Simone Simons
| Simone Simons | |
|---|---|
Simone Simons performing at Rockharz Festival in 2015
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| Background information | |
| Born |
17 January 1985 Hoensbroek, Heerlen, Limburg, Netherlands |
| Origin | Netherlands |
| Genres | Symphonic metal, Classical music, Progressive metal |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano, flute |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels | Transmission, Nuclear Blast |
| Associated acts | |
| Website |
www |
Simone Johanna Maria Simons (born 17 January 1985) is a Dutch singer-songwriter. She is the lead vocalist of Dutch symphonic metal band Epica.
Simons was born in Hoensbroek, Netherlands. She has a younger sister by the name of Janneke who was born on Simone's second birthday. Her interest in music manifested itself at a very early age. Simons started playing flute for two years after joining music school at the age of 12. At the age of 14, she had one year of pop singing lessons, and at age 15, she switched to classical singing after listening to Nightwish's Oceanborn, which remains her favorite Nightwish album. At one point she was invited to join in a rehearsal for a black metal band; she joined it, although was a little afraid to sing. Simons sang in a choir for a few months, and later joined Epica.
In early 2002, Mark Jansen left After Forever over creative differences. He then began looking for musicians who would work towards a more classical/symphonic type of music project; this was initially named “Sahara Dust”. In late 2002, the band courted Helena Michaelsen (from Trail of Tears) as its frontwoman, but shortly after she was replaced by the then unknown Simons, who was Jansen's girlfriend at the time.
The band's line-up was completed by guitarist Ad Sluijter, drummer Jeroen Simons, bassist Yves Huts, and keyboard player Coen Janssen. The name was later changed to Epica, inspired by Kamelot's eponymous album. Epica then assembled a choir (made up of two men and four women) and a string orchestra (three violins, two violas, two cellos and an upright bass) to play along with them. Still under the name Sahara Dust, they produced a two-song demo entitled Cry for the Moon in 2002. As a result, they were signed to Transmission Records.
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