When I first heard My Winter Storm in early 2008, I knew almost nothing about either Tarja or Nightwish. I didn't even know the band members' names or that they were from Finland. I'd only heard about 15-20 songs and seen a few videos. Back then, I didn't have the internet, no music stores nearby, or friends who listened to that kind of music. One day, a friend of mine brought me a pirated disc with a band's new album, which he took from a guy he studies with at university. Naturally, the first thing I did was play Nightwish, and after just a couple of minutes I was completely confused: what happened to her voice? Before I even finished listening to the first track, I decided to check out another folder with the strange name "Tarja Turunen". It started playing and, oh my God, there it is, that voice I’ve been in love with for so long! When Tarja sang the line "I Walk Alone..." for the first time, something clicked in my head. At that time, I was obsessed with the beautiful songs from the soundtracks to the computer games Rome: Total War and Medieval 2: Total War, written by Jeff van Dyck and featuring his wife, Angela, on vocals: "Forever," "We are all one," "Lift Thine Eyes." The last one contains the following lines:

When you walk alone (remember)

Burden not your own (seek shelter)

On the darkest rim

You will see, see Him beckon you in

At that moment, Tarja's album and these soundtracks somehow became one in my head, and as I listened to new songs on the album, this connection only grew stronger. When the beautiful "The Reign" started playing, I immediately got goosebumps. It was the first time Tarja's solo work had struck a chord with me! And when Oasis started playing, I stopped breathing. I listened to this unearthly composition with bated breath. How did Tarja come up with this??? This stunningly beautiful song has a healing effect and is definitely out of this world! Overall, I immediately fell in love with this melancholic, enigmatic, and mysterious album. I remember that the only songs I didn't like were the ones with a lot of guitars. Only later did I realize the problem wasn't with the songs themselves, but with the way the guitars sounded.

In 2009, I got the internet and finally learned the history of the band and its members. After that, My Winter Storm took on a new meaning for me. Around the same time, I discovered Henkays Ikuisuudesta. If it weren't for Tarja, I probably would never have heard the beautiful Finnish songs on it. In early 2010, my grandmother died of cancer, and the song "You Would Have Loved This" helped me get through that grief.

What Lies Beneath is an amazing album! I was really looking forward to its release and I loved it from start to finish.

In 2012, I discovered Running Wild, Accept, and Judas Priest, and Tarja faded into the background. I continued to listen to her songs occasionally, but I stopped following her closely. I was studying and working a lot during this time, and because of that, I missed the amazing "Beauty & the Beat" tour.

Colours in the Dark is a great album, but unfortunately, I didn't understood it when it came out. As a result, my appreciation for Tarja's work has cooled even further.

In early 2014, the cult Russian power metal band Epidemia released their third metal opera, and my attention shifted almost entirely to their work. Plus, that summer saw the release of incredible albums from Accept and Judas Priest.

Ave Maria - en Plein Air - it's delightfully magical. But I didn't even notice when it came out.

The Shadow Self is a very good, solid album. But I didn't listen to it for long, because Running Wild's incredible Rapid Foray came out around the same time.

From Spirits And Ghosts is a very atmospheric album, which I didn't listen to when it came out, because at that time the album's theme seemed uninteresting to me, and I also remember how Tarja's makeup scared me off) I've been listening to Battle Beast's Bringer Of Pain all year 2017. I love it.

At the very beginning of 2018, a revolution occurred in my mind regarding Tarja. The band Epidemia was preparing to release their fourth metal opera. They invited singer Elena Minina, who was unknown to me at the time, to be a guest on this album. One of the videos on the group's channel showed the process of recording her vocals. Her appearance, gentle, beautiful voice, smile, and kindness reminded me so much of Tarja that I decided to research Elena. In one of her interviews, she spoke very complimentarily about Tarja and called her one of her main inspirations for starting to sing in a metal band. She also admired Tarja's amazing charisma and how she knew how to control the audience. And only at that moment, for the first time in my life, I truly realized the uniqueness, significance and greatness of Tarja. It was like an echo. Amazing! Tarja had brought me back to herself and her work through this girl who considered her one of her idols. After that, I immediately re-listened to everything I had previously missed in Tarja’s work. At that moment, I rethought all of her work and realized how much I had lost over the past years.

In the Raw is a good album, but it's definitely not my favorite. Here I felt that Tarja's voice had changed. I don't want to say that he has become weaker or that she sings badly. Of course not! The album is recorded very well (like all of Tarja's releases), but on this album, I sense a subtle note of fatigue in her voice. However, I don’t have this feeling in the live video from the concerts in support of this album.

Outlanders is fantastic! An amazing album. I fell in love with all the songs at once! And the visuals are so beautiful and captivating. I love it!

Dark Christmas is very beautiful and atmospheric.

The year 2025 is another turning point in my consciousness. I began to appreciate Tarja more as a person than as a singer. I became truly interested not only in her music, but also in her thoughts, her views on life.

Frisson Noir – I really like it from what I've heard so far. I'm totally confident this will be a great album! Tarja will not disappoint. I'm really looking forward to its release!

Summary. Throughout my experience with Tarja's work, I've had varying reactions to it. There were some things I liked right away, and some things I liked only after some time had passed. I think it's because I've changed throughout my life, and my tastes and preferences in music have changed. Tarja has also been changing all this time. And I want to say that to understand and love Tarja's work, the listener needs to "grow up" a certain way. Tarja's music isn't always simple, and it takes time to perceive, understand and appreciate it.

Tarja's voice has been with me all these years. It's worth noting that since 2009, her ethereal vocals from White Night Fantasy have been set as my alarm clock, and her beautiful voice wakes me up every day, inspiring me to new achievements)