Former Nightwish vocalist Tarja Turunen is gearing up to release her highly anticipated new studio album, Frisson Noir, on June 12 through earMUSIC. Officially described as the “heaviest record” of her expansive solo career, the upcoming LP stands as a powerful declaration of identity, resilience, and belonging.
Ahead of the album’s summer arrival, the singer released the lead single, “At Sea“, in March. In a recently shared video, Tarja Turunen opened up about the deep lyrical concepts driving the track, explaining how her complex relationship with the ocean served as the perfect metaphor for navigating life’s unknowns.
”‘At Sea‘, the song is about uncertainty or facing uncertainty with fear but determination. I wrote the song thinking about the ocean itself. I’m an ocean soul. I’ve always kind of feared the sea, but on the other side, on the other hand, I’m a scuba diver and I love what’s underneath the surface. It’s been a huge inspiration for me. But I fear, but still I go,” she explained.
So this is the thing in life, when you accept that the journey has made you who you are,” she continued. “You take that journey and understand that the journey is part of you. You create the journey. You leave the shore behind the uncertainty. You leave the shore that was all fine and beautiful and maybe certain and normal and calm, but then you go to the stormy see without knowing what is there for you. But you wanna see if you are capable of facing the storm — like in life.
Musically, the song boasts a massive cinematic scale. Tarja Turunen noted that she initially structured the intricate composition on the piano before building it out with elaborate orchestration courtesy of Jim Dooley. To capture the necessary emotional depth, she recruited her longtime university friend Niklas Pokki to record the piano tracks at Finnvox studios in Helsinki, while Mervi Myllyoja contributed striking violin sections.
“I wrote the song with a piano, I made the skeleton with a piano, and it has a lot of, many tempo changes and [it is], in general, a very complex song. And within there is also this huge orchestration from Jim Dooley again and choir parts, but the piano, as it is the core of the song, I needed to find someone that could really, not only from the technical aspects, but also could handle the emotional part of the song. And so I called my longtime friend, even from Karlsruhe University from here — I studied in Germany — Niklas Pokki, pianist. And he did an amazing performance in Finnvox studios in Helsinki. And Mervi Myllyoja delivered amazing, beautiful violin parts for the song.”
Frisson Noir seamlessly blends Tarja Turunen‘s classical heritage with the aggressive weight of modern metal. Mixed by Grammy-winning producer Neal Avron (known for his work with Linkin Park, Skillet, and Disturbed), the ten-track record explores human themes like defiance, nostalgia, and independence. It also features a massive roster of guest musicians, including her former Nightwish bandmate Marko Hietala, Cradle of Filth frontman Dani Filth, cello-metal masters Apocalyptica, and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith.
The album will be available in multiple retail formats, including CD digipak and various limited-edition 2LP vinyl pressings featuring copper foil embossing. A strictly limited collector’s box set will also be offered, boasting exclusive items like a 7-inch vinyl featuring “I Don’t Care (Tarja Solo Version)” and “I Don’t Care (Dani Mix)“, art prints, and a massive 24-page booklet.
The official track listing for Frisson Noir is as follows:
- “Frisson Noir“
- “The Eternal Return“
- “Leap Of Faith” (feat. Marko Hietala)
- “At Sea” (feat. Mervi Myllyoja + Niklas Pokki)
- “Blaze Forever“
- “The Trace Outlives” (feat. Sayo Komada)
- “Tango” (feat. Apocalyptica)
- “Anemoia” (feat. Julián Bedmar + Valter Freitas)
- “I Don’t Care” (feat. Dani Filth)
- “Against The Odds” (feat. Chad Smith)
Following the release of the album, Tarja will embark on the “International Frisson Live Tour 2026.”
Tarja 2026 European Tour Dates:
- 9/30 — Berlin, Germany — Huxleys Neue Welt
- 10/1 — Hamburg, Germany — Markthalle
- 10/2 — Rostock, Germany — M.A.U. Club
- 10/4 — Dresden, Germany — Parkhotel Ballsaal
- 10/5 — Jena, Germany — F-Haus
- 10/6 — Munich, Germany — Backstage Werk
- 10/8 — Innsbruck, Austria — Music Hall
- 10/9 — Pratteln, Switzerland — Z7
- 10/11 — Lindau, Germany — Club Vaudeville
- 10/12 — Cologne, Germany — Essigfabrik
- 10/13 — Frankfurt, Germany — Batschkapp
- 10/15 — Osnabrück, Germany — Hyde Park
- 10/16 — Gersthofen, Germany — Stadthalle
- 10/17 — Vienna, Austria — Szene
