Anette Ingegerd Olzon (born 21 June 1971) is a Swedish singer-songwriter, best known for her work as the lead vocalist of the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish between 2007 and 2012, as well as for her subsequent solo career and projects within melodic, symphonic, and progressive metal. She is recognized for her clear, melodic vocal style, strong sense of melody, and ability to bridge metal with pop-oriented and emotional vocal approaches.
Before joining Nightwish, Anette built her musical background primarily outside the metal scene. She sang in various bands, most notably the Swedish rock and pop-rock group Alyson Avenue, with whom she released albums such as Presence of Mind (2001) and Omniscent (2007). This background gave her a distinctive vocal identity rooted in melodic rock, pop, and AOR, setting her apart from the operatic tradition commonly associated with symphonic metal at the time.
In 2007, Anette was selected as Nightwish’s new lead vocalist following the departure of Tarja Turunen. Her debut with the band came on the album Dark Passion Play (2007), which became one of Nightwish’s most commercially successful releases. The album marked a stylistic shift toward more accessible melodies and contemporary arrangements, with Anette’s voice playing a central role in songs like “Amaranth,” “Eva,” and “Bye Bye Beautiful.”
She continued with Nightwish on Imaginaerum (2011), a highly ambitious concept album blending symphonic metal with cinematic, folk, and theatrical elements. Anette’s vocal delivery on this record emphasized storytelling, warmth, and emotional nuance, contributing to the album’s fairytale-like atmosphere. The project was later adapted into a feature film, further expanding Nightwish’s artistic scope during her tenure.
After leaving Nightwish in 2012, Anette pursued a more personal and flexible artistic path. She released solo material, including the album Shine (2014), which leaned toward melodic rock and pop influences, highlighting introspective lyrics and a lighter sonic palette. Later, she returned more decisively to metal with projects such as The Dark Element, a symphonic metal band formed with former Sonata Arctica guitarist Jani Liimatainen. Albums like The Dark Element (2017) and Songs the Night Sings (2019) showcased a heavier yet melodic sound, well-suited to her voice.
Anette has also collaborated with various artists across the metal and rock spectrum and has remained active as a live performer and recording artist. In recent years, she has continued releasing solo albums that blend rock, metal, and Scandinavian pop sensibilities, demonstrating artistic independence and creative evolution.
Today, Anette Olzon is regarded as a distinctive chapter in Nightwish’s history and as an artist who broadened the definition of what a symphonic metal vocalist could be. Her career reflects versatility, resilience, and a commitment to following her own musical identity rather than conforming to genre expectations.
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