Marko Hietala and Tarja Turunen launch a new band Wishnight: World tour announced!

October 21st, 2005. The desolation and sadness involved every single Nightwish fan who was present at that time. Tarja Turunen is no longer part of the band, and our world has been crushed into pieces. So we have waited, waited, and hoped that perhaps this was just a nightmare, and sooner or later we would have some good news.

Our wait was not in vain: today, the latest bomb in the world of metal music has been unleashed. The formation of a new band called Wishnight, led by none other than the two Finnish powerhouses, Marko Hietala and Tarja Turunen. The dream team comes together once more!

The Phantom and Christine have decided to join forces to create something truly extraordinary. The collaboration between Hietala and Turunen promises to be nothing short of spectacular. With their combined talent and experience, Wishnight is set to succeed in the metal community and beyond. Fans can expect a blend of Hietala’s melodic sensibilities and Turunen’s operatic grandeur, resulting in a sound that is both epic and unforgettable.

In a statement announcing the formation of Wishnight, Hietala and Turunen expressed their excitement about this new chapter in their musical journey. They emphasized their mutual respect and admiration for each other’s work and hinted at the innovative direction they plan to take with the band’s music.

Wishnight is going to be a fresh start for me and Marko as well; in the past, we’ve always had to be pushed into one direction, and now we are the ones that are taking control of our destiny. Why should we be bound to make a certain type of music? That’s not art. That is the opposite of art. Wishnight is going to mean total freedom, total creativity and total awareness of our music. Tarja Turunen

Our first performance together after 18 years was in Switzerland in summer 2023. When we finished singing [Phantom], I told her “That was fun”. And music should be fun, at least in my opinion. So we have decided it’s time to embrace this feeling and let the audience have fun too. With “Left On Mars” it was just a taste of what will come, and you’ll be happy you had to wait so long to see me and my friend Tarja sing together on a new project.

Marko Hietala

While details about Wishnight‘s debut album is still pending the band has already announced a massive world tour. You can check out the tourdates here.