Former Nightwish vocalist Tarja Turunen has opened up about the deep personal and professional bond she shares with her husband of nearly 25 years, Marcelo Cabuli.
In a recent interview with Finland’s Chaoszine, the singer detailed how her long-term partner has continuously guided her solo career, acting as both a creative sounding board and a vital protector in the music industry.
“He’s been there since 2000, in every studio session, everywhere. He’s seen me, how I work, what I do. Until we became partners even in that, in a creative process, until he started really helping me out, even with some lyrics, even for Frisson Noir, he’s been there. We’ve been creating things together. He has a really good ear. He can’t play himself any instruments, but he’s been there to help me out in productions to say, ‘What about this,’ or, ‘What about that?’ And so I have another pair of ears at home just right next to me helping me in the process. And, of course, we are husband and wife, so we also have that part, a very, very, very important part. It’s the love that we share, and the world that we share. But for me to start looking someone else to do what Marcelo is doing, it would be quite rather impossible task, because he is there for me in everything that I do. And I have to say that for many people might be quite difficult to understand that this is really working as a couple. It is working, and without him I would be in a total deep s**t. I know that I would not be here doing what I love. People would have been taking some occasions — there were also in the past — would have been taking advantage of me, because there have been situations. But because I have him, it’s unbelievable. We can work together, and it’s been working for such a long time. It’s not always roses and — how you say? Rose petals, walking on the rose petals — we fight and we disagree like every other couple, which is normal, but that’s part of the process also,” Tarja Turunen explained.
Turunen‘s professional relationship with Cabuli was frequently scrutinized during her highly publicized and controversial exit from Nightwish. At the conclusion of the band’s 2005 tour, the singer was dismissed via an open letter that her former bandmates simultaneously published on the official Nightwish website.
In that open letter, the remaining members of Nightwish wrote: “To you, unfortunately, business, money, and things that have nothing to do with emotions have become much more important.”
Nightwish keyboardist and principal songwriter Tuomas Holopainen later referred to the decision to fire the vocalist as “the most difficult thing I ever had to do.”
Addressing the very public nature of her dismissal, Tarja Turunen noted that the situation revealed the true nature of her relationship with her former bandmates.
“Maybe one day I’ll forgive, but I will never forget,” she said regarding the ordeal.
Despite the bitter split, fans have spent years hoping for a reconciliation. In December 2017, Turunen shared the stage with then-Nightwish bassist and vocalist Marko “Marco” Hietala during a “Raskasta Joulua” holiday concert in Hämeenlinna, Finland. However, speaking to Kerrang! magazine in 2019, she firmly shut down ongoing internet rumors regarding a potential return to the symphonic metal band.
Scheduled to arrive on June 12 via earMUSIC, Frisson Noir is described as the “heaviest record” of her extensive solo career. The album serves as a powerful statement of identity, strength, and belonging, firmly cementing her place within the heavy metal landscape.
Frisson Noir explores the ongoing dialogue between cinematic orchestration, classical heritage, and the raw intensity of contemporary metal. The 10-track collection shifts dynamically between intimate piano passages, dramatic orchestral textures, and powerful, guitar-driven moments. At the center of the expansive soundscape is Tarja‘s distinctive voice, effortlessly oscillating between fragile emotional expression and soaring operatic power. The album’s themes delve deeply into human experiences, exploring concepts such as fear, resilience, nostalgia, identity, and transformation.
The album features a star-studded lineup of guest musicians, including Dani Filth of Cradle of Filth, the cello-metal group Apocalyptica, former Nightwish bandmate Marko Hietala, and Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The record was mixed by Grammy-winning producer Neal Avron (known for his work with Linkin Park, Skillet, and Disturbed), ensuring a modern, hard-hitting sonic profile that perfectly balances her unmistakable metal identity.
Physical editions of the album will be available in retail as a CD Digipak, Black 2LP Gatefold, and a Limited Purple 2LP Gatefold. The first pressings feature high-quality copper foil and logo embossing. A strictly limited Collectors Box Set will also be offered via the official album store, containing an exclusive 7″ vinyl featuring “I Don’t Care (Tarja Solo Version)” and “I Don’t Care (Dani Mix)“, among other premium collectibles.
