Outlanders, launched by Finnish soprano legend Tarja Turunen and EDM pioneer Torsten Stenzel, have released the official music video to “Closer to the Sky.” The track features guitarist Trevor Rabin, best known as guitarist of prog rock icons Yes (“Owner of a Lonely Heart”), as well as a top Hollywood blockbuster movies score composer. Their next planned single is “The Cruellest Goodbye,” due out January 28th. It will be released as a limited edition 7″ vinyl exclusively at Tarja’s online store and digitally at earMUSIC. A full album will be due later in 2022 and features guest stars such as Al Di Meola, Joe Satriani, Jennifer Batten, Steve Rothery, Mike Oldfield, Walter Giardino, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, Vernon Reid, and Marty Friedman. Watch the mind blowing video for “Closer To The Sky’ right now!
A SIDE:
“The Cruellest Goodbye”
B SIDE:
“The Cruellest Goodbye” (Rough Mix 2014)
Tarja comments:
This song was meant for one of my rock releases one day, when I sat down to write the first ideas with Erik Nyholm in Finland many years ago. Erik had been involved on my rock albums as a song writer before and after, but here was something in this particular song that made me think I must leave it for other time. The song changed name at least 3 times during its creative process and had different lyrics and moods.
Only recently I finished writing the dark, but hopeful lyrics and rest of the music for it. It fits perfectly as an opener for Outlanders, because of its catchy melody, wishful lyrics and the mood it captures. We knew that we needed an extraordinary guitar player. A rock soul with a progressive mind that could imagine the song being part of a movie soundtrack. We had only one name in mind: Trevor Rabin did just an outstanding job with his edgy, incredible guitar sound. He made the song reach another level and for that I am deeply grateful. It only happens when the players soul is involved and that really was the case here. Trevor is unique and truly a gentleman.
Vocals Tarja
Programming Torsten
Guitars Trevor Rabin
Recorded and engineered at Embassy Studio Antigua & Barbuda by Torsten Stenzel
Vocals recorded by Tarja at Stardust III, Marbella, Spain
Guitars recorded and co-produced by Trevor Rabin
Produced and mixed by Torsten Stenzel, Tarja & MIC
Mastered by Tom Porcell Mastering
Executive Producer Marcelo Cabuli for NEMS Enterprises SRL
Art Direction Tarja & MIC
Antigua & Barbuda Photographs by Alexis Andrews
Artwork by Sebastian Freimauer
Album recorded and mixed using Genelec Studio Monitors
LYRICS
When the colours loose their meaning
Will the sun still cover me?
If above the stars are bleeding
Only dust my eyes can see
Last twilight
find me in this darkness
Take me with
heal my shattered dreams
Once fallen but
In my heart
I keep fighting
Aiming high
Closer to the sky
Where the rivers long for water
From another time and place
I feel the days are growing colder
In my mind, solitude, haunting haze
Last twilight
find me in this darkness
Take me with
heal my shattered dreams
Once fallen but
In my heart
I keep fighting
Aiming high
Closer to the sky
The answer is simple: It is a music genre on its own, since classifying Outlanders as any pre-existing genre would be a fruitless endeavor.
Tarja’s vision for Outlanders is to create something fresh and new. Outlanders combine chill, exciting electronic beats with Tarja’s emotional, classically trained vocals, along with unique guitar performances. These three elements are a constant in all the songs.
“Closer to The Sky” marked the start of a release series of eight tracks via earMUSIC preceding a full-length album; each song presents an exceptional guitarist as a guest.
Some participants include Al Di Meola, Joe Satriani, Jennifer Batten, Steve Rothery, Mike Oldfield, Walter Giardino, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, Vernon Reid, and Marty Friedman.
Recorded and mixed mainly on the Caribbean island of Antigua during the last 10 years, the sounds of Outlanders are mystic. They are soft and powerful; catchy and dreamy; modern but vintage — at the same time. Their music is about opposites that magically attract each other and the three aesthetic pillar elements unite to create a singular unique sound.