SIRENIA Parts Ways With Singer AILYN GIMÉNEZ GARCÍA

Norway-based symphonic gothic metal veterans SIRENIA have parted ways with their Spanish singer Ailyn Giménez García for "personal reasons." The band says in a statement: "We part ways on good terms and we wish Ailyn the best of luck for her future endeavours. Thanks a lot for the great years we shared in the band and thanks for all your efforts in this period; we are forever grateful. It has been a true delight and privilege working with you. May all your dreams be fulfilled and may your future shine.

"SIRENIA will spend the next two months finishing the recordings of our upcoming album.

"The band is in the process of engaging a new singer to take over the lead singer role in the group.

"All tours and shows from September 2016 and forward will go as planned."

SIRENIA was forced to cancel a recent concert in the Czech Republic after Ailyn's mother died, "a tragic event that had an impact on Ailyn's health as well," the band explained. Another show in Kherson, Ukraine went ahead with the help of a session singer, Emmanuelle Zoldan, who had contributed guest vocals to every SIRENIA album since 2004.

Ailyn has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET regarding her exit from SIRENIA:

"Dear friends, I'm very sorry for the bad news. I have to confirm the statement posted on the SIRENIA page earlier. SIRENIA and I are going our separate ways. This decision was not mine, I didn't take part of it.
　
"I want to thank SIRENIA for eight and a half wonderful years touring around the world. I am grateful for the chances I had to meet a lot of you and make new friends.

"I wish SIRENIA all the best for the future and hopefully our paths will cross again. The good memories will always be in my heart.

"For now, I don't know what the future holds, but I am super excited about finding out. I will for sure keep working with music, and hopefully it will give me the opportunity to be back on the road so we can meet again soon. But first I will enjoy some days of Norwegian summer and as soon as I am on to something, you'll be the first to know."

Ailyn (born: Pilar Giménez García) joined SIRENIA in 2008 as the replacement for Monika Pedersen, who left the group a year earlier after only one album due to "musical differences."

Ailyn was best known as a former contestant on the Spanish version of "The X Factor", the biggest television talent competition in Europe.

She appeared on four studio albums with SIRENIA: 2009's "The 13th Floor", 2011's "The Enigma Of Life", 2013's "Perils Of The Deep Blue" and 2015's "The Seventh Life Path".