NIGHTWISH singer Floor Jansen and SABATON drummer Hannes Van Dahl welcome their second child
20-10-2023
NIGHTWISH singer Floor Jansen and SABATON drummer Hannes Van Dahl have welcomed their second child, a daughter named Lucy.
Jansen and Van Dahl already have a six-year-old daughter named Freja, who was born on March 15, 2017.
The Dutch-born vocalist revealed the news in a social media post earlier today (Friday, October 20). She shared a photo of her, Hannes, Freja and Lucy holding hands, and she wrote: “There she is! With great happiness we can announce the birth of our second daughter Lucy! Big sister Freja is delighted with our dark haired little girl too!
“Health is not a given fact, and so it’s humbling to report that both our baby girl as mom are in a great one! We are enjoying these special moments to the fullest and ask for understanding of our privacy in this intimate time! Big thanks for all the love and support we received during the pregnancy! We have now welcomed our dear Lucy into this beautiful world”.
Shortly before Freja was born, Hannes was asked by Spain’s Metal Journal whether his family situation would have an impact on his ability to tour with SABATON. Hannes said: “Well, you know, as far as I’m concerned, nothing will really change, ’cause this is what I do, an this is… this is what I do to make a living. People have had kids before in this business. So, to stop any worries — ’cause I know a lot of people are worried about me quitting the band — I will stay in the band. And as far as I can say, when it’s time, I need to go and be there with my family. But when I’ve done that, I’m going back to touring. So I won’t leave. I will be there.”
Jansen herself had spoken about the challenges of raising a child while being in a touring band like NIGHTWISH. She told Finland’s Radio Rock in 2016: “Of course, it’s a very challenging combination, and I was very happy that the way NIGHTWISH is today — or, actually, have always been — it’s a very open group; we can talk about things. And the guys, actually, were curious. A few months ago, we started talking about it, like, ‘So, 2017… How about kids? Yeah?’ So it’s great to think about things together: how can we combine it? Also ’cause my partner is in a successful band, touring a lot. Yeah, then you need the cooperation of the people that you are family with also. So I am not afraid that won’t work. It will be a challenge, for sure, but, yeah, a little SABATON or NIGHTWISH daycare program sounds lovely, doesn’t it? [Laughs]”
Jansen also dismissed rumors that she would leave the band after welcoming her first child. She told Mariskal Rock TV: “No, I won’t quit NIGHTWISH. I love this way too much; don’t worry. You don’t even have negative speculations one way or another. Things are great, and let’s keep on doing this forever.”
NIGHTWISHÂ played its last concert before its current break from touring on June 17 at Lemonsoft Stadion in Vaasa.
Earlier this year, Jansen released her solo album “Paragon“.Â
“Paragon” includes the following tracks:
- My Paragon
- Daydream
- Invincible
- Hope
- Come Full Circle
- Storm
- Me Without You
- The Calm
- Armoured Wings
- Fire
Jansen said: “To renew yourself and take leaps into the unknown makes you grow. To age is a gift not everyone gets. I am a fortunate woman who got to make an album I never knew I could make. One that even defines me, where I am on my path. I have reached my PARAGON! I am so proud of this work! And grateful for all the amazing people in this beautiful life that helped me get here!”
With its mix of influences and powerful vocal performances, “Paragon” is an album that will appeal to fans of pop music and metal alike. It’s the perfect addition to any music collection, and a must-have for fans of Floor Jansen and NIGHTWISH.
“Paragon” will be released digitally and physically on CD, vinyl, and a limited-edition deluxe box set. The album will be available on all major streaming platforms and at music retailers worldwide.
Following the release, Jansen will embark on a tour of The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria in April and May of 2023.
Floor had previously released singles from “Paragon”: “Daydream”,  “Invincible”, “Me Without You”, “Storm” and “Fire”.
JANSEN revealed last year she is undergoing treatment after a successful operation fro breast cancer. The treatment continued in January.
— Nightwish (@NightwishBand) December 5, 2022
When Floor Jansen revealed that she was “cancer free” on November 18th, she said in a statement:
“Great news! I am cancer free. The surgery took everything cancerous out and it hasn’t spread! I’ll get local radiation therapy in February to make sure everything stays out.
“I’m getting my energy back after the surgery and feel a huge relief to know it was successful! I’m not back to a 100% but I have no doubt the shows will give me the power push I need to rock with all of you on the upcoming European tour.
“Thank you for your amazing support and well wishes”.
Great news! I am cancer free 🤩 The surgery took everything cancerous out and it hasn’t spread! I’ll get local radiation therapy in February to make sure everything stays out.
— Floor Jansen (@FloorJansen_) November 18, 2022
📸 Black Halo Photography pic.twitter.com/zZvsxi1gEN
Thank you for your amazing support and well wishes 🙏🏻🙏🏻
— Floor Jansen (@FloorJansen_) November 18, 2022
Jansen revealed her diagnosis in October. At the time, she wrote: “A letter to you, Life comes in waves, with ups and downs. I have had the joy of riding many highs, and I have shared these with you through social media and the many many shows worldwide throughout the many years of my career.
“But now a new wave hit me. Not a good one. I have breast cancer. It was diagnosed a little over 2 weeks ago and I will have surgery tomorrow to remove the tumor. My prognosis is very good!!! It seems to be a non-aggressive cancer, which seems to not have spread. I will keep my breast. And I will be cancer free after this surgery, plus a local radiation treatment that will take place three months after this surgery, hopefully. We will know more after the surgery to see if this positive prognosis stands.
“The word cancer is a shocker. All that you found important in life before this diagnosis changes radically within minutes. Now I just want to be healthy again. I want to see my daughter grow into a woman; I want to live! And the scariest part of this diagnosis is that I thought I was healthy! I didn’t feel the cancer, I didn’t know it was there until I, as a 40+ woman, went to a standard mammogram checkup. Something many countries offer, for free even for the lucky ones. Had I not gone there, the tumor would have gone undetected. In a year from now this could have grown much bigger. The thought of that makes me share this story with you. A mammogram is lifesaving! It’s uncomfortable and you might think that you won’t have something in your breasts anyway but GO! And for the men reading this: remind your wife, girlfriend, mother, sister to go and get checked. Even without the luxury I as a western woman experience with free mammogram checkups: GO! Luckily, there are many organizations that offer information about self-detection if you do not have access or funds for a mammogram.
If I might inspire you to take good care of yourself, then something good will come out of this cancer diagnosis.
“If all goes as planned, I will be up and running in time for the European tour with NIGHTWISH, that will start on the 20th of November! And I am optimistic since my prognosis is good!
“I promise to take good care of myself.
“I will be off the grid for a while to focus on myself.”
Besides her work for finish gsymphonic metal band NIGHTWISH, she also has a successfull solo career, which was ignited by her participation in the Dutch t show De Beste Zangers (the best singers) in which she gave an interpretation of the ‘Phantom Of The Opera’, alongside operatic singer Henk Poort.
Four months ago, Floor was asked in an interview with FaceCulture if she is planning to eventually release a full-length solo album. She said: “There are a lot more songs ready. There’s not an album ready, but also because it would make no sense to have one. Due to the pandemic, there’s an entire NIGHTWISH still not done and still yet to be done; as it looks like, we actually are gonna do that now. So before that, I cannot say, ‘Okay, I come [out] with a solo album.’ ‘Cause then you also would like to do some more [solo] shows and do the right promotion and all of that, so there’s no time for that — which is a luxury problem on itself. But it’s fun. And that’s also a big difference with this pop music thing — you can release singles. It’s not an album-based world; it’s completely different.”
Jansen went on to call “Fire” “a statement and “the kick-off of everything. And from there I’ll keep releasing singles. And the aim is to release the album in ’23,” she explained before clarifying that there are a lot of variables involved that could affect the timeline of the LP’s arrival. “But the ambition is there. And everything is geared up to do that.”
Jansen is best known as the frontwoman in the multi-million selling and internationally successful symphonic metal band NIGHTWISH. As part of the band, Jansen has landed two number one albums in Finland, and Top Five albums in Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.
Born in the Netherlands, Jansen joined her first band, one of the world’s first symphonic metal bands, AFTER FOREVER, when she was only 16 years old. The group went on to release five albums from 2000 to 2007, before they broke up in 2009.
Jansen‘s next band, REVAMP, released two albums in 2010 and 2013, before she joined NIGHTWISH as a full-time member. NIGHTWISH‘s first album with Jansen as the lead singer was 2015’s “Endless Forms Most Beautiful”, which landed in Top 10s around the world. This was followed by 2020’s “Human. :II: Nature.” , which was also an international success.
Jansen has toured extensively with the band and appeared on three of NIGHTWISH‘s live albums “Showtime, Storytime”, “Vehicle Of Spirit” and “Decades: Live In Buenos Aires”.
In 2019, Jansen participated in the popular Dutch TV show “Beste Zangers” where she scored a big hit with “Phantom Of The Opera” together with Henk Poort. She was recognized with a Dutch Popprijs award — a prestigious accolade for artists that has made important contributions to Dutch music. In the same year, her first solo tour sold out in less than 24 hours.
Jansen performed live with NIGHTWISH for the first time on October 1, 2012 at Showbox Sodo in Seattle, Washington following the abrupt departure of the band’s lead singer of five years, Anette Olzon. Jansen officially joined NIGHTWISH in 2013.
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