A long time ago I sat down in Antigua together with Torsten, Angela, and Adrian to write songs for my second rock album “What Lies Beneath”. The writing session was successful and among other songs written, this beautiful one came out. 

Still, I felt it needed its own special space and that my rock album was not the right place for it. 

Many years after, when we were in the process of working with Outlanders, I remembered our song and wanted to use it. In fact, I ended up recording my vocals for the song more than once…

Our love for Africa and its people was the inspiration for this song. Adrian is a Kenyan national himself, so we started to speak about his life there and we wrote the lyrics having this in mind. The endless abuse of this continent throughout the history created the powerful lyrics and sends out a strong message. 

Most of the population in Antigua is of an African ancestry as well, so you can clearly hear the echoes of Mother Africa and our song found its home with Outlanders. Everything is connected and happens for a reason.  

When searching for the guitar guest for Echoes, I felt we needed a female sensitivity to capture our soul connection with the song. Jennifer Batten was the right person for it. She understood the concept and played wonderfully throughout the song, colouring it with different pedals and voices. 

Personally, her playing made me weep. Jennifer, thank you for pouring yourself into our song. 

Hopefully you can find Echoes inspiring!

Vocals Tarja

Programming Torsten

Guitars Jennifer Batten

Swahili spoken words Adrian

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

Vocals recorded by Tarja at Stardust III, Marbella, Spain

Guitars recorded and co-produced by Jennifer Batten

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