NIGHTWISH Singer On Year-Long Break: 'We're Doing This Because Things Are Good'

Australia's The Rockpit recently conducted an interview with NIGHTWISH singer Floor Jansen. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

The Rockpit: So many are worried that this "year off" [that NIGHTWISH is taking in 2017] might be the end of [the band]. Can you put their minds at rest so we can get that one out of the way?

Floor: "Oh, what drama queens! Taking a goddamn year off! We've communicated all that there is to know about the year off. If people are still worried, please get a hobby. We're doing this because things are good. When you can leave things behind with a good feeling that everything's going to be fine when you come back after a year, that's a luxury — that's a good thing to have. Instead of worrying, people should say, 'Good for you. Take your time,' because in 2018 we have something great in mind for everyone, so please tell them not to worry."

The Rockpit: NIGHTWISH these days seem to just get bigger and bigger — one of the best-selling Finnish bands ever, bigger albums, bigger tours. What could be next for the band? You aren't going to give us any hints, are you?

Floor: "No! [Laughs] Sorry! All I can say it's going to be very cool and every NIGHTWISH fan will truly appreciate this."

The Rockpit: One question I have to ask you as I particularly loved them is, you've drawn the line under [your other band] REVAMP. Is that for good?

Floor: "Yes. Unfortunately, life unfolds as it does, and you can't do everything at the same time, and you can't do some things if you can't spend the time. So in a band like NIGHTWISH, with the intense touring that comes with it, and then to have another band that would deserve the same input, it's impossible. So it was already a band in between other things, and when we started to talk about taking this year off, I thought about REVAMP and thought it could go two ways — I could have a lot of time for REVAMP, but that would mean another album and another tour, which I've been doing non-stop for the last four or five years. So I thought it would be nice to do something else and then, of course, there was the drive to start a family life, to have a family and two bands is simply impossible. I had to make a tough decision."

The Rockpit: So in your time off with the family will you still be doing anything musically? Or just have a complete break and enjoy that experience?

Floor: "Well, the idea is to be home and really enjoy that special time with a newborn. But not to have music would be unnatural to me. In 2008, I wrote an album with Jørn Viggo Lofstad, the guitar player in PAGAN'S MIND, he and I wrote a rock album, but we were never able to release it, and we've picked up our ambition to do this. So without any tight planning, we might be able to fit that into the year off."

Read the entire interview at The Rockpit.

Jansen revealed in September that she was four months pregnant. The singer's partner is SABATON drummer Hannes Van Dahl.