In 1971 did not only Apollo 14 land on the moon, but it was also the birthyear of Torsten Stenzel, half of the Outlanders.

1971 is Torsten’s composition. He had written the song some time ago and we decided it to add my voice and give to it the Outlanders treatment.

I thought it was a good idea to check what truly happened in the world on the day Torsten was born. I found an old cover of Argentinean Clarin newspaper and read the headlines of the day.

The Queen of the Sea and spring celebrations gave me the inspiration for the text of the song. This is another song where I am using my voice more like an instrument and Walter Giardino is colouring the song with his incredible guitar performance.

1971 was overall a pretty dark year with a raging Vietnam War and the song has an intentional darker undertone that gets carried from Walter’s spacy guitars too. We also added some Moog Synth baselines that gives a certain depth.

1971 comes in waves like the Ocean.

Vocals Tarja

Programming Torsten

Additional Programming and Keys Production Marco Torrance

Guitars Walter Giardino

Recorded and engineered at English Harbour Studios & Embassy Studio Antigua & Barbuda by Torsten Stenzel

Original spoken text recorded by Torsten Stenzel at Enlglish Harbour Studios Antigua & Barbuda

Additional spoken text & vocals recorded by Tarja at Stardust III, Marbella, Spain

Guitars recorded by Mario Altamirano at Estudio Sonata and co-produced by Tarja, Walter and MIC

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