TARJA TURUNEN Checks In From The Studio

Former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen has finished recording her new solo album, "What Lies Beneath", and is currently overseeing the mixing process at three different locations with three different engineers.

In a posting on her official blog, Turunen writes, "We are making progress every day. Now all the orchestral songs are mixed.

"We worked again with Slamm Andrews at Remote Control Studios. Slamm mixed my last record and it was a pleasure this time to see my 'movie' songs come alive with his guidance!

"Jim Dooley came to say hi and to listen to the final touches for the song 'If You Believe' that he produced with me.

"It feels just unbelievable that after being in the process so long, almost two years, the album is getting ready.

"I have truly won my fears, lack of confidence and belief that I was not going to make it alone. Is great to have succeeded in what I wanted. It feels good I can tell.

"At this moment I am working with Tim Palmer in Austin, Texas. First time I am in Texas! It's lovely here, though — the city of Austin is full of live music everywhere and it's warm, as I like it.

"Tim is great, a very nice man to work with and having the understanding of the artistic needs that I have. He has an extended musical career and has forged tons of hits and great music.

"We already mixed three songs, including a guest solo from the guitar player of an amazing heavy metal band from Los Angeles. Today we are working on another song with an outstanding vocal group from Europe.

"The last mixes will take place during this week and next time I'll write to you is when I'll have the complete album finished!!!"

The cover artwork for "What Lies Beneath" can be viewed below. The session that produced the cover photo took place in Finland in February. Jens Boldt took the pictures and Dirk Rudolph created the actual artwork.

With production handled by Tarja herself and selected tracks mixed by U.K. producer Colin Richardson (famed for his work with MACHINE HEAD, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and SLIPKNOT, among others),the follow-up to 2007's "My Winter Storm" "looks set to take Tarja's unique musical mix of drama 'n' decibels to a whole new level of success," according to a press release.

"We worked on 33 songs this time around from which I decided to record 17," Tarja explained. "It has been great to have the freedom to produce my own record for the first time; these sessions have been such a gift, a real learning process and a true joy. In many ways, it feels like the first time…"

ALL THAT REMAINS singer Phil Labonte has contributed guest vocals to "What Lies Beneath". Labonte appears in the track "Dark Star", which Turunen described as a "duet." Tarja stated, "I haven't been really working with such impressive vocals before. With [Phil's vocal contributions], the song reached another dimension."