Simone Simons: biography and creativity

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

In this material we will present to your attention the biography of Simone Simons. This Dutch soprano singer is the lead vocalist in a symphonic metal band called Epica. She was born in the city of Heerlen, in 1985, on January 17th. In 1995, she began learning to play the piano and flute. A year later, she took up vocals, she focused on jazz and pop singing.

Biography

Future singer Simone Simons at the age of 15 listened to Nightwish's Oceanborn album. She was so delighted with Tarja Turunen's powerful operatic vocals that she began taking classical singing lessons.

Before joining the symphonic metal band Epica, Simone Simons tried her hand as a choir vocalist in which she sang for several months in 2002. Initially, the young band was called Sahara Dust, and the musicians participating in it managed to give several concerts together with a vocalist from Norway named Helena Michaelsen.

However, the bright appearance andthe voice of the young Simons immediately turned her into the face of the team. The group itself became an event for European metal music, fame came to the musicians after the release of their first joint album. Simone Simons was briefly in a relationship with guitarist and founding member Mark Jansen.

She is the author of a number of the band's songs. In 2005, the girl, as a guest vocalist, participated in the creation of the group's album called Kamelot. Simona did not graduate from any musical educational institutions. The girl calls the group Epica her only great teacher.

At the same time, she admits that she nevertheless took classical singing lessons for four years. She calls her teacher a cool guy and emphasizes that working with him gave her a lot of pleasure. The girl believes that five years of classical music education was too boring for her.

Private life

Since 2013, Simone Simons has been married to Oliver Palotay. Her husband is also a musician. The couple also have a son, whose name is Vincent Palotai. He was born in 2013.

Discography

In 2003, Simone Simons, together with the band Epica, recorded the album The Phantom Agony. She also participated in the recording of the following works of the band: We Will Take You With Us, Consign to Oblivion, The Score - An Epic Journey, The Road to Paradiso, The Divine Conspiracy, Design Your Universe, The Classical Conspiracy, Requiem for the Indifferent, The Quantum Enigma, The Holographic Principle. The girl is actively collaborating with other bands and musicians as a guest vocalist.

Group

Simone Simons is best known for her participation in the Epica project, so we should tell you more about her. This Dutch band plays music that is commonly referred to as symphonic metal.

The calling card of the band is the combination of female vocals with male growling, this approach is often described as "beauty and the beast", and it is typical for gothic metal. The group also uses a choir and a string orchestra. Guitarist/vocalist Mark Jansen left After Forever to form Epica in 2003

In addition to Ad Sluyter, drummer Ivan Hendriks, keyboardist Kuhn Janssen and bassist Yves Huts were attracted to the new band. Dennis Lieflang soon replaced Ivan Hendrix. He also did not stay long in the team, and Jeroen Simons came to replace him. Simone joined the group, replacing Helena Michalsen.

The latter later became the founder of the Imperia project. It was in 2003 that the band took the name Epica. It comes from the Kamelot album of the same name.

All members of Epica are fans of this team. However, this name also has a second meaning. This is not only a tribute to the band Kamelot, but also the name of a special place in the universe, where you can find answers to pressing questions.

This interpretation of the name is ideal for the content of the lyricalcollective works. The Epica choir has four women and two men. The string orchestra features a double bass, two cellos, two violas, three violins.

The band's 2003 debut album The Phantom Agony was produced by Sascha Paet, who is known for his work with various bands including Kamelot, Rhapsody of Fire and Angra. According to some sources, a choir consisting of 6 women and 6 men participated in the recording of the mentioned album.

The record quickly gained popularity in Holland, and after that throughout Europe. In support of the album, three singles were released, in addition, the musicians held a full-fledged tour. The team also became a participant in a number of festivals held in Turkey, Belgium and Germany. In 2004, the band delighted fans with the first DVD - it was a live video filmed in the studio.