Simone Johanna Maria Simons is a renowned Dutch singer-songwriter, widely recognized as the lead vocalist of the acclaimed Dutch symphonic metal band Epica.
Born in Hoensbroek, Netherlands, Simons has a younger sister, Janneke, who shares the same birthday as her. Her innate passion for music became apparent at a remarkably young age. Following her enrollment in music school at the tender age of 12, Simons developed a proficiency in playing the flute for a period of two years.
As she entered her teenage years, Simons pursued pop singing lessons for a year, commencing at the age of 14. However, her musical journey took a dramatic turn when she discovered Nightwish's Oceanborn album at the age of 15, which would go on to become her all-time favorite Nightwish album. This serendipitous encounter sparked a transformation in her musical preferences, leading her to switch to classical singing.
Simons' early musical endeavors also included a brief stint in a black metal band, where she was initially hesitant to take on the role of lead vocalist. Nevertheless, she persisted and eventually joined the band, despite her initial reservations. Prior to her association with Epica, Simons had a brief tenure in a choir, where she honed her vocal skills before ultimately joining the renowned symphonic metal band.
