Simone Simons
Her soaring mezzo-soprano voice became the defining, ethereal force that propelled symphonic metal band Epica to global stages.
Born 1985 (age 41)·Dutch singer·Birthday: January 17·Millennials
Biography
Simone Simons, discovered by Epica's founder Mark Jansen at seventeen, stepped into the studio with little formal training. Her clear, powerful mezzo-soprano provided the celestial counterpoint to the band's orchestral thunder and guttural growls. She evolved from a shy teenager into a commanding, operatically-influenced frontwoman at the world's biggest metal festivals. Her collaborations with Kamelot and Ayreon made her a sought-after metal vocalist. Offstage, she built a lifestyle blog, SmoonStyle, connecting with fans on fashion, beauty, and motherhood.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Simone was born in 1985, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Simone Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Simone's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the lead singer of Epica at age 17 and has fronted the band across nine studio albums.
- Provided guest vocals on Kamelot's acclaimed albums 'The Black Halo' and 'Poetry for the Poisoned'.
- Collaborated with progressive metal project Ayreon on the albums '01011001' and 'The Source'.
- Built a significant parallel career as a lifestyle influencer through her personal website, SmoonStyle.
Did You Know?
She is fluent in Dutch, English, German, and French, and has sung in Latin and Arabic for Epica songs.
She initially planned to become a veterinary surgeon before pursuing music full-time.
Her stage name 'Simone' is her real first name; she did not adopt a pseudonym.
She is a self-described 'metalhead' who also enjoys artists like Adele and Lana Del Rey.
““I don't see myself as a star. I'm just a girl who loves to sing.””
