Anette Olzon

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Anette Olzon

Background information
Born June 21, 1971 (1971-06-21) (age 36)
Origin Katrineholm, Sweden
Genre(s) Symphonic metal, Power metal, AOR
Occupation(s) Musician, Singer
Instrument(s) Vocals, oboe[1]
Years active 1988–present
Associated acts Nightwish
Alyson Avenue

Anette Olzon Blyckert (b. June 21, 1971) is a Swedish musician and the lead singer of Finnish symphonic power metal quintet Nightwish since February 2007.[1] Olzon was formerly the vocalist in the Swedish AOR band Alyson Avenue.

Contents

[edit] Musical Background

Anette Olzon was raised in a musical family and has been singing since childhood. She began playing the oboe at age eight. She toured with her mother's band and sung with them on some occasions. Later, she started to take part in various talent shows and received laudable recognition. The first band she joined at seventeen years of age (Take Cover) was a cover band. However, it was short-lived as she took part in several bands and projects. At twenty-one, she played the leading role in the rock opera/musical "Gränsland" in Helsingborg. After that she got in to the Balettakademien in Gothenburg. She sang in choirs, did studio work for various projects and occasionally performed as a wedding singer. Anette Olzon also sang a duet with Michael Bormann (ex-Jaded Heart singer) on his album "Conspiracy".

In her earlier days, Anette Olzon took singing lessons at the Copenhagen Music Conservatorie, in Helsingør, Denmark with a private teacher. Nowadays, she takes lessons from a private teacher at the Malmö Music University when needed.[2]

[edit] Career

[edit] Alyson Avenue (1999–2005)

Olzon then joined Alyson Avenue, and later replaced the male vocalist. The band received huge feedback for a demo they sent out in 1999, and Alyson Avenue was soon able to contact various labels. Main composer and keyboardist Niclas Olsson gathered the band, recording a four track demo which resulted in a record deal with AOR Heaven.

In November 2000, debut album Presence of Mind was released with rave reviews. The next album Omega was released in 2003. The band retired in 2006. Olzon joined Nightwish in 2007, and the other band members continued with a male lead vocalist and a new name, Sapphire.

[edit] Nightwish (2007–present)

Olzon officially joined Nightwish as their new lead singer in early 2007, chosen from about 2,000 applicants of which 10 made it to prove their place in front of the band. The song on her demo tape was the 2002 single "Ever Dream". She replaced the previous singer Tarja Turunen, who was fired in an open letter in the fall of 2005. Her identity was kept secret until May 24, 2007. The internet single Eva was released the day after she was announced as a singer. Although critics are divided over the replacement of Tarja Turunen by Anette Olzon, the two singers present very different types of vocals, with Turunen being an operatic, classically trained singer (soprano), and Olzon taking an approach akin to rock. It has been confirmed on The Rasmus webpage that Olzon has confirmed to sing a duet with Lauri Ylonen, which will feature on the new album Black Roses.

[edit] Personal information

  • Prior to joining Nightwish, Olzon was a member of an ABBA tribute band. She had also only discovered Nightwish's music two months before Tarja Turunen's departure.[3]
  • Olzon has said that she is a fan of Sharon den Adel (from Within Temptation) and Simone Simons (from Epica), who are both symphonic metal acts.[4]
  • She has a son who is 7 years old. She is still married, but currently going through a divorce. [5]
  • Olzon is a natural blonde, but colored her hair dark brown upon joining Nightwish.[6]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

[edit] With Alyson Avenue

[edit] With Nightwish

[edit] Singles

[edit] With Nightwish

[edit] Guest appearances

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Olzon Fact File. Retrieved May 28, 2007.
  2. ^ Nightwish Official-Anette Olzon
  3. ^ Kerrang! - New Nightwish singer was in an ABBA covers band
  4. ^ BLABBERMOUTH.NET - NIGHTWISH Singer: 'Dark Passion Play' Is Heaviest Album Band Has Ever Done
  5. ^ [1] (Finnish)
  6. ^ YouTube - Anette Olzon and Tuomas Holopainen rambling