Charlotte Wessels
| Charlotte Wessels | |
|---|---|
Wessels performing at Rockharz Open Air 2015 in Ballenstedt/Germany.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Johanna Charlotte Wessels |
| Born | 13 May 1987 |
| Origin | Zwolle, Netherlands |
| Genres | Gothic metal, jazz, symphonic metal |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, Clarinet |
| Years active | 2004-Present |
| Labels |
Roadrunner, Napalm Records |
| Associated acts | Delain, To Elysium, Infernorama, Knight Area, Nemesea, Serenity, Sharon den Adel, Kamelot, Phantasma |
Johanna Charlotte Wessels (born 13 May 1987) is a Dutch singer-songwriter who was born in Zwolle, Netherlands. Best known as the lead vocalist for the Dutch symphonic metal band Delain. She is also in the symphonic rock musical group called Phantasma.
Wessels has been trained in both jazz singing and classical singing. She was first trained in jazz, but later her instructor suggested classical singing to her. However, Wessels has stated that she found classical training to be very restrictive, and so she likes to do something "in between the classical and the jazz stuff, and if you look at classical music with high vocal lines, then you kind of get to gothic very soon!"
She joined a gothic metal band named To Elysium around the age of fifteen or sixteen. She mentions in an interview that her parents had to sign a contract because she was still underage.
Wessels became involved with Delain in 2004 when she met Martijn Westerholt formerly of Within Temptation. Since the band was meant to be a studio project only, Westerholt asked if she could write some lyrics and vocalize which she thought it was going to be a one time thing. In 2005 they signed a deal with Roadrunner Records. She is the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the band.
Wessels along with Georg Neuhauser from Serenity, and Oliver Philipps from Everon have created a symphonic rock musical called Phantasma. They got signed to Napalm Records and is a concept album of Neuhauser. Wessels is not only singing in the album but also wrote her debut novella called "The Deviant Hearts" especially for it.
When asked in 2014 who her influences are, Wessels said
She is a cousin of Dutch hardcore DJ DaY-már. When asked in a Loudwire interview who she gets inspired by vocally she mentions Australian singer Sia Furler. Wessels admires Sia's voice and also her song-writing. She's a fan of the horror film genre, which has inspired some of her songwriting. Wessels has an art history degree and also has a master's degree in gender studies. Is a vegetarian.
Albums
Singles
Guest appearances
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Wikipedia