A night at the opera with Epica's Simone Simons

May 1, 2009

The Dutch have been the leaders of female-fronted metal for several years. Bands like The Gathering, Within Temptation and After Forever were some of the first to have worldwide success and the subgenre is now stronger than ever. Formed by ex-After Forever guitarist Mark Jansen in 2002, Epica has had great success due to their powerful combination of orchestration and symphonic metal. Much of that success can be attributed to their own metal maiden, the beautiful and talented vocalist Simone Simons. She sings in an operatic voice like no other and her style is unique for heavy metal. She is the foundation and centerpiece of Epica. The band has released four albums and currently is recording album No. 5, tentatively set for a late-2009 release.

On June 14, 2008, Epica followed other metal acts like Metallica and Within Temptation by collaborating with a full orchestra and choir in Miskolc, Hungary, during the Miskolc International Opera Festival. The band performed a 45-minute set of metal adaptations of classical songs and movie soundtracks, accompanied by the orchestra and choir, as well as symphonic versions of its own songs. The end result is The Classical Conspiracy (released May 8, 2009 by Nuclear Blast), a double live album commemorating the event.

Simons recently checked in with Live-Metal.Net's Jeff Maki to discuss The Classical Conspiracy, the beginnings of Epica, their next studio album and more.

Live-Metal.Net: Well, for the obvious question, talk about your new live album, The Classical Conspiracy. When and where was it recorded? How did it all come together and what is the end result in your opinion?

Simone Simons: The Classical Conspiracy started off during the European tour we did in 2007. We had a meeting with the organizer of the show. He showed us some stuff and we did a first show, a tryout, an experiment. And he wanted to know if we were interested. And since our orchestra and choir is already one of the big elements in Epica's music, of course, we didn't have to think long.

And then we had to come up with a classical set and figure out which Epica songs we would like to play with the orchestra. And we had to make a little different Epica set than normal because the show we did in Miskolc, Hungary, is part of a classical festival that people go to that like classical music. And they're not so familiar with metal. So we had to cut back the grunts a little bit for the visitors so they wouldn't be scared when they came to see a show. [laughs]

The show actually took place the 14th of June last year. We were in Hungary for a week, rehearsing with the choir and orchestra. And every day it was four or five early rehearsals, so it was quite hard. And the show itself took about two-and-a- half hours. We had about 2,000 visitors,[with] some Epica fans which came from all over Europe to see us. We recorded the audio and we were thinking about doing a DVD, but since we had little time to prepare for a DVD, we focused on having a live album. And it will be in stores on the eighth of May.

So that's the story in a nutshell. [laughs]

I was going to ask about a DVD release. Obviously not having the visuals of the whole concert, describe the stage setting. Was it a large-scale production, complete with visuals, effects, set changes and all this kind of thing?

The orchestra consists of 40 people and the choir, 30 people. So totally in the back, higher than the normal stage would be the choir standing in a row. And in front of that, the orchestra. And to the side, on the same level of the orchestra, we had to build sort of an aquarium around them because the string orchestra was getting a lot of drums in their ears. I guess with the orchestra, it was a little getting used to having a drummer that close to them.

	Epica live in Hungary at the 2008 Miskolc International Opera Festival

And for Epica, we were totally in the front on the main stage. It was kind of a big set. We got to run around and it was kind of funny to be on stage with such a big group. Normally it's only six of us and now we had the orchestra and the choir behind us ... and the conductor dancing with his stick [laughs], conducting ... and the audience ... It was hard to put all my focus on the audience because I was so excited by what was happening behind me. I just wanted to check out the orchestra, so I had to force myself to turn to the audience.

Other bands have done this type of performance and have released them as albums. Metallica and more recently, Within Temptation have done it. What do you think of those releases and were they at all an inspiration for this performance?

Well, I think that metal and classical music go really well together anyway. Of course, the symphonic metal bands have classical instruments in their music, so it's to be expected if the metal acts want to do something special in the live show, they invite an orchestra or choir. Epica songs are, of course, with orchestration, but we also played classical pieces and soundtracks with the orchestra. So that was a special side of the show that we worked the classical metal piece.

You talk about the classical pieces and movie themes. Was this the orchestra's or the band's idea to incorporate these as the special part of the show? Also, what were you doing during that first whole part since you really didn't have much vocal involvement?

The classical set was an idea of the organizer, but we picked the songs that we wanted to play so that all of us really liked the songs and music. We're big movie score fans and we came up with a good set list. But the thing is that I was a little bit lazy in the end with filling in the set list. I at first gave them two songs which I've performed with singing lessons, “Ombra Mai Fu” and [another one], and at the end I had two more songs, one from Mozart and one from Phantom of the Opera. Not the “Phantom of the Opera” song but a different one. And there was no time anymore, so unfortunately I only had two songs to perform. I felt a little bit sorry for myself in the end because that's how I started off with the classical singing. And well, of course, I wanted to show the audience what I could do.

I was standing on the side of the stage watching the band and I knew the songs pretty well because we had been rehearsing for a whole week. My favorite of the whole classical set, besides the songs that I sung, was the “Imperial March.” So I was standing there in my gown, rocking on the side of the stage, but unfortunately not on stage.

Yeah, the “Imperial March” is my favorite on there, too. That thing is awesome. I'm a huge Star Wars fan and hearing you guys do that with the whole orchestra was amazing.

Yeah, I think that the “Imperial March” kind of sounds better with the band. I heard it for some commercial on TV and thought the song sounded weird. Something was missing. I'm used to the Epica version now with electrical guitars ... drums. Yeah, it simply fits, I think.

You guys are going to have a new album coming out. Have you started writing or recording? I thought I saw something about an October release. Any information about the new release you want to kick out there to us?

We've been recording the CD already, it's almost done. In the beginning of May, we will record the choirs and the guys are recording the bass and guitars at the moment as we speak. I will go back to the studio for the last time to sing lead over the choir, once the choir is recorded. The album is pretty much the same style of the Divine Conspiracy. We still have really a rough side to it, more than with Consign to Oblivion. And we have a new guitarist [Isaac Delahaye, formerly of God Dethroned], so that's one of the refreshing elements we have. Even though the songs were almost finished when he entered the band, [guitarist/vocalist] Mark [Jansen] told him, just check out the songs and if you come up with better ideas, then just do it. And he did. He worked really hard and I think it's really refreshing how the guitars are more melodic and there are some solos on the record. So that would be the biggest change.

[Editor's note: Guitarist Isaac Delahaye is the second former member of God Dethroned to join Epica, along with drummer Ariën Van Weesenbeek.]

So that's an October release for the album?

We are trying. We're trying to get a tour together in October and we have some tryouts already planned in Holland for a show with some new songs. So we are working hard to make that happen.

[Editor's note: Blabbermouth.net and other sources are reporting that Epica's fifth album will be titled "Design Your Universe"]

I was looking over you bio on Epica's Web site and saw your birthday listed as 1985. So you were obviously very young when you joined the band. What ... 19, 18, 17?

Yes, 17.

17? Wow. I'm 32, so I'm nine years older than you. Describe that whole experience of getting into the band at such a young age back then to where you are now, both musically and personally.

When I entered the band, back then I was Mark [Jansen]'s girlfriend. We had been together for four years and we broke up about three-and-a-half years ago. Back then in After Forever, he heard me sing here and there and he really liked my voice. [Editor's note: Mark Jansen founded After Forever with Sander Gommans, and was one of the main songwriters. He left After Forever in 2002] And he said that if we ever did a project, we'd like you to be in it. But at first when he quit After Forever and he had his own band, I wasn't sure if I wanted to do it because I was still in high school. So far, I was only a spectator, watching him play in After Forever and that was kind of OK for me, even though I love to sing. I wasn't sure if that was the right thing for me. But then, later on, we decided to give it a go and, of course, I was totally naive. I didn't know how the business was like. I was still a child at 17, 18. That's kind of young. I have to say I grew up pretty fast. We've traveled around the world and we got pretty successful pretty fast. And when I got into the band I never thought this is what it was going to be like or this is what I wanted it to be like. I just let it pass by and try to enjoy it.

I have to be honest, I'm 24 now but I don't feel like the average 24. I would describe my soul more like an old soul [laughs]. And my boyfriend is 35. You said that you're 32 years old, but you're basically younger than my boyfriend, so I don't perceive age in old or young.

I was just really surprised when I saw that because it seems to me that Epica has been around for a while now. It was just kind of striking when I saw that.

Yeah, yeah. It was always in the beginning, Epica was ... the young, the baby singer [laughs] ... And now I'm 24, so that's not super young anymore. There are younger singers now in the genre, but yeah, it was funny.

Yeah, let's talk about the whole genre. When you guys started and in the '90s, the whole female metal scene wasn't really huge. And in recent years it's begun to take off. What do you think of the whole metal scene currently going on right now?

I think there's some really great bands in the scene. Unfortunately, one of the main Dutch female-fronted metal bands quit--After Forever--which I think is kind of a big loss. I really liked them. And basically, Epica and After Forever were like brother and sister. Of course, Epica came out of After Forever.

Holland, especially, has a couple of great female-fronted metal bands, Within Temptation and this new band Delaine. I think this is the natural development of metal music nowadays. Ten years back there was also The Gathering, which I personally also really like. The album Mandylion is one of my all time favorites. I really like Anneke [van Giersbergen]. She's so great. And now you have different styles in the metal scene with female singers. So there's so much to choose from. And as we speak, there are probably more females in metal bands which are existing.

In the beginning, like seven years back with Epica, it was something new and I think that we can slowly see it's settling in the music scene, and in the metal scene. You have the female-fronted metal bands and the male-fronted metal bands. And soon I think it will be 50/50. As many metal bands will have male singers as female singers. I personally love the female voice, so I think it's a good thing. But my all time favorite metal band is Opeth.

I saw that you were in a choir when you were younger, but did you have classical or operatic training when you were younger for your vocals?

I've had four to five years of private singing lessons and classical singing lessons. And the choir I wrote about in my bio was like a four month project which was also initiated by my vocal teacher. It was a Christmas choir [laughs]. It was actually kind of funny because I had only two shows with that choir and the second show was the same day as the very first Epica show in 2002 on the 15th of December. I had to leave at the break we had in the choir concert so I would be on time for the Epica concert. So one thing was flowing into the other. I really love to sing with the opera voice. I also took some singing lessons from another teacher and learned some other stuff, not specifically opera techniques. I'd like to experiment with my voice a little bit. I think you'll hear that on the new album. I am very critical and I sometimes don't think that certain things are possible. But with the right teacher, and to let go of your insecurities and believe in yourself, you can reach the things you thought you would never achieve.

Well, that's definitely good advice. You talk about experimenting. Will you always just leave all the grunting up to the guys? Is that something that you could ever try or be capable of?

I've tried it, but it hurts so much [laughs]. I think that only a few women have proven to perform that kind of vocal. And I think it contradicts what I try to do, so I'll stick to the normal vocal [laughs].

Epica has a lot of close ties with the band Kamelot. Could you get into that a little bit. I know you have made guest appearances and vice versa. You've toured with the band, also. How did that all come to be?

It all started off when we were recording The Phantom Agony. Kamelot was in the same studio recording the album Epica. We were searching for a new band name and were simply smitten with the name Epica, especially because of its meaning. It's a place in the universe where you can find all the answers to the questions of life. And that fits perfectly with our lyrics, which are kind of philosophical.

We also got in contact with Kamelot and, of course, told them that we admired them. They're a great band. I love Roy [Khan]'s voice. It's so distinctive. He really has a charisma to his voice. So we thought one day it'd be cool to do a collaboration. So then on the next CD, Consign to Oblivion, they were recording The Black Halo. And they were still searching for a female guest singer and, of course, I applied for that. We made a little deal. I sing on Kamelot an Roy sings on Consign ... From then on, we had some tours together. We toured in Brazil. We did the European tour together, North American tour.

That relationship came from my private relationship with [Kamelot keyboardist] Oliver [Palotai]. We are together for three-and-a-half years now. Yeah, Kamelot is like my second family now. Whenever all of us tour with Kamelot and I don't have anything with Epica, I join Kamelot and hang out with the guys. It's really great. And now we're [into it] six or seven years, so we're not really colleagues. It's really like family for me.

I think that's about all I have for you. Do you have anything else you'd like to tell us?

Yeah, I'd like to thank the American fans for that little drama we had last year with me being sick. And Epica had to go on tour with a different singer [Amanda Somerville]. I just wanted to thank them that they were all so warm and welcome and that they support Epica. I think that's really cool thing. The Americans are cool people. So thanks very much, guys.

Related Links:
www.epica.nl
myspace.com/epica
www.nuclearblast.com
www.afterforever.com
www.kamelot.com