Anette Olzon

Not to be confused with Annette Olson.

Anette Olzon

Anette Olzon (born 21 June 1971) is a Swedish soprano from Helsingborg, best known as the lead singer of Finnish symphonic power metal band Nightwish. Olzon was formerly the vocalist in the Swedish AOR band Alyson Avenue. After her admission in Nightwish, Anette played with several bands, in studio and live, including Brother Firetribe and Pain.

In 2008, Anette recorded one track with Brother Firetribe at their second album, Heart Full of Fire, the duet with The Rasmus, titled October & April, was played for the first time in October 9, 2009 on a Finnish radio and will be released digitally on November 11, 2009. In August 13, Anette sang two Nightwish songs, "Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan and "Meadows of Heaven", with the Stockholm Symphonic Orchestra, at the Suomi Safari, the event was in celebration of Sweden and Finland relations. During the break after Nightwish's 2009 Hartwall Areena concert, Anette has stated that she wishes to release a solo album. As of October 19, 2009, songwriting for this album has begun.

Olzon is a fan of Sharon den Adel (from Within Temptation) and Simone Simons (from Epica), who are both symphonic metal vocalists. She has also mentioned Carola Häggkvist, Sarah Brightman, Natalie Cole and Celine Dion as being her inspirations in singing. She has said she enjoys other metal bands such as Sonata Arctica, Amorphis, Tarot and Within Temptation. Anette lives with her boyfriend and son, born July 2001, and cats, Gremlins and Stjärnan. She has, in total, seven tattoos, including one on her left arm, which says "Leave Me Alone", and has plans to get more.

Musical background

Anette Olzon was raised in a musical family and has been singing since childhood. Her mother also forced Anette to play the oboe for 8 years. She toured with her mother's band and sang with them on some occasions. Later, she started to take part in various talent shows and received laudable recognition. The first band she joined at seventeen years of age (Take Cover) was a cover band. However, it was short-lived as she took part in several bands and projects. At twenty-one, she played the leading role in the rock opera/musical "Gränsland" in Helsingborg. After that she got in to the Balettakademien in Gothenburg. She sang in choirs, did studio work for various projects and occasionally performed as a wedding singer. Anette Olzon also sang a duet with Michael Bormann (ex-Jaded Heart singer) on his album "Conspiracy".

In her earlier days, Anette Olzon took singing lessons at the Copenhagen Music Conservatorie, in Helsingør, Denmark with a private teacher. Nowadays, she takes lessons from a private teacher at the Malmö Music University when needed.

Career

Alyson Avenue (1999–2005)

Olzon then joined Alyson Avenue, at first only as a studio singer, but later as their leading lady, replacing the male vocalist. The band received huge feedback for a demo they sent out in 1999, and Alyson Avenue was soon able to contact various labels. Main composer and keyboardist Niclas Olsson gathered the band, recording a four track demo which resulted in a record deal with AOR Heaven.

In November 2000, debut album Presence of Mind was released with rave reviews. The next album Omega was released in 2003. Anette left "Alyson Avenue" in 2006. In May 2009, Alyson Avenue introduced Arabella Vitanc as their new lead vocalist.

Nightwish (2007–present)

Anette with Nightwish at Melbourne, 2008.

Olzon officially joined Nightwish as their new lead singer in early 2007, chosen from about 2,000 applicants of which 10 made it to prove their place in front of the band. The song on her demo tape was the 2002 single "Ever Dream". She replaced the previous singer Tarja Turunen, who was fired in an open letter in the autumn of 2005. Olzon's demo was one of the first that Nightwish received, although she was originally denied the position, as band leader Tuomas Holopainen was concerned about the fact that she had a young son. However, Olzon was persistent and sent the band a live DVD of her performing with Alyson Avenue. She was then contacted by Nightwish's manager Ewo Pohjola, which eventually led to her taking up the position in February 2007. Tuomas commented on her selection saying "we (the band) took a formal vote, but it was unanimous that she would be the one. It was a matter of heart. We felt she was right." Her identity was kept secret by various methods, including pretending to be Ewo's "Swedish cousin" at a Tarot concert, until she was eventually announced as the new Nightwish singer on 24 May 2007.

The day after this revealing, May 25, 2007, charity single “Eva” was released as the first off the album, as download only. It was originally scheduled for release on May 30 but this was changed due to a leak on a British music download site. This was the first published song to feature Olzon. On June 13, Nightwish released the title, Dark Passion Play, and artwork to the new album on their official website, as well as the name and the cover of the second single (this time CD), “Amaranth”. “Amaranth” achieved gold status in Finland after less than two days in stores.

Dark Passion Play was released around Europe in the last week of September, 2007, in the UK on October 1, and the United States on October 2. It was awarded double platinum in Finland the second day after its release and took the number 1 position on the charts of Germany, Finland, Switzerland, Hungary and Croatia and got in top 100 in other 16 countries, including the United States. Dark Passion Play has sold 6x Platinum worldwide up to date.

On September 22, 2007, the band hosted a secret concert at Rock Café in Tallinn, Estonia, disguising itself as a Nightwish cover band called “Nachtwasser”. Their first official concert with the new singer was in Tel Aviv, Israel on October 6, 2007. The Dark Passion Play tour thus started, visiting the United States, Canada, most of Europe, Asia, and Australia.

The Dark Passion Play tour turned out to be Nightwish's longest tour yet, lasting from the fall of 2007 to September 2009, when ended with a concert in Hartwall Arena, Helsinki with the band Apocalyptica. For trivia, Nightwish' only other concert in Hartwall Arena was in 2005 when they ended their Once Upon a Tour. This concert was filmed for the End of an Era DVD, and it was Tarja Turunen's last show with the band..

Discography

With Nightwish

Studio albums Dark Passion Play (2007) Live Albums Made in Hong Kong (And in Various Other Places) (2009) EPs Made in Hong Kong (And in Various Other Places) (2009) Singles Eva (2007) Amaranth (2007) Bye Bye Beautiful (2008) The Islander (2008) MCDs Made in Hong Kong (And in Various Other Places) (2009)

With Alyson Avenue

Studio albums Presence of Mind (2000) Omega (2004)

Compilations Munich's Hardest Hits Melodic Rock Fireworks Magazine Total Frontfork

Guest appearances

• 2006: Conspiracy (Michael Bormann)
• 2006: Crimson Skies (Cloudscape)
• 2008: Heart Full of Fire (Brother Firetribe)
• 2008: Cynic Paradise(Pain)
• 2009: October & April (The Rasmus)
• 2010: Silence of the Beautiful Heart (Entwine)

External links

• Anette's Official Blog
• Alyson Avenue's MySpace profile