More than two decades after one of the most controversial breakups in symphonic metal history, Tarja Turunen has revealed that she may one day publish a book sharing her own perspective on her departure from NIGHTWISH.
During a recent interview with Metal Hammer Spain, the Finnish singer was asked whether she would ever consider writing an autobiography that directly addresses her split from the band and responds to how those events were portrayed in Once Upon A Nightwish: The Official Biography 1996-2006, the band's authorized biography originally released in 2006.
While she stopped short of confirming any plans, Tarja admitted the possibility remains open.
“Maybe one day. I wrote a book during COVID. It's not really a biography. It's about my career, where I didn't involve too much about my past with NIGHTWISH. Maybe one day I can go back. Maybe. It's just perhaps. I don't feel like I am in need of explaining too much. But I can tell you this, that I was not really involved in that biography. They'd made me only one interview on the phone, 20 minutes, and that's it. But maybe I could write about it one day. Maybe.”
The vocalist also reflected on how different her life feels today compared to her final years in NIGHTWISH. Asked about the happiness she seems to project on stage nowadays, Tarja said she genuinely enjoys touring as a solo artist despite the demanding schedule.
She recalled a conversation with WITHIN TEMPTATION singer Sharon den Adel, who was surprised by the amount of touring she continues to do.
“Yeah, I am. I really enjoy it. I'm like a glowing light bulb on my shows. I'm really happy. Very happy. So I'm happy to hear that you saw that in me, because it's really real. Of course it's hard to be on the road. As a mother, leave the home door and close it behind me, leave my family behind, be weeks away from home. It's hard. I miss my family. It's hard physically to tour and be on the road. But I have the best team of people. I have really good guys with me. I have a beautiful crew, musicians. We all are like a happy bunch family.”
Tarja also emphasized the importance of the support system she has built around her current career.
She highlighting the role played by longtime collaborator Marko Hietala.
“We had good days and bad days, and we were there for each other. So it's very important for me to be able to feel this happiness, because I would never, ever, ever, ever be willing to go back where I was with the days in NIGHTWISH. It was so miserable. It was not happy times. Why? You do music — it should be happy.”
The comments revisit one of the defining moments in modern symphonic metal history. Tarja was dismissed from NIGHTWISH at the end of the band's Once tour in 2005 through an open letter published by the group. In that letter, the remaining members accused her of prioritizing “business and money” over the emotional foundations of the band.
Over the years, both Tarja and NIGHTWISH members have shared differing perspectives regarding the split. While Tuomas Holopainen later described the decision as the hardest thing he had ever done, Tarja has repeatedly stated that the manner in which she was removed from the band showed her that her former bandmates were not truly her friends.
Today, however, the singer remains focused on her solo career, international collaborations and ongoing work with Marko Hietala.
