EarMusic recently announced that they have Anette Olzon “on-board” and will be releasing her first solo record next year. The said label welcomed Anette with an official press statement posted originally from the website.

So let it be… Yes, Anette Olzon – as every metal fan knows – has been the front woman of Finnish symphonic-metal superstars Nightwish for five years before having to leave the band in late 2012.

Although the circumstances belong to the past and Anette is the kind of artist and person who only looks forward, it is a sure fact that those five years have established Anette as one of the highlight of the rock music map on a global scale.

“Does it sound like Nightwish?” It’s the question that everybody would probably like to ask… It doesn’t but it definitely does, would be the most accurate answer. Certainly more precise than denying it does or confirming Anette’s new songs sound like her previous band.

“Shine” has been produced with the collaboration of some of the most successful teams in rock and pop in Scandinavia: the producer Stefan Örn (songwriter and producer of the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest winning track ‘Running Scared’), Johan Glössner and co-produced by Anette Olzon and Johan Kronlund. The album was mixed by Kronlund, Nicklas Flykt and Ronny Lahti (known for his work with Loreen and Roxette).

The album will be released on February 28th, 2014 by earMUSIC.

Anette Olzon stated: “I am so thrilled to finally release my first solo album. I’ve been working on it for a long time by now… The album is very personal with songs I have started writing already in 2009 but also very recent songs. The overall message of the album is that life can be really dark and filled with hardship and sadness, but you can always choose to see some light coming through, to make you stronger and full of life – making you SHINE… no matter what.”

And what about the musical direction? “In the end, it is a rock album,” says Anette. “Well, a pop rock album maybe, or would you call it pop metal?” We have heard this one before, didn’t we?

Whether we can define “Shine” a metal album, rock, pop or “pop rock” what would be hard to miss is how strong the songs are and what an extraordinary album it is.
It exceptionally masters the borders between melancholy and hope, between fragility and power, because it showcases an artist who doesn’t rest on her laurels but heads boldly into the future. Because it shines.

Anette’s video message here.