Chad Bowar: How did you decide to record a live album that included classical songs?
Simone Simons: We got the offer to do an opera festival in Hungary with orchestra and choir. In addition to the Epica set, we could also play classical songs and soundtrack songs of our choice. Since that has always been on our wish list, we said yes immediately. We wanted to make a DVD or live CD to have something to remember such a great event. Since we had so much time invested in rearranging the Epica songs and the classical songs, we didn’t have time to make a DVD out of it. That’s why it’s a live CD. We’re all big classical music and soundtrack fans, so it was bound to happen one day.
How much time did you have to get everything together before the performance?
It was half a year. In December 2007 we agreed to the show and put together a setlist we wanted to play. We rearranged the classical songs to fit into the Epica style, and my boyfriend (Oliver Palotai from Kamelot) rearranged the Epica songs for the orchestra. He worked on it for two or three months, then came rehearsal of the band, choir and orchestra separately. A week before the show we went to Hungary and rehearsed for four or five hours a day. It was really a lot of work, and the show went by so fast. I think it’s really cool that we have the CD to have a memory of it. We worked so long for the preparations of a great live show, and even though it was a two and a half hour show it went by really fast. We got to meet so many nice new people. The orchestra and choir were amazing. I love Hungary, because my boyfriend has Hungarian roots.
You had some health issues and had to take some time off from touring in early 2008. How were you feeling when the show was recorded in June of last year?
I was doing much better by then. It was the end of 2007 and the beginning of 2008 I was struggling with my health. I had a really bad immune system and was attacked by a hospital bacteria. I had to take it easy for a couple months. We were unfortunately not able to do some tours, and Epica had to go to America with a different singer. I’m rid of that and feeling really healthy.
What are your plans for the next Epica studio album?
We are almost finished with the recording. It’s going really well. I’m getting ready to go to the studio to do my final vocals. The choir will be recorded, and once they are edited I have to sing a lead over the choir and some backing vocals. Then the mixing and mastering can start. We are planning to release the CD at the beginning of October. We’ll then follow it up with a European headlining tour.
Do you have any live shows before the fall?
We’re doing lots of festivals. I’m really looking forward to playing with our new guitarist Isaac (Delahaye). A lot of cool things are happening right now.
Are there any festivals you’re particularly looking forward to playing this summer?
I really like Graspop in Belgium. Also Wacken Open Air in Germany. Epica has never played there, but I played there with Kamelot last year. That’s such a big festival. We’re also playing Summer Breeze in Germany, which we’ve never played before. We’re also playing some Dutch festivals, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Hungary, some really killer festivals. I love the festival season. Summer is my season. You get to meet all the other bands in the scene, and it’s always a lot of fun.
Any plans of coming back to the U.S. to tour?
In December we’re probably going to play North or South America. The European tour is after the album is released. We’re working on things with our booking agencies. I’m hoping to go back to the states at the end of this year or early 2010.
How did you decide on Isaac (formerly of God Dehtroned) as your new guitarist?
When Ad (Sluijter) told us the last European tour was his last, we were very sad. He’s an excellent guitar player. All of us thought of one person, and that is Isaac. We played once before with him when Ad couldn’t make an Epica show a few years back. We were amazed by his talent as a guitarist and also his live performance. He’s an animal on stage. We wanted to have him on the team. He said yes, and we had our first show with him as a member at a festival in Holland. He’s also a guitar teacher. He even wrote some guitar lines for our new album, so you’ll be hearing his influence on it. He’s a young, enthusiastic and good-looking guitarist.
Did Sascha Paeth produce your new studio CD?
Yes. We are back to the familiar studio where we’ve always been. He’s like family. We have a certain work style and complement each other really well. We decided to stick with it, and it’s working well like this. We’re a team.
