Simone Simons

Simone Johanna Maria Simons (born 17 January 1985) is a Dutch singer-songwriter. She is the lead vocalist of Dutch symphonic metal band Epica.

Early life and formation

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.

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.