Former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen has revealed that one longtime part of her stage image is officially behind her — performing in high heels.
Speaking in a new interview with Jaimunji, Tarja was asked whether she still prepares for upcoming tours by singing while running around in high heels, something many fans have associated with her commanding stage presence over the years.
Tarja admitted that she recently decided to bring the heels back during a demanding run of shows in Germany — and quickly realized it may not have been the best idea.
She said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth): “I had a tour, seven shows in seven days in Germany, recently, and I was wearing high heels. And I hadn’t worn high heels since maybe three years or something like that. And it was a mistake, because I came back home, and I had a severe pain again on my heels. So yeah, it was a sign. And my doctor, I went to see my doctor, and she was, like, ‘What have you done?’ I said, ‘Yeah, because I love wearing high heels.’ [Laughs] But those times are over.”
Discussing how she now gets ready for touring, Tarja explained: “[I get] a lot of practice, obviously, physical training. Now I get to be at home. I get to be at home. I have my PT [physical therapist] coming over, and I’m really working out. It’s good. And I’m turning 50 next year, so nothing is staying, let’s say. You need to work it out [laughs] or the gravity will take it. [Laughs]”
Tarja Turunen will unleash her brand new metal album Frisson Noir on June 12 via earMUSIC, and it’s the heaviest record of her career and a powerful statement of identity, strength and belonging. After years of exploring different musical landscapes, Tarja stands firmly where she belongs — in metal.
Frisson Noir reflects Tarja‘s ongoing dialogue between cinematic orchestration, classical heritage, and the power and intensity of contemporary metal. The album moves between intimate piano passages, dramatic orchestral textures, and powerful, guitar-driven moments.
At the center of the soundscape is Tarja‘s distinctive voice, moving effortlessly between fragile emotional expression and operatic power. Around it, orchestral arrangements, choirs, and layered instrumentation create a cinematic world that constantly shifts between darkness and light, exploring deeply human themes such as fear, beauty, nostalgia, resilience, defiance, transformation, identity, disappearance, independence, trust, and perseverance.
Across 10 tracks, Tarja delivers intensity, emotion, and strength, joined by special guest Dani Filth (CRADLE OF FILTH), APOCALYPTICA, Marko Hietala (ex-NIGHTWISH), and Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS). Mixed by GRAMMY-winning producer Neal Avron (LINKIN PARK, SKILLET, DISTURBED), the album blends a modern, hard-hitting sound with the dramatic and emotional elements that define Tarja’s unmistakable metal identity.
Frisson Noir track listing:
01. Frisson Noir
02. The Eternal Return
03. Leap Of Faith (feat. Marko Hietala)
04. At Sea (feat. Mervi Myllyoja + Niklas Pokki)
05. Blaze Forever
06. The Trace Outlives (feat. Sayo Komada)
07. Tango (feat. APOCALYPTICA)
08. Anemoia (feat. Julián Bedmar + Valter Freitas)
09. I Don’t Care (feat. Dani Filth)
10. Against The Odds (feat. Chad Smith)
Following the release, Tarja will embark on the International Frisson Live Tour 2026, launching 30th September 2026 in Berlin. Further dates to be announced.
Tour dates are as follows:
Sep. 30 – Berlin, Germany – Huxleys Neue Welt
Oct. 01 – Hamburg, Germany – Markthalle
Oct. 02 – Rostock, Germany – M.A.U. Club
Oct. 04 – Dresden, Germany – Parkhotel Ballsaal
Oct. 05 – Jena, Germany – F-Haus
Oct. 06 – Munich, Germany – Backstage Werk
Oct. 08 – Innsbruck, Austria – Music Hall
Oct. 09 – Pratteln, Switzerland – Z7
Oct. 11 – Lindau, Germany – Club Vaudeville
Oct. 12 – Cologne, Germany – Essigfabrik
Oct. 13 – Frankfurt, Germany – Batschkapp
Oct. 15 – Osnabrück, Germany – Hyde Park
Oct. 16 – Gersthofen, Germany – Stadthalle
Oct. 17 – Vienna, Austria – Szene
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.