Mape Ollila

Erja Lyytinen - Blues Queen is the life story of the 2000 era's most accomplished Finnish blues guitarist: it's the account of an uncompromising, strong-willed, gifted and persistent woman and her musical career, which started as a teenager, as part of her parents' house band. Eventually, her road brought her to international acclaim amongst guitar aficionados everywhere. It's the account of a woman finding one's own place in a blues scene ruled by male counterparts for over a hundred years. It's a story of quieting the catcallers that were abundant when she started, and more so, about breaking glass ceilings. It's a saga of stubborn perseverance and a need for personal development. It's a tale of one's own vision, footprint and gaining the respect of one's peers. It's a tale of one female guitarist's growth, on her journey amongst the long shadows of her heroes and idols, to be able to rise to the same stages are her esteemed predecessors and become a colleague of equal standing. The book is also an everyday account of coping and survival in the crossfire of being a performing artist, an entrepreneur and a mother. It tells of hard work and coincidences along the way, as well as key people encountered along her personal journey - some of which are deserving of praise, others not. This book sums up stories of luck and tears of frustration, along with the compromises made along the way and those left undone, which all have all contributed to the rise of a never before seen phenomenon. A phenomenon that entails how this blues woman rose from being an obscure, marginal musician to becoming a successful solo artist, a television celebrity and a Finnish national darling that garnered the praises of world-renowned stars like Jennifer Batten and Carlos Santana, winning over critics of the blues world en route to becoming a virtuoso lauded by the masses.

Erja Lyytinen - Blueskuningatar on 2000-luvun menestyneimmän suomalaisen blueskitaristin elämäntarina: se on tinkimättömän lujatahtoisen, lahjakkaan ja ahkeran naisen tilinteko urasta, joka alkoi teini-iässä omien vanhempien tanssiorkesterissa ja joka toi Lyytisen koko kitaramusiikkia kuuntelevan maailman tietoisuuteen. Se on tilinteko oman paikkansa löytämisestä miesten sata vuotta hallitsemassa bluesmaailmassa - kertomus varhaisuralla kohdattujen tytöttelijöiden vaientamisesta ja rikotuista lasikatoista, uppiniskaisuutta lähenevästä periksiantamattomuudesta ja itsensä kehittämisen tarpeesta sekä oman näkemyksellisyyden, jalansijan ja kollegojen arvostuksen ansaitsemisesta. Se on naiskitaristin kasvutarina matkasta musiikillisten sankareidensa pitkistä varjoista samoille lavoille ja tasavertaiseksi kollegaksi. Kirja on myös arkisempi tarina jaksamisesta ja selviämisestä taiteilijuuden, yrittäjyyden ja äitiyden ristipaineessa. Se kertoo sitkeästä työstä ja sattumista sekä matkan varrella tavatuista ihmisistä, joista osa ansaitsee kiitokset, osa kiroukset. Kirja summaa onnen ja turhautumisen kyyneleet sekä ne tehdyt ja tekemättä jätetyt kompromissit, joista on rakentunut maassamme ennennäkemätön matka marginaalimusiikin parista soolo-artistiksi, televisioon ja kansansuosikiksi sekä Carlos Santanan ja Jennifer Battenin kaltaisten maailmantähtien ja koko bluesmaailman kriitikkojen ja yleisöjen ylistämäksi virtuoosiksi. Mape Ollila on espoolainen pitkän linjan musiikkitoimittaja.

The classic biography chronicling the rise of this extraordinary band up to the departure of Tarja, now back in print as an affordable reprint Paperback, 353 pages, w/ 32 pages of rare black&white photos. Meet Nightwish - the "shitty band with shitty equipment and no commercial potential" from Kitee, Finland, that turns out to be a Platinum-selling, trend-setting international musical phenomenon. This is theirstory, as told by Tuomas, Tarja, Emppu, Jukka, Sami, and Marco themselves; a tale of a Disney dreamerand a drama queen; of frowning Finns, exhibitionist roadies, eccentric producers, cursed bassists, faithhealers, death threats, behind-the-scenes battles, managerial mayhem, fame and fortune, loss and lament- and music that captured the hearts and minds of the world. "Worth the wait " --Dave Ling, Classic Rock UK "The Nightwish story offers up a spectacular dramatic arc, and Mape Ollila grabs it with both hands. He has clearly been close and personal with the people he interviewed for the book, and this shows up in the candid statements that find their way onto the page. No stone is left unturned, whether it is about personal chemistry, contractual wrangling, or simple old-fashioned rock stars getting trashed." --Jarkko Jokelainen, Helsingin Sanomat "Even though it is sanctioned by the band, Once Upon A Nightwish isn't a puff piece. Ollila draws his own conclusions, and both positives and negatives are portrayed throughout. The band s founder and songwriter Tuomas Holopainen is a fascinating figure. He s a musical wizard, but his and the band s lack of communication skills causes problem after problem. Tarja Turunen is also a compelling person. Ollila chronicles her transformation from shy schoolgirl to superstar diva. "All of the band members are interviewed throughout the book, along with industry and record label insiders, friends and family. A lot of different perspectives are given, which gives a pretty well-rounded picture of the band s story. Once Upon A Nightwish is a compelling read, and one that s equally interesting for hardcore or casual fans of the group. "The thing that came to my mind after finishing it was that there really needs to be a Behind The Music episode on Nightwish. Their emergence from a small Finnish town to international superstardom culminating in the public firing of their lead singer and trying to maintain their success is the exact dramatic arc that makes those shows so interesting." --Chad Bower, About.com