Simone Simons, singer with Dutch metal band Epica since 2003, was born in Hoensbroek on January 17, 1985. As Helena Michaelsen's replacement in the band, she plays an active role in the lyrics of the albums and collaborates with other bands and artists such as Angra, Leaves' Eyes, Exit Eden, Primal Fear, Ayreon, Apocalyptica, Kamelot and Charlotte Wessels. In 2008, she also took part in the rock opera Equilibrio by the group Xystus. Married to Kamelot musician Oliver Palotai since 2013, Simone Simons gave birth to their son Vincent, before returning to the studio for The Quantum Enigma (2014), followed by The Holographic Principle (2016), Omega (2021) and The Alchemy Project. In 2023, Simone Simons launched her own career and, with the support of musicians and singers such as Arjen Anthony Lucassen, Mark Jansen, Alissa White-Gluz, Ben Mathot and the group Ayreon, recorded the album Vermillion (2024), which reached No. 72 in Germany and No. 11 in Switzerland.
