NIGHTWISH Parts Ways With Singer FLOOR JANSEN

Finnish symphonic metal masters NIGHTWISH have split with their Dutch vocalist of the past 14 years, Floor Jansen.

Earlier today (Thursday, October 15),NIGHTWISH released the following statement via social media: "NIGHTWISH and Floor Jansen part ways.

"After careful consideration, we have, in mutual agreement, decided to part ways. This decision is necessary and important to us and our future ambitions. Thus, we will now pursue those goals in our own separate ways. We wish each other nothing but the very best on our respective artistic journeys.

"For you, dear listener, and indeed for us, this marks the end of a truly great voyage.

"NIGHTWISH will continue. We will move forward and enter the studio in 2027 to record a new album.

"As we celebrate 30 years of NIGHTWISH, we couldn't be more excited about our music and our future."

In a separate statement, Floor wrote: "Endings create new beginnings, and even though it was a hard decision to make, I believe there is a bright musical journey ahead of me. I invite you to follow along on this path, as you were with me in all the great years before.

"Thank you for your support through the rollercoasters of life.

"My solo career will now get all of my attention and gives my new upcoming album 'Hytress' (out 2027) and the tour all space to grow. Hope to meet you on the road again in a near and happy future.

"With love and respect, Floor".

Back in August 2021, NIGHTWISH leader Tuomas Holopainen said that the band would split up if Floor ever chose to leave.

Holopainen, who formed NIGHTWISH in 1996 with guitarist Emppu Vuorinen and original singer Tarja Turunen, made the comment while discussing the then-recent departure of longtime bassist/vocalist Marko "Marco" Hietala.

Pressed by U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine about his 2019 statement that NIGHTWISH would disband if another member opted to depart, Tuomas said: "That's how I felt back in 2019, and that's also how I felt when Marko left. I take my words back when it comes to that. But if it would be Floor leaving, that's it, it's the end of NIGHTWISH. Absolutely, 100%."

Jansen will release her second solo studio album, "Hytress", on January 15, 2027 via REVAMP Music/Warner Music. "Hytress" will follow Jansen's acclaimed 2023 debut solo album "Paragon", which has amassed almost 150 million streams to date.

In November 2022, Floor revealed that she was "cancer free" after undergoing surgery to have a tumor removed following a breast cancer diagnosis.

In October 2023, Floor and SABATON drummer Hannes Van Dahl welcomed their second child, a daughter named Lucy. Jansen and Van Dahl also have a nine-year-old daughter named Freja, who was born in March 2017.

In April 2023, NIGHTWISH surprised fans by announcing that the band was not going to be playing any live shows for the foreseeable future and would be not be touring in support of the group's latest studio album, "Yesterwynde", which came out in September 2024 via Nuclear Blast.

Born in the Netherlands, Jansen joined her first band, one of the world's first symphonic metal bands, AFTER FOREVER, when she was only 16 years old. The group went on to release five albums from 2000 to 2007, before they broke up in 2009.

Jansen's next band, REVAMP, released two albums in 2010 and 2013, before she joined NIGHTWISH as a full-time member. NIGHTWISH's first album with Jansen as the lead singer was 2015's "Endless Forms Most Beautiful", which landed in Top 10s around the world. This was followed by 2020's "Human. :II: Nature." , which was also an international success.

Jansen has toured extensively with the band and appeared on three of NIGHTWISH's live albums "Showtime, Storytime", "Vehicle Of Spirit" and "Decades: Live In Buenos Aires".

In 2019, Jansen participated in the popular Dutch TV show "Beste Zangers" where she scored a big hit with "Phantom Of The Opera" together with Henk Poort. She was recognized with a Dutch Popprijs award — a prestigious accolade for artists that has made important contributions to Dutch music. In the same year, her first solo tour sold out in less than 24 hours.

Jansen performed live with NIGHTWISH for the first time on October 1, 2012 at Showbox Sodo in Seattle, Washington following the abrupt departure of the band's lead singer of five years, Anette Olzon. Jansen officially joined NIGHTWISH in 2013.