My name is Daniel Pieper and I work for Universal Music in Germany as an A&R Manager. This is my first Blog ever in my life so fare! I’m really exited about it and what all of you will gonna say ) Hope u like it and don’t be to hard to my writing.

The Past

It all began nearly 3 years ago when I met Tarja for the first time in Helsinki. We did this EPK for a Single of a Artist I worked with, were she was featuerd. Then I saw here together with my justed married and so loved wife on an Island called Rosala (on the south west coast of Finland) while we where shooting the video for that artist Single with her.

It was the 2 day of my honeymoon, but my wife enjoied it also, because of the location and the absolut so friendly and nice Tarja! It was a viking video and my wife was also the stand in double for Tarja which was so cool for Conny (my wife). Actually it was not used for the video, but anyhow fun was on our side!

Then we already talked about her possible Solo Album. I loved the idea of the first thoughts we had during the shooting and we started to talk about a possible future for her as an artist on Universal Records Germany. While she was very busy with her carrer at that time it was a long process. Then after nearly 2 years she decided to be signed by us at Universal Music and we all were really proud about that and started straight to find the right concept for her first Album.

After another year she was really convinced about having the right songs (she co wrote for the first time for her life!), the right producer, the right band and so on and so on.

So we finally went for a last session to the lovely Island in the Mediterranean Sea see called IBIZA (more about this in a extra Blog from me and the others soon!)

with the producer Daniel Presley and some writers who have delivered some of the Songs. We came there to discuss the Lyrics and some Arrangement changes and spend some time together before the real production of the Album beginns. Also it happend, that new Songs came to life . It was absolutly fantastic I can tell u!

Then I flew back to Berlin and Tarja stayed two more days with Mr. Presley for preparing the upcoming recordings of here Album in Ireland. Then last Tuesday we had a last Meeting with the Director of the Rock Department Daniel Lieberberg and MD Tom Bohne of Universal Music Germany. We played them the new Tracks and discussed again the feel of Tarjas first Record. They did like the Songs (I guess )) as much as Tarja and I do and so there is a go ahead to enter the Studio!!!!

Present

On wendsday Tarja and I flew from Berlin to Dublin in Ireland. The aircraft was late (of course!) and we landed in Dublin kind of in the early afternoon. Then we had to wait for our Keyboarder and Programmer for the Project Thorsten Stenzel. His flight from Barcelona was also delayed and his luggage didn´t show up. Then we got into the car and the Driver from the Studio drove us another 2 hours into the middle of Ireland to one of the most loveliest places on earth to record an album.

It´s an old cottage rebuild into a first class studio facility. Also they do have enough bedrooms here so nobody has to stay in a hotel.

When we finally arrived at the studio everybody gave Tarja (and me) a very warm welcome.

So let me explain who is who. There is Daniel Presley the Producer, Doug Wimbish on Bass, Earl Harvey on Drums, Alex Scholppe on Guitar, Throsten Stenzel on Keyboards and Programming, Doug Cook the Engineer, Dani Castelar the assistance Engineer. Then of course there are all these wonderfull Irish Ladys and Gentleman who take about the cooking, cleaning and so on. We will have more detailed infos to follow in the Studio Blog!

The Future

Now only 3 more days for me and then I´m off for my anual summer holiday with my family. miss them already! The otrher will of course continue to record the record and then in July we will go for the final vocal recordings which will take place again on IBIZA. I hope I can convince some of the dudes here to do a short post for u about the recordings, but at this stage everybody is very busy. I will do more then this and of course Tarja will give u a few more posts about what´s going on here in the Green Land!

love & peace