Πόρταλ
Tour has been a wonderful success so far. Everything has worked out fine and the band sounds very tight.
I think tighter than ever before. The band and crewmembers is a well-synchronised machine and as a good team, small changes we might have are not affecting the general balance.
Is a great achievement to have a group of people that can truly smile on stage (without acting it) while performing 
We are all having fun on stage and off stage!
As you might know, I have a new bass player with me on this tour, Oliver. We are happy to have him on board with us. I guess the lucky stars are still following me, because I’ve had so much luck to have these kind of great and supporting people to work with me.
Find few photos from the rehearsals in Brussels before the beginning of the tour.
This is also a good opportunity to send a big hug to Doug and Kiko. We all miss them 
Everything started in Belgium where it was an honour to headline the Metal Female Voices Festival. There were many people coming to tell me after the show that they’ve enjoyed my concert very much. It was nice to hear that. Even though it was the beginning of this tour, everything seemed to happen as wished.
We already left behind Luxemburg, two shows in Czech and two shows in Slovakia.
It’s very nice to feel that as eastern as we travel, people show their feelings towards the artists more openly :) That’s just amazing. It reminds us a lot from the South American tour we recently did.
From the next seven cities we will perform, I only have the pleasure to know one, Moscow. So I’m heading to new places where it feels incredible good to be able to explore them.
Tomorrow we will perform for the first time in Belgrade, Serbia. And the show has been Sold Out for few days already!
See you soon!
10. October 2008
Hi from Kuusankoski!
Before returning back to Finland, I was in the studio in Buenos Aires recording the song “Enough” and two other songs.
Singing “Enough” was fun for me, because I had already sang the song many times on tour. Still the recording process is very different than singing live.
It was very hard to reach the same feeling in the studio that I had during the shows, because I didn’t have the screaming, lovely and supporting audience anymore in front of me
Anyway, I really like how the song kicks ass! My voice sounds again pretty different than before and even for me it is interesting to realize how I am more free with my singing every day.
One other song that I recorded is the gorgeous “Wisdom of Wind”.
There is a story about this particular song that I would like to share with you. Some time ago I was invited by composers Jeff Rona and Lisa Gerrard to sing their song for Peking’s 2008 Olympic Regatta, but due to tight schedules, I was not able to record it in time. I liked the song so much that I wanted still to use it for my own album. So I recorded it now. It is a wonderful, moody song with symphonic orchestra. I hope you’ll like it.
It is an honour for me to sing a song from Jeff and Lisa!
Also I recorded a duet for Doro’s 25th anniversary album. It is a beautiful ballad. I hope she likes what I did! Hehe. Sometimes I get a bit too productive with my vocals…but it’s fun. I am looking forward to present the song with her in her concert in Düsseldorf later this year. I was very happy to receive an invitation to the show, which must be very important to Doro and to her great, long career in music.
I was having good time with my fans in the “press conference” we did together in Buenos Aires. I had already done few signing sessions in Buenos Aires earlier so this time I wanted to do something different with my fans.
The mood was cool during the conference and in the end the people didn’t ask me too many questions, even though I was prepared to answer for much more! And I did some signing and photos after the conference.
There are not so many days left before my next European tour starts. Time is flying! I am really anxious to perform again in Metal Female Voices Festival and in many countries that I have never been before. Not even as a tourist! For example countries like Israel, Luxemburg, Bulgaria, Serbia, Ukraine and Belarus.
Funny today an Israeli journalist mentioned during his interview that rumours were that I have been afraid to go to Israel to perform in the past…
I could only laugh to that rumour 
After receiving several invitations to perform in Israel, luckily, this time was possible to arrange it! And I am going to spend even some days off there with my band and crew. That’s how scared we are
So people, if I should have one drop per each wrong and malicious information spread about me, I wouldn’t need to go that far to dive…
Facts speak stronger than words.
I am really looking forward to get to know my fans in those countries. Thank you for making this tour to happen.
So, my Winter Storm, be prepared! I’ll come to sing for you soon in Europe (and Israel)!
With love, Tarja
Before returning back to Finland, I was in the studio in Buenos Aires recording the song “Enough” and two other songs.
Singing “Enough” was fun for me, because I had already sang the song many times on tour. Still the recording process is very different than singing live.
It was very hard to reach the same feeling in the studio that I had during the shows, because I didn’t have the screaming, lovely and supporting audience anymore in front of me
Anyway, I really like how the song kicks ass! My voice sounds again pretty different than before and even for me it is interesting to realize how I am more free with my singing every day.
One other song that I recorded is the gorgeous “Wisdom of Wind”.
There is a story about this particular song that I would like to share with you. Some time ago I was invited by composers Jeff Rona and Lisa Gerrard to sing their song for Peking’s 2008 Olympic Regatta, but due to tight schedules, I was not able to record it in time. I liked the song so much that I wanted still to use it for my own album. So I recorded it now. It is a wonderful, moody song with symphonic orchestra. I hope you’ll like it.
It is an honour for me to sing a song from Jeff and Lisa!
Also I recorded a duet for Doro’s 25th anniversary album. It is a beautiful ballad. I hope she likes what I did! Hehe. Sometimes I get a bit too productive with my vocals…but it’s fun. I am looking forward to present the song with her in her concert in Düsseldorf later this year. I was very happy to receive an invitation to the show, which must be very important to Doro and to her great, long career in music.
I was having good time with my fans in the “press conference” we did together in Buenos Aires. I had already done few signing sessions in Buenos Aires earlier so this time I wanted to do something different with my fans.
The mood was cool during the conference and in the end the people didn’t ask me too many questions, even though I was prepared to answer for much more! And I did some signing and photos after the conference.
There are not so many days left before my next European tour starts. Time is flying! I am really anxious to perform again in Metal Female Voices Festival and in many countries that I have never been before. Not even as a tourist! For example countries like Israel, Luxemburg, Bulgaria, Serbia, Ukraine and Belarus.
Funny today an Israeli journalist mentioned during his interview that rumours were that I have been afraid to go to Israel to perform in the past…
I could only laugh to that rumour
After receiving several invitations to perform in Israel, luckily, this time was possible to arrange it! And I am going to spend even some days off there with my band and crew. That’s how scared we are
So people, if I should have one drop per each wrong and malicious information spread about me, I wouldn’t need to go that far to dive…
Facts speak stronger than words.
I am really looking forward to get to know my fans in those countries. Thank you for making this tour to happen.
So, my Winter Storm, be prepared! I’ll come to sing for you soon in Europe (and Israel)!
With love, Tarja
14. September 2008
Time to say goodbye for Latin American people
My friends, my beautiful Tormenta en America tour is already over.
Still I would like to share some beautiful moments from the tour with you.
It was great to return to Santiago de Chile. I met many people who had heard me in Noche Escandinava concert in 2002 last time.
The feeling was breathtaking when the curtain dropped in the first song “Boy and the Ghost” and I got to see all the audience screaming and singing right in front of me!
Thank you Chile!
We also filmed a video for the new song called “Enough” in Santiago, day before my concert. The filming took us a complete day and at the moment I am just waiting to see the results. We used only green screen in the shooting, so even though I have experienced that kind of working in my past, now the video is completely based on animated material. So it can end up looking in too many different ways…
Some fans were invited to the video shootings!
Carlos Toro, the director of the video.
I just happened to get very sick in Santiago. The weather was so much cooler than in Brazil and with a lack of sleep, I couldn’t handle it anymore. Since the concert in Chile, I was fighting to get better for the last show in Buenos Aires.
I guess there were some angels helping me, because the day before the concert I was sure we would need to cancel the show.
BUT the concert in Buenos Aires was the best ending for the tour I could have dreamed of. To get a chance to make a concert in my hometown was one thing that I had been waiting for so long.
It felt very special to me to be able to sing, especially in that condition. I got very emotional. What a great thing to remember!
This tour was just an amazing experience for me once again. On my journey through different countries I got to meet lovely Latin American people who gave me so much love, support and hope. I deeply want to thank you all that were there for me. I wish to see you soon again.
My band’s and crew’s support and unconditional care also made me very happy. I love you people!!!!!!! Thank you for making my dream come true.
The last photo of the band backstage right after the show in Buenos Aires. All of us happy, but sad at the same time…
Day after the last concert, we went with the whole band to the studio to record the song “Enough”. I will sing my parts when I feel better. Anyway, the song sounds already excellent and all the musicians gave their best for the song! You’ll hear it soon
I guess the record company will announce soon officially everything concerned the song and video. I don’t want to interfere with their work
Now it is time for me to rest from touring, but I am writing new songs all the time…
Europe can wait another “storm” to appear very soon.
With all my love, Tarja
31. August 2008
Happy people travelling
Touring has been very good so far.
The band and crew have had on our off-days enough time to see places and to do other activities, such as visiting local artist’s concerts.
I have been busy promoting my album and the tour.
It has been nice to meet many of my fans and get to know their opinion about my work.
Latin American people are giving me a lot of strength to go on with this “merry go round”.
Show in Bogotá was just great. Everything worked out fine and people were happy
Next day we all went up the hill called Montserrat with a cable car.
We found a beautiful church and couple of old and charming restaurants. It was nice to be literally upon the clouds.
We had lunch there and got to see the city of Bogotá a bit more before rushing to the airport.
Now we are in Belo Horizonte, Brazil and we just returned from our show tonight. It feels good to be back in here and the audience was awesome!
This time I am not sick, as it has been the case before in the last two times I had concerts here. It seems that when I am happy, my body functions better too
Finally I could offer the local people a great show!
I cannot forget to mention that it was also wonderful to visit Fortaleza for the first time. The hotel was located just in front of the ocean, so the beach and the sound of the sea were enchanting. I love to be close to the sea. It is making me relax immediately.
Well, the local people as well as the weather were HOT.
The concert was very emotional and people seemed to enjoy it a lot. I heard that it has been very difficult for Fortaleza to get international artists/bands performing there.
I hope this will change in the future.
All the other concerts in Brazil went all just fine too. We have had best time together as a band and group of lovely people.
I am still thanking God every day for giving me these nice people to work with and to spend nice time with.
Things couldn’t be better.
With love, Tarja
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20. August 2008
Flying problems!
The three shows in Mexico went really well. It was a great success and I was happy to be able to perform for Mexican people. Also it was nice to return to Guadalajara and to have great show there on my birthday. People were so kind to me everywhere. Thank you Mexico! I hope to come back soon again.
I got to tell you what happened to us on our way to Colombia though. It was really strange and scary experience for all of us. We were supposed to take a plane from Mexico City to Bogotá, which we did, BUT… first we took off one hour late. After being on air for half on hour, the captain announced that we needed to return back to Mexico City because we lost one of our engines and we were flying only with one… Well, the people were still quite calm, but it was very awkward situation indeed for everybody. We landed fine and then got to know that there were many other problems detected on the plane. They tried to fix these problems while we still needed to stay inside the plane! It took some while when finally the pilot informed us that we were not flying on the same day to Bogotá at all. We needed to stay in a hotel in Mexico City that night. The wake up call was already at 03:00 am, because the new scheduled flight to Bogotá was going to leave already at 06:00 in the morning. We woke up early and again got to the plane. We waited and waited until something strange happened AGAIN. The plane was the same than the day before, but they assured us they have fixed the problems and it was safe to fly. Anyway suddenly before taking off, all the lights went off so did the engine!!!!! Half of the people in the plane stood up and instantly started to run towards the front door. They were willing to get out of the plane! The thing is that nobody can force people to stay inside the plane if one is not willing to. SO, we who were willing still to stay, needed to wait inside while the other people left and their luggage were removed from the plane. This took again other 2,5 hours. Finally we took off and the flight was calm and safe. We arrived to Bogotá 15 hours late, but safe.
Sometimes I really hate flying. But thanks to God, we are safe.
Yesterday I got to meet many of my fans in a signing session I had here in Bogotá. I was very pleased to see many happy faces in front of me. Also something really nice happened after we had a beautiful dinner in a traditional Colombian restaurant later in the evening. There were around 7 guys waiting for me outside the restaurant and when I got out, they started to sing to me. They also had a cake with 1 candle prepared to me!!!!! I am sure that tonight’s show will be just amazing because Colombian people really are wonderful.
I’ll leave you some photos of the events I told you before. Now is funny to see the progression of our faces through the hours. It was not so funny then…
before boarding
the plane
arriving to Mexico City after we have left from … Mexico City
waiting…
our flight after most of the people decided to get off the plane instead of flying.
but we made it and we are in beautiful Bogotá.
even in time for a signing session.
Today we got the information about very sad news from Spain where a plane crash and many people died. All the band and crew would like to send our condolences to their families.
It could have been us…
Just remind us how fragile we are and that things can happen to anyone of us at any time. So better to live your dreams every minute, every day and enjoy of the loved ones.
I’ll write to you soon again.
With love, Tarja