave is now lightened by golden neon reflections of the silky black waterfalls of tears. A bowienesque crescendo introduces us to this tribute to the film “Blade Runner”, setting up the style and rhythm inspired by the 80’s. Now we’re ready to listen to Tarja’s teary lyrics with a more hopeful mood and warrior vibes.The song is catchy from the very beginning and it will surely become a must-have hit to play live in all future gigs.“We’re gone, nothing of us remains, like tears in rain” sings our beloved Soprano with her dramatic voice, the heavy guitar riffs return strong right in the middle part of the track, but they soon fade out leaving us in the dark of the cavern with the verse “I will write - another storyline - the circle of love will shine - we’ll share the daylight wishing for the nights”. Hope is kindling this ancient dome, the darkness is over for now.RAILROADSA gentle sound introduces the melodies of this new trip down our heart and memories, taking us back to those dreamy and magical atmospheres we had in Tarja’s early works. With the Paulo Coelho’s book “Aleph” in her thoughts, Tarja gently guides us into the wonders of life, past and future.The rhythm is as steady and constant as a train in motion, the voice is soft and warm and we can’t help but feel cuddled by the beautiful orchestration and strings layering on top of each other, forming a river of memories and sensations that fills us with nostalgia and hope for what’s ahead.“Come show me the love that fills your heart, you’ll see this moment will redeem your past and shine tomorrow’s railroads with your light”The powerful soprano shines during the chorus, with her crystal clear voice she‘s calling us from the deepest part of our mind like a timeless mystical creature hidden away from the world who’s trying to come back to the light.The track ends with a beautiful melancholic piano accompanied by Tarja’s soft notes and it makes us think of every moment of our life; is it how we imagined as a child? What’s next for us? What’s next for Tarja? We are excited to continue this journey and find out all the answers.YOU AND I“You and I” is the greatest love ballad ever composed by Tarja and it marks the beginning of the more melodic segment of the album. Even with the massive sound of the orchestra towards the end of the song, this track distinguish itself for its simplicity thanks to the melancholic notes of a piano that supports Tarja throughout the song, creating a connection with your most intimate feelings and memories of your loved ones. The base sounds like a beating heart and it interconnects lyrics and melodies.The slow and soft pace of this beautiful song gives you the time to rediscover life, it gently escorts you through the dark, forging the emotional key that will open your inner golden chamber.THE GOLDEN CHAMBERAfter the streams of dreams and earthly hopes of the previous song, it’s time to awake the heart and elevate the mind to superior heights with “The Golden Chamber”. This song represents the core of the album and it’s a love letter to the world of film scores with its majestic orchestral arrangements and its structure of three unique acts.Tarja goes back to her roots with few Finnish lines written for the middle part of the composition and she embraces her true form of soprano, delivering a touching performance through enchanting vocals that surrounds the listener in this other-worldly chamber filled with golden waterfalls of desires and dreams, gleaming lights and tenebrous shadows bouncing off the walls of the deepest part of the human soul.This is without a doubt the most visual song of the album, where the listener finds the freedom of diving into this imaginary musical kingdom and enjoy the perfect alchemy between the two worlds.Once we reach the climax of the song, we are left with the sensation of being on top of a mountain by an endless ocean where the wind is blowing through the hair and we can’t resist the temptation of taking a long leap into the aquatic threshold of the sea.SPIRIT OF THE SEAWith this track, Tarja taps into her entire musical archive to tell you the sad story of the incident of the ARA San Juan submarine, which mysteriously disappeared with its 44 members of the crew in 2017.The song begins with a somber funeral march and swiftly drowns you into an eternal thunderous ocean of guitars and drums where the dark lyrics perfectly marry the progressive industrial flavours and unique melodies enriched by tribal sounds and haunted echoes delivered by Tarja’s versatile voice which, once again, succeeds into absorbing the listener in this doomed world ruled by the spirits of the sea.SILENT MASQUERADE“All that glitters is not gold” is a famous quote of Shakespeare that starts this new track on the notes of a piano in a pure Schubert’s style and raises the curtains to unveil a theatre’s stage where the lyrics unfolds into another deep and personal story of pain imprisoned behind a silent masquerade.We are spectators of an impressive duet with the guest singer Tommy Karevik from “Kamelot”, whose vocals alternates with Tarja’s dramatic lines on a heavy and rough musical background which is perfectly balanced with the distorted guitars, insidious strings, powerful drums and the beautifully arranged orchestra.Once the final act is over, the curtains closes on more meaningful spoken thoughts over the wonderful piano melody that welcomed us at the beginning of this remarkable play.SERENEContinuing on the same melodramatic notes as the previous track, “Serene” comes in as strong as the love of a mother who is committed to radiate comfort and support needed to face the rough reality we live every day.If the title might suggest ethereal sounds, the expectations are overturned when the deep and positive lyrics crushes with the aggressive and vigorous riffs and bombastic drums, inviting the listener to descend, together, this perilous journey that is life and find the strength to overcome all the obstacles we encounter in our path towards happiness.Once again, Tarja succeeds into combining different ingredients and make them work together seamlessly, transforming “Serene” into a precious piece of work that many fans will fall in love with.The energy transmitted by the song prepares you for the epic conclusion of this mythological ride with the last track of the album “Shadow Play”.SHADOW PLAY“Shadow Play” is anything but discreet: In this grand finale of perhaps the strongest of her albums, Tarja assembles a big production, which includes all the elements that you would expect from a great symphonic metal band.Tarja draws without fear an epic choir whom rapidly enchants us with the catchy rhythm that sets the mood and the energy for this fascinating story about a marionette and its casted shadows.In the middle of this majestic acoustic battle of guitar riffs, angry drums and massive orchestrations, the Soprano crashes the battlefield to bring peace with only a piano and her ethereal sophisticated voice, before slapping the listener again in the last two minutes where the track continues to build in elements and intensity until a massive crescendo and a huge bang to conclude this wonderful journey the same way as it began.With “In The Raw” Tarja has taken the time to gather her thoughts and her creative instincts, to go back to the origins and create something that is absolutely true to her own style. Everything has been pushed to a superior level with compelling orchestral arrangements, a strong musicality and a voice that is better than ever and still has so much to give after more than 20 years. It’s a varied album with something extra that will attract fans of different genres of music.Get ready to fall in love with this record that will keep you company for many many hours.Written by Alessio Biancardo & Francesco Mosele.
5 days until "In The Raw"!From fans to fans, here is the second review of the album.DEAD PROMISESA strong drum roll followed by a powerful guitar riff welcomes you. You entered the cave and it will not be easy to get out of there. Your heart beats as you hear "I'm still here where you belong." The song is magical, addictive. The guitar is the main protagonist along with the voice of Tarja. The album version includes an impecable dúo betweet Tarja and Bjorn Speed Strid. This versión just blow your mind. If you think that the single version needed more power, there you have it. These two made an awesome duet where both can shine with clean and harsh vocals. Just stunning. The thunderous melody accompanies you throughout the entire song. When your ears feel this powerful piece, you will want to jump, shout and sing all your demons outside. A strong song, heavy but without losing the charm of Tarja's voice. Let your heart beat louder and harder while the rawness of this song envelops you. Welcome to In the Raw in the best possible way.GOODBYE STRANGERSIt is without a doubt the most "raw" song on the album. It begins with a submissive guitar that serves as a prelude to the strength that this song brings from its music. Super rhythmic, bright but at the same time heavy. The perfect soundtrack to say goodbye to an old self, everything we leave behind to become ourselves. And the lyrics just refer to that. To everything we assimilate, we overcome and say goodbye to stop being strangers to ourselves and embrace as we are. The perfect combination of Tarja's voice with Cristina makes us think how they can become the same voice in a different tone. There is a kind of unique chemistry and empathy in their voices that invite us to feel comfortable hearing them together. A song with great force, raw and direct to help us face the fears present in our trip inside the immense cave. When you listen to it, you will want to escape from any conflict situation where you are immersed right now.TEARS IN RAINThis song starts strong. With a powerful drums and thunderous guitars that make their way to Tarja's melodious voice. Again, guitar riffs are the protagonists along with Tarja shining with her voice. Arriving in the middle of the song, you can feel the climax of it: the drums and the heavyness take more prominence. The lyrics of the song catches you, seduces you, leads you to remember and how these memories can feel so real, so within us and How they are like obstacles to traverse our own cave.Let Tarja's voice and the rawness of the song accompany you to overcome with those memories and start again with your own self and your dreams. The heavyness and the power of the song guide you, fill you with strength, you feel strong listening to it. You can feel that you can create landscapes of hope in the dark situations. Everything goes like tears in the rain. Nothing left. A song for you to recover your energy and shake your dark past again and wash like tears in the rain.RAILROADSStarts with a beautiful ambient guitar and keyboards that accompany your journey through the cave. If you were afraid of the unknown of the deep, this song helps you to travel through the immense of your feeling. Quiet, but with powerful lyrics. The song does not speak to you, it speaks to your dreams. It speaks to your inside to take out all the love you really feel but hide deep within. The beautiful orchestra of this song accompanies the atmosphere of it. Sit down, close your eyes and let yourself be carried away by the beautiful melody that this piece and Tarja's voice offer you. When you listen to the lyrics, I hope you are able to see beyond ... There is much more below what the words counts. A beautiful song to make it your own. Dance, sing, scream, move, but never stop feeling the beautiful atmosphere that guitars, violins, the orchestra itself and Tarja's voice give you with this song. The outtro of this song is Tarja practically speaking to your ears and your feeling. Singing that you really have to show the world the love you have inside and that this is our moment, a moment where we redeem our past.YOU AND ISweet, but still somber. The melancholy of the piano accompanies Tarja's sweet voice in this work. There is not much to say, just close your eyes and enjoy how each word is sung with love, empathy and healthy devotion. The strings of this song accompany the entire piece. It might seem that this song is addressed to that person you think about when you are alone, nostalgic and vulnerable; but at the same time, you can come to think like maybe it sings to you. To the constant winter storm. Wait for the end of that beautiful melody, where the climax hugs you with the strong orchestra and the voice of Tarja. Just close your eyes.THE GOLDEN CHAMBERThis song would define it as an interlude. The first part of the album represented an adventure full of obstacles that were, in itself, easy to cross inside the cave, but suddenly The Golden Chamber arrives. It immerses us in that transition of thought and makes us reflect, how deep have we come inside this cave? This work is purely orchestral. It is a journey in a dream. Tarja's voice is taking center stage. Reach the deepest of your heart and emotions. Every note, every feeling embodied in the way she sings makes your heart shiver even harder. It is as if the magic of this song, as it increases in intensity, would take you by the hand and accompanies you on that journey deeper and deeper into the cave. While we could consider it an instrumental song, almost at the end, we can hear Tarja in her native language. One of those works that we can consider gold in Tarja's career. Being totally objective, it is a perfect work of art that any artist would be proud to have immortalized on an album. One of the most valuable jewels in this CD.SPIRITS OF THE SEAWith this work, we could say that we reach the depths of the ocean. One of the most powerful songs on the album. Mystical, dark, captivating in its melody but so sad and gloomy in its lyrics. Tarja shows us the great versatility of her voice in this work. How can it devastate us like a wave with its power, or how it can embrace us in a whisper in the depths of the sea. As for the lyrics, I can't write much without shedding tears. Being Argentine, I am familiar with the sadness that this track has. A wound that still hurts and that Tarja, in a very respectful and poetic way, asks us to always remember our brothers of the great blue. We can hear Tarja accompanied by the orchestra, singing like from the depths of the sea, where they are. Powerful choirs, perfect percussion and a strong electric guitar, accompany the magnitude of the song and the powerful voice of Tarja. As I said before, one of the best songs on the album where we can hear the rawness and vulnerability that it can convey.SILENT MASQUERADEThis particular song is a great play of theater art. It is as if you open a huge portal to eternal reflections within your mind. The music is immense in its splendor. Start with a piano and a narrator who tells us a beautiful story. It develops in a progressive way. The piano is followed by a strong soundtrack of power and strength to make way for Tarja's voice. Serene, calm but still quite strong. The music continues in the same way, strong, raw, but still orchestral and fragile. Then, it's Tommy Karevik's time to shine. His voice calms you, hugs you. Even so, he demonstrates his great power in a beautiful duet with Tarja in the choirs. Arriving in the middle of the song, a rawness and extraordinary power in the play shakes us. Tarja and Tommy invite us to shake our fears with the heaviest part of the song to end up giving prominence to the fast drums, guitars, strings and a Tarja that drives us crazy with what she can do with her voice. It ends the same way it started. The curtain has fallen. I think this is the song that best defines In the Raw.SERENEWe can really define Tarja's voice as Serene in this track. It is as if she will sing directly to the listeners, making us feel that we can fly, that we can flee from the cave where we entered. Definitely, the protagonist of this song is a powerful rhythm guitar that guides us throughout the piece. In addition to the strong and solid percussion. In this song, already reaching the climax, we can hear a duel between the guitar and the voice of Tarja. A powerful and epic solo which is accompanied by the incredible vocalization of Tarja reaching very high notes. It is definitely a song to feel that one is flying through the clouds and that there is always someone or something that accompanies us throughout our trip. Magnificent songSHADOW PLAYWe reach the end and what an end! Consider this as "epic" is not enough. A great orchestra and choir receive us in our final stretch in the huge cave. It is as if all the darkness and crudeness witnessed, were opted for in this final work. The lyrics are very deep and dark in a sense, which incredibly accompanies the strength of the song. That powerful choir and the great orchestration are present throughout the song accompanied by a strong guitar which has its moment of splendor in the middle of the work, demonstrating all the strength and rawness that we knew to enjoy throughout the album. Tarja's voice in the final climax of the song makes us feel free, with all our emotions to the surface after venturing into the cave. The orchestra increases in intensity: our senses fly, our body moves to the sound of the piece of art, our eyes close and our heart enjoys the end of this magnificent work. The curtain closes the same way it started.Written by Alexis UlloaTarja gave the chance to few fans, members of the Winter Storm fan club, to review each song from "In The Raw".Join at www.winterstormofficial.com
DEAD PROMISESA heavy guitar riff opens the song and declares that Tarja is back... purer and rawer than ever. Tarja's voice is then introduced by her signature power vocals, while guitars are not shy to declare the rhythm of the song. It all starts with a sacred-music-like refrain, that reminds us why Tarja's voice is considered an institution in music. It is interesting to note that Tarja is not afraid of using different signing techniques. She opens the song by using her enchanting chest voice, to later go back to her trademark: celestial high notes. In this version of the song, Tarja is accompanied by Björn “Speed” Strid (Soilwork), who adds aggressiveness and depth to the track. "Dead Promises, games you play will kill your dreams" is the first line of the chorus to this powerful song, where Björn “Speed” Strid and Tarja take us on a ride through a glorious and dynamic melody for almost 6 minutes. Both singing styles are melted into one, bringing “Dead Promises” to the next level. The song's power comes to its climax thought a very heavy music to then bring us to a soft rift that will close the song. Definitely a powerful performance that might be considered the highest point of her live shows.TEARS IN RAINThis is the third single of In The Raw and Tarja makes it clear: the queen of symphonic rock/metal does not disappoint, nor is afraid to try new things. The sound of strident guitars and drums open a song where listeners can feel inspired to conquer their fears and fight to achieve their dreams. This is an emotional song, where Tarja expresses how our fear of failure can be washed away "like tears in rain." Perceived as a mix of soft and hard music, Tears In Rain is set to become a fan favorite. The versatility of this song comes not only in the music, but in the video as well. Tarja plays a strong-headed roller derby player and demonstrates that you, accompanied by a good soundtrack, can be set to reach your goals in any field. This song is almost as if Tarja was speaking one-on-one to her fans. Her powerful yet soothing voice reciting "Like tears in rain, we are gone. Nothing of us remains" sounds like an invitation to leave the past in the past, and keep going just as strong as the guitars in the song.RAILROADSUndoubtedly, Tarja possesses one of the most versatile and distinctive voices in the scene. Whether it is through heavy rock or a heartfelt ballad, Tarja is able to transport her listeners to a different atmosphere. Railroads presents a profound melody where her voice is definitely the star of the song. Passionately, Tarja's soothing performance is accompanied by soft yet powerful music that transmits a feeling of hope. The song's chorus seems to give a message of optimism by out crying "you'll see this moment will redeem the past and shine tomorrow railroads with your light." The last part of the song is Tarja's voice accompanied with a sweet piano that drifts the listeners away into finding their own light.Additional to this, Tarja decided to get her fervent fans involved in the making of the music video for this song. This gesture reminds us why Tarja is one of the most adored singers around the world.GOODBYE STRANGERWithout a doubt, a long-awaited duet that does not disappoint. The enchanting duet between Tarja and Cristina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil), both icons of the heavy rock scene, proofs that they are not strangers to taking the phrase "strength though unity" to the next level. Thunderous guitars, sturdy drums and robust bass notes make an appearance, declaring the rhythm of the captivating song. Although creating songs as raw as this is something unusual for Tarja, who usually makes use of elegant orchestrations and elaborate effects, one has to admit she did a hell of a good job. Tarja and Cristina’s voice become one to proclaim that “it is time to leave the past behind and face yourself alone” in a heavy yet catchy tune that will easily become a favorite.YOU AND IAdvice: prepare your lighters before listening to this song. A soft ballad that, accompanied by a piano that twirls to the rhythm of an angelic voice, reminds us of Tarja’s vulnerability not only as an artist, but as a human being. This is a deeply genuine "thank you" to that person that holds us together when we are having a hard time. With lyrics like "is how you keep me calm when the world is running out my veins, when the pressure is high, driving me insane," accompanied by her delightful voice, Tarja makes it difficult to listen to this song without getting goose bumps and a tear down your cheek. This is a lovely song that doesn’t need much background music to transmit the passion and enthusiasm to its listeners.THE GOLDEN CHAMBER“The Golder Chamber” is the perfect continuation to the mood set in “You and I.” It is an epic break to the emotional rollercoaster Tarja got her fans into with previous songs. It also creates a mystical ambiance that will be carried on through the following songs. The song is mostly an otherworldly instrumental that allow us to appreciate Tarja’s harmonious vocalization in a melody that appears to have been taken out of a fantasy film.SPIRITS OF THE SEATransporting us to another dimension deep down the sea, Tarja’s siren-like enchanting voice embraces and entices us to narrate a story through her melody. Joining forces with film score composer Bart Hendrickson and percussionist Carlinhos Brown, Tarja delivers a track that is magical, passionate and sincerely heartfelt. With lyrics inspired by the anguish and sorrow that rose due to the disappearance of submarine ARA San Juan (S-42) in Argentina, a country that lives dearly in Tarja’s heart, “Spirits of the Sea” delivers one of the album's strongest tracks. There is an undeniable magnetism between the music and Tarja’s voice, who allures the listener into getting lost in the song. With lines like "think of us after you're gone" and "promise me our love won't die," accompanied by a mystic tune, this song makes you want to reach out to loved ones and let them know how much they mean to you. This could be seen as the continuation to Naiad, from her album What Lies Beneath.SILENT MASQUERADETarja joins forces with Tommy Karevik (Kamelot) for a powerful yet sensual duet that reminds us of two of the reasons we love her art form: the versatility of her voice and the beauty of her lyrics. The song starts reciting a Shakespearean poem giving us an important reminder: "All that glitters is not gold." Accompanied by sweet piano notes that open the way for one of the most anticipated tracks of this album, “Silent Masquerade” provides the listeners with a nostalgic, tender feeling. Tommy's voice contrasts perfectly with Tarja's voice color and this is present throughout the track. Imbued with a Kamelot touch by the middle of the song, heavy guitars enter aggressively to remind us of the theme of the song, "no one can tell the games that we play will last forever." Wrapping up with a triumphant statement, music goes away and lets Tarja and Tommy's voices take control. After the song comes the ending of Shakespeare’s poem, again, layered over soft piano notes. While “all that glitters is not gold,” this song surely is a treasure that will be cherished by Tarja’s loyal fans.SERENEAlthough it starts with a heavy and energetic beat, “Serene” has a sentimental undertone. It is an ode to those who support their loved ones through difficult times. Reminiscing of harmonies sung by the angels, this song has an enchanting bridge that explodes into a heartfelt chorus that empowers the listener to dream big and stay true to her/himself because “soon you’ll wake up to see everything’s serene," and there is calm after the rain. A guitar solo starts by the middle of the song, to then burst into a remarkably intense refrain that transmits passion and desperation to spread the message of the song. After this high point, Tarja's voice soothes the listener by repeating "serene," to then lose all background music.SHADOW PLAYThe closure of this album, Tarja’s triumphant masterpiece, comes with “Shadow Play.” This song starts in a highly dramatic manner, reminiscing of Tarja’s symphonic metal and classical roots, to then soften to focus on her captivating vocals. As the title of the album warns, “Shadow Play” is packed with the sound of raw yet sophisticated instruments that accompany Tarja mastering every single note of the song, giving proof of the flexibility of her voice. The lyrics take us through the story of a marionette’s life behind the curtains, always on the mercy of her strings. This song takes the listener through high and low moments, from thunderous guitars to soft piano notes, it is very clear that Tarja wanted to close off the album with an epic, strong, ravishing track, accompanied with masterful orchestrations.Tarja lives up to what it seems to be her new slogan, "expect the unexpected." Although Tarja has a solidified and distinct sound, by listening In The Raw, fans can definitely expect surprises. This is Tarja’s most adventurous and experimental album; the listener can tell that she feels more comfortable playing with her voice and trying different techniques. This is the result of the experience she has gained throughout her solo career. In The Raw contains the mysticism of My Winter Storm, the aggressiveness of What Lies Beneath, the passion of Colors in the Dark, and the darkness of The Shadow Self. There is no doubt about it, the queen of symphonic rock/metal is back and we are living for it.Written by Ariadne W.Tarja gave the chance to few fans, members of the Winter Storm fan club, to review each song from "In The Raw".Join at www.winterstormofficial.com
