She’s been fronting the symphonic metal band Epica for over two decades, but for Simone Simons, there has been a long, lingering desire to branch out with a solo album. A record 15 years in the making, Vermillion sees her operatic vocals stretch further beyond the realms of Epica’s canon, with a stark industrial clangour, sweeping silverscreen chorals and progressive sideplots that showcase Simons in a bold new light. She’s teamed up with Ayreon’s multi-instrumentalist mastermind Arjen Lucassen to actualise her dream, providing a “full circle” moment for the singer, who “fell in love” with his music aged 16. “Who would have thought back then that little Simone would sing on an album like that one day?” she says.
They have proved a winning pairing across numerous collaborations, but these two “crazy, in a good way, Dutchies” have never sounded quite like this before. Each of Vermillion’s tracks spins its own contemplative tale based on the colour’s symbolism and the emotions and fortunes it can convey. The vocalist sits down with Prog to discuss the album’s origins and ambitions.
Vermillion has been a long time coming. Why release it now?
It was just a question of not having the time and not having the right person to work with. I’ve been almost constantly on the road or writing with Epica for the last 10 years and I’m also a mother, so there aren’t enough hours in the day. Some holes in mine and Arjen’s calendars opened up and we started working on the album last spring. We have a couple of bands that we both love, like Muse and Rammstein, so there was a good connection from the beginning. It came together very smoothly.
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Bu hikaye Prog dergisinin Issue 153 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
JAKKO M JAKSZYK
King Crimson's vocalist and guitarist shares anecdotes from his revealing new autobiography, discusses his lost career as a footballer and reveals what he said when he met the former king of pop.
A Part & Yet Apart
Sheffield-based 80s proggers Haze have returned with a new studio album, The Water's Edge - their third since their 2013 comeback record, The Last Battle. Prog catches up with threequarters of the band to discuss Haze's DIY ethos, the curse of prog and playing to Cumbrian sheep farmers.
CONTROLLED AIRSPACE
He's about to embark on Dream Theater's 40th Anniversary Tour, but keyboard maestro Jordan Rudess has taken time out to discuss his soaring new solo album, Permission To Fly.
On The Wing
Birds, break-ups, big choruses and the Charlie Chaplin effect can all be found on In Murmuration, the ninth album from Finland's Von Hertzen Brothers. But as they embrace their power pop influences, have the Finns cast off their prog wizard cloaks once and for all? Mikko von Hertzen talks about the Seattle influence, songwriting secrets and sax solos.
Fourth Dimension
The stock of melodic Northumberland-based proggers Stuckfish has been rising since they formed six years ago. Their fourth studio album, Stuckfish IV, represents an important watershed in the band's musical evolution. Co-founders Adrian Fisher and Phil Stuckey tell Prog about the diverse influences that have helped to shape it.
Symphly The Best
In the 70s, Barclay James Harvest almost bankrupted themselves by performing with an orchestra, but, several decades on, they’re celebrating last year’s performance with the Slaithwaite Philharmonic, captured on their latest live record, Philharmonic! The Orchestral Concert. John Lees reminisces over the band’s ambitious early years and bassist Craig Fletcher fills Prog in on JLBJH’s upcoming “progtastic” double album.
We've Not Been Expecting You
The unpredictable Frost* are back with Life In The Wires, a bold double concept album that revisits the mood of Milliontown. Bandleader Jem Godfrey tells Prog why he rolled out the solos on a record he describes as the most fun since their dazzling debut.
FAR HORIZONS AND PANORAMIC AMBITIONS
Dutch five-piece Lesoir have been steadily gathering momentum over the last 15 years, and they hope to build on that with their latest release, Push Back The Horizon. Vocalist/ instrumentalist Maartje Meessen and guitarist Ingo Dassen discuss the creation of their sixth album, working with Muse's production team, and their dream of bringing their intricate music to new audiences.
'I mean, what is classical nowadays?'
Tony Banks reflects on his role as a 21st-century classical composer.
There Can Be Only One!
Never meet your heroes, or so the saying goes, but Opeth have had a blast working with Ian Anderson on their latest, The Last Will And Testament. Bandleader Mikael Åkerfeldt and guitarist Fredrik Åkesson discuss the band's proggiest album to date, the return of the growl and why blood isn't always thicker than water.
