Nightwish Biography

 Marco Hietala
Bass & Vocals

Emppu Vuorinen
Guitars

 2011 - Not One but Two: an Album and a Movie!


February starts with a blast, as Holopainen makes the following statement: "We're recording a concept album, where the moods in the songs vary even more radically than ever before. Our amusement park and its surreal, Burton/Gaiman/Dali-type rides are almost ready."


After a bit over a week, the band reveal a closely-guarded secret. As the press release read: "In all silence, along with their forthcoming album, Nightwish have also been working on a movie. Imaginarium is a musical fantasy based on the album of the same name and its 13 songs."


The double nature of Imaginarium had been conceived already years earlier, as Holopainen had presented Stobe Harju — the director of "The Islander" video — with the idea of shooting 13 music videos for the album. As the director suggested they'd add some dialogue between the songs, the final idea was crystallized: Imaginarium would be a full-length movie that carries a story.


The recordings of Imaginarium continued during the first part of the year in Helsinki and London, and once again, Nightwish trusted Pip Williams with the orchestral and choral arrangements. This time there would also to be a children's choir on the album, among other new things. After Anette Olzon had recorded her vocal parts in April, Mikko Karmila could start with the final mix.


In late summer, Nightwish refine the spelling of the title to Imaginaerum and announce that the new album will be released in Finland in late November. The single "Storytime" is released as a taster for the 75-minute roller coaster ride.


In mid-September, Nightwish fly to a Montreal movie studio, where the Imaginaerum movie, to be released in spring 2012, is being filmed. The musicians' parts are immortalized during an intensive week.


At the same time, the band announce their forthcoming gigs in Europe, while the details of the Finnish tour are revealed in late October. The world tour will kick off from Los Angeles on January 21, 2012.


The last weeks of 2011 will be interesting indeed, as the next year should become the most eventful and exciting in the history of Nightwish..