Amanda Somerville
Encyclopedia
Amanda Somerville is an American
singer-songwriter
and vocal coach.
, and attended Flushing Senior High School and the University of Michigan in Flint, Michigan
. Somerville moved to Wolfsburg, Germany in 1999 where she has since resided, working mainly in Germany and the Netherlands.
, Edguy
, Kamelot
, Epica
, Avantasia
and Docker's Guild, and has produced two solo albums. Her music focuses on soft and elegant pop rock with some hard rock
, folk
and soul music
influences.
She has collaborated with several of these metal bands alongside producers Sascha Paeth
and Michael Rodenberg
, which took her to collaborate with multi-instrumentalist
Robert Hunecke-Rizzo
co-writing the rock opera Aina
. Later she made a similar collaboration with guitarist Sander Gommans
(After Forever), providing vocals and lyrical concept for the project HDK
. In 2008, she toured America with Dutch
heavy metal band Epica
, while regular vocalist Simone Simons
recovered from a staph infection.
In 2010, she has collaborated with Michael Kiske
(ex-Helloween
singer) on a musical project entitled Kiske/Somerville
. The band is a melodic metal act put together by Frontiers Records
, as similar project as Allen/Lande. Songwriting and producing was made by Primal Fear
bassist Mat Sinner
with collaboration by guitarist Magnus Karlsson
(Allen/Lande, also from Primal Fear), Sander Gommans, Jimmy Kresic and Amanda herself. Their first single, Silence was released on August 20. Their self-titled
album was released on 24 September 2010 by Frontiers Records, after the single accompanied by a music video for Silence.
Amanda was also one of the live guest vocalists for Tobias Sammet
's metal opera Avantasia
two world tours in 2008 and 2010. Her role onstage was mainly singing backing vocals during the whole setlist and lead vocals for the song Farewell.
In 2011, Amanda has finally released her first heavy metal
-oriented project called Trillium with the record company Frontiers Records. The project has contributions by Sascha Paeth, Michael Rodenberg, Sander Gommans and a guest appearance of Jørn Lande
on a duet vocal track with Amanda.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and vocal coach.
Personal life
Somerville was born in Flushing, MichiganFlushing, Michigan
Flushing is a city in Genesee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 8,348 at the 2000 census. Flushing is considered a suburb of Flint. It is situated within the area of Flushing Charter Township, but is administratively autonomous...
, and attended Flushing Senior High School and the University of Michigan in Flint, Michigan
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
. Somerville moved to Wolfsburg, Germany in 1999 where she has since resided, working mainly in Germany and the Netherlands.
Singing career
Somerville has written and recorded with bands After ForeverAfter Forever
After Forever was a Dutch symphonic metal band with strong progressive metal influences. The band relied on the use of both soprano vocals and death grunts. In February 2009, it was announced that After Forever had disbanded.-Biography:...
, Edguy
Edguy
-Demos, AFM years :Edguy was founded in 1992 by 14-year-old students Tobias Sammet, Jens Ludwig, Dominik Storch and Dirk Sauer. The name "Edguy" was an affectionate epithet for Mr. Edgar Siedschlag, their math teacher at the time. In 1994, the band released two demos, Evil Minded and Children of...
, Kamelot
Kamelot
Kamelot is an American symphonic power metal band from Tampa, Florida. The band was formed by Thomas Youngblood and Richard Warner in 1991. Norwegian vocalist Roy Khan joined for the album Siége Perilous, and shared song-writing duties with Youngblood until his departure in April 2011.As of 2010,...
, Epica
Epica (band)
Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen subsequent to his departure from After Forever. They are known for their symphonic sound and the use of female vocals and male growls performed by Simone Simons and Mark Jansen, respectively. All six members write...
, Avantasia
Avantasia
Avantasia is a heavy metal project created by Tobias Sammet, vocalist and frontman of the band Edguy. The project's title is a portmanteau of the words "avalon" and "fantasia" and describes "a world beyond human imagination"...
and Docker's Guild, and has produced two solo albums. Her music focuses on soft and elegant pop rock with some hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
, folk
American folk music
American folk music is a musical term that encompasses numerous genres, many of which are known as traditional music or roots music. Roots music is a broad category of music including bluegrass, country music, gospel, old time music, jug bands, Appalachian folk, blues, Cajun and Native American...
and soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
influences.
She has collaborated with several of these metal bands alongside producers Sascha Paeth
Sascha Paeth
Sascha Paeth is a German guitarist, bassist, musical producer, and mixer known for working with heavy metal bands such as Avantasia, Edguy, Angra, Shaaman, Rhapsody of Fire, Kamelot, After Forever, Epica, et al...
and Michael Rodenberg
Michael Rodenberg
Michael Rodenberg, nickname Miro, is a German keyboardist and musical producer known for working with power metal bands such as Angra, Shaaman, Rhapsody of Fire, Kamelot, Heavens Gate, et al...
, which took her to collaborate with multi-instrumentalist
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
Robert Hunecke-Rizzo
Robert Hunecke-Rizzo
Robert Hunecke-Rizzo is a German bass player, guitarist and drummer, known for his work with Heavens Gate, Luca Turilli, and Kamelot.He helped to found the supergroup Aina, who released their metal opera Days of Rising Doom in 2003. He was the music composer and played most of the instruments...
co-writing the rock opera Aina
Aina (band)
Aina is a progressive metal supergroup, containing members from all over the world and from all strands of metal and hard rock. Together they created the metal opera Days of Rising Doom, which was released in 2003 by Transmission/The End Records....
. Later she made a similar collaboration with guitarist Sander Gommans
Sander Gommans
Sander Gommans is a Dutch musician. He founded the symphonic metal band Apocalypse with Mark Jansen in 1995, which later changed its name to After Forever. He played guitar and did the grunting parts in the band...
(After Forever), providing vocals and lyrical concept for the project HDK
HDK (band)
HDK is a musical project of Dutch guitarist Sander Gommans, best known as member, vocalist and one of the main composers of the now dissolved symphonic metal band After Forever.- History :...
. In 2008, she toured America with Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
heavy metal band Epica
Epica (band)
Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen subsequent to his departure from After Forever. They are known for their symphonic sound and the use of female vocals and male growls performed by Simone Simons and Mark Jansen, respectively. All six members write...
, while regular vocalist Simone Simons
Simone Simons
Simone Johanna Maria Simons is a Dutch coloratura mezzo-soprano singer who is the lead vocalist of symphonic metal band Epica.-Biography:...
recovered from a staph infection.
In 2010, she has collaborated with Michael Kiske
Michael Kiske
Michael Kiske is a singer best known as the lead vocalist for the German power metal band Helloween, from 1986 to 1993. From 1996 up to 2009, Kiske recorded four solo albums, participated on various metal and rock related projects, while he also performed with numerous bands as a guest vocalist...
(ex-Helloween
Helloween
Helloween is a German power metal band founded in the mid 1980s by members of Iron Fist and Powerfool. The band was a pioneering force in the European Power Metal movement and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt...
singer) on a musical project entitled Kiske/Somerville
Kiske/Somerville
Kiske/Somerville is a melodic rock/heavy metal duet project, put together in late 2009 by Serafino Perugino ....
. The band is a melodic metal act put together by Frontiers Records
Frontiers Records
Frontiers Records is an Italian record label, predominantly producing melodic rock. It was formed in 1996 by Serafino Perugino and is based in Naples, Italy.-History:...
, as similar project as Allen/Lande. Songwriting and producing was made by Primal Fear
Primal Fear (band)
Primal Fear is a German power metal and speed metal band formed in 1997 by Ralf Scheepers and Mat Sinner . Sinner & Scheepers formed the band after Ralf was not hired as Rob Halford's replacement in Judas Priest...
bassist Mat Sinner
Mat Sinner
Mat Sinner is a bassist, vocalist and record producer from Stuttgart in Germany.His main bands have been Sinner since 1982 and Primal Fear since 1997, which he formed with Ralf Scheepers. He has been involved in numerous other projects throughout his musical career...
with collaboration by guitarist Magnus Karlsson
Magnus Karlsson (guitarist)
Magnus Karlsson is a Swedish heavy metal guitarist, multi-instrumentalist and producer. He is currently one of the guitarists of the band Primal Fear.-Biography:...
(Allen/Lande, also from Primal Fear), Sander Gommans, Jimmy Kresic and Amanda herself. Their first single, Silence was released on August 20. Their self-titled
Kiske/Somerville (album)
Kiske/Somerville is a result of the collaboration between vocalist Michael Kiske and American singer Amanda Somerville. The album was born as a concept put together thanks to the input of Frontiers Records president Serafino Perugino. "I did a duet with a female singer on "Breathe in Water" by...
album was released on 24 September 2010 by Frontiers Records, after the single accompanied by a music video for Silence.
Amanda was also one of the live guest vocalists for Tobias Sammet
Tobias Sammet
Tobias Sammet is the vocalist and primary songwriter of the German Power metal band Edguy, as well as the creator of the metal opera Avantasia and a member of the metal project Final Chapter. He also made guest appearances on the Rob Rock album Holy Hell and the metal opera Aina...
's metal opera Avantasia
Avantasia
Avantasia is a heavy metal project created by Tobias Sammet, vocalist and frontman of the band Edguy. The project's title is a portmanteau of the words "avalon" and "fantasia" and describes "a world beyond human imagination"...
two world tours in 2008 and 2010. Her role onstage was mainly singing backing vocals during the whole setlist and lead vocals for the song Farewell.
In 2011, Amanda has finally released her first heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
-oriented project called Trillium with the record company Frontiers Records. The project has contributions by Sascha Paeth, Michael Rodenberg, Sander Gommans and a guest appearance of Jørn Lande
Jørn Lande
Jørn Lande is a Norwegian hard rock and heavy metal singer who has sold over 2 million records worldwide. He is probably best known for being the lead singer of the power metal band Masterplan.-Biography:...
on a duet vocal track with Amanda.
Solo
- In the Beginning there was... (2000)
- Blue Nothing (EP, 2000)
- Never Alone (EP, 2003)
- Windows (2009)
Collaborations
Somerville's contributions include vocals, coaching, production and choir conductor:- After ForeverAfter ForeverAfter Forever was a Dutch symphonic metal band with strong progressive metal influences. The band relied on the use of both soprano vocals and death grunts. In February 2009, it was announced that After Forever had disbanded.-Biography:...
– Invisible CirclesInvisible CirclesInvisible Circles is the third studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band After Forever. It was released on 25 March 2004, by the small Dutch label Transmission Records...
(2004), RemagineRemagineRemagine is the fourth album released by Dutch symphonic metal band After Forever. It was released on September 8, 2005 by Transmission Records and followed the 2004 concept album Invisible Circles. This album is available in two versions, an SACD with three bonus songs and as a ‘Special Edition’...
(2005), After ForeverAfter ForeverAfter Forever was a Dutch symphonic metal band with strong progressive metal influences. The band relied on the use of both soprano vocals and death grunts. In February 2009, it was announced that After Forever had disbanded.-Biography:...
(2007); vocal coach, vocalist, producer - AinaAina (band)Aina is a progressive metal supergroup, containing members from all over the world and from all strands of metal and hard rock. Together they created the metal opera Days of Rising Doom, which was released in 2003 by Transmission/The End Records....
- Days of Rising DoomDays of Rising DoomDays of Rising Doom is the debut album and metal opera by the Progressive metal supergroup Aina released on September 25, 2003. The concept was created and the story and lyrics were written by Amanda Somerville...
(2003); conceptualist, lyrical editor, co-writer, vocalist, vocal coach - Andre MatosAndré MatosAndré Coelho Matos born September 14, 1971 in São Paulo, Brazil. He is the oldest son of photographer Pedro Henrique Matos and Sonia Maria Coelho. André Matos was the former vocalist, pianist and composer for the power metal bands Viper, Angra and Shaaman. Since October 2006 Andre Matos has been...
– Time to Be FreeTime to Be FreeTime To Be Free is the debut solo album of Brazilian vocalist/pianist Andre Matos. He is joined with the Mariutti brothers, with whom he played in Shaaman...
(2007), MentalizeMentalize- Tracklist :# "Leading On" – 05:08# "I Will Return" - 05:10# "Someone Else" - 05:47# "Shift the Night Away" - 04:58"# "Back to You" - 04:14# "Mentalize" - 04:05# "The Myriad" - 05:08# "When the Sun Cried Out" - 04:39# "Mirror of Me" - 04:15...
(2009); lyrical choir, vocalist and lyrical editor - AsraiAsrai (band)Asrai is a band from Schiedam, Netherlands. Their music is mostly on the border between gothic and metal genres.- History :Asrai's roots lay in the 1980s. The band was formed in 1985 and changed their name in 1988 to Asrai. Several of its members played in various punk and new-wave bands...
– Touch in the Dark (2004): lyrical editor - AvantasiaAvantasiaAvantasia is a heavy metal project created by Tobias Sammet, vocalist and frontman of the band Edguy. The project's title is a portmanteau of the words "avalon" and "fantasia" and describes "a world beyond human imagination"...
– The ScarecrowThe Scarecrow (album)-Personnel:* Tobias Sammet – Vocal, Bass guitar, Additional Keyboards* Sascha Paeth – Guitars,* Miro – Keyboards, Orchestration* Eric Singer – Drums-Guest vocalists:* Roy Khan * Jørn Lande...
(2008); The Flying OperaThe Flying OperaThe Flying Opera is the first Avantasia live album by German power metal vocalist Tobias Sammet, released in March 2011. It was recorded during their first world tour in 2008, in support of the album The Scarecrow.-Tracklist:DVDDisc 1...
(live album) (2011): vocalist - Docker's Guild – The Mystic Technocracy - Season 1: The Age of Ignorance (forthcoming); vocalist
- EdguyEdguy-Demos, AFM years :Edguy was founded in 1992 by 14-year-old students Tobias Sammet, Jens Ludwig, Dominik Storch and Dirk Sauer. The name "Edguy" was an affectionate epithet for Mr. Edgar Siedschlag, their math teacher at the time. In 1994, the band released two demos, Evil Minded and Children of...
– Hellfire ClubHellfire Club (album)Hellfire Club, released April 6, 2004, is the sixth album by German power metal band Edguy. The music of the band is supported by a German orchestra, the Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg....
(2004), Rocket RideRocket Ride- Personnel :*Tobias Sammet - vocals*Jens Ludwig - guitar*Dirk Sauer - guitar*Tobias "Eggi" Exxel - bass*Felix Bohnke - drumsWith:*Amanda Somerville - Backing Vocals*Oliver Hartmann - Backing Vocals*Ralf Zdiarstek - Backing Vocals...
(2006); vocalist, lyrical editor - EpicaEpica (band)Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen subsequent to his departure from After Forever. They are known for their symphonic sound and the use of female vocals and male growls performed by Simone Simons and Mark Jansen, respectively. All six members write...
– The Phantom AgonyThe Phantom AgonyThe Phantom Agony is the first full-length studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. It was released in 2003 by the Dutch label Transmission Records. It is the first album recorded by guitarist Mark Jansen after his departure from the band After Forever. On this album, Mark Jansen continues...
(2003), We Will Take You with UsWe Will Take You With UsWe Will Take You With Us is the title of the first DVD released by the Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. The DVD has only material that was already released on Epica's debut album, The Phantom Agony, with the exception of "Memory", which is a cover of a song from the musical Cats...
(2004), Consign to OblivionConsign to OblivionConsign to Oblivion is the second studio-album by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica, and was released in April 2005. "Trois Vierges" features a guest appearance by Kamelot vocalist Roy Khan. The album's lyrics are heavily influenced by Mayan Civilization. The CD was released with copy control on it....
(2005), The Road to ParadisoThe Road to ParadisoThe Road to Paradiso is a book about the Dutch symphonic metal band Epica which was accompanied by a compilation album of the same name. It was released on May 4, 2006, on the same night they performed at Paradiso in Amsterdam...
(2006), The Divine ConspiracyThe Divine ConspiracyThe Divine Conspiracy is the third full-length studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica as well as their first concept album. It was released on September 7, 2007 through Nuclear Blast in Europe...
(2007), live session singer for USA Canada tour (2008), Design Your UniverseDesign Your UniverseDesign Your Universe is the fourth full-length studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. It was released on October 16, 2009.-Pre-release and production:The band entered Gate Studio in Wolfsburg, Germany on March 2, 2009....
(2009); vocal coach, vocalist, co-writer, producer - HDKHDK (band)HDK is a musical project of Dutch guitarist Sander Gommans, best known as member, vocalist and one of the main composers of the now dissolved symphonic metal band After Forever.- History :...
– System OverloadSystem Overload (album)System Overload is the first album released by Dutch After Forever guitarist Sander Gommans's side project HDK . The music of this album is heavier and more extreme than the usual style of After Forever and Gommans created HDK in order to release the album by himself. The album was released on 23...
(2008); vocalist, co-producer, co-writer, lyrical editor, engineer - KamelotKamelotKamelot is an American symphonic power metal band from Tampa, Florida. The band was formed by Thomas Youngblood and Richard Warner in 1991. Norwegian vocalist Roy Khan joined for the album Siége Perilous, and shared song-writing duties with Youngblood until his departure in April 2011.As of 2010,...
– The Black HaloThe Black HaloThere is also a short hidden track in the pregap. Rewinding from "March of Mephisto" on some CD players reveal a couple entering a theatre and being told that they have "just made it to the second act", referring to The Black Halo as the second album in a two-part concept.- March of Mephisto :In...
(2005), Ghost OperaGhost OperaGhost Opera is the eighth studio album from metal band Kamelot. It was released in 2007 by SPV GmbH/Steamhammer Records, on June 1 in Germany and followed by releases on June 4 in Europe and June 5 in the United States. It is the first studio album by Kamelot to feature keyboardist Oliver...
(2007), Poetry For The PoisonedPoetry for the PoisonedPoetry for the Poisoned is the ninth studio album from metal band Kamelot. It was released on the earMUSIC label, a subdivision of Edel, on September 10, 2010 in Europe, and four days later in North America by the band's own label, KMG Recordings. It was the last release to feature longtime...
(2010); vocalist, lyrical editor - Luca Turilli – Prophet of the Last EclipseProphet of the Last EclipseProphet of the Last Eclipse is the second album in a solo trilogy by symphonic power metal songwriter Luca Turilli of the band Rhapsody of Fire. It was released on November 26, 2002 by Limb Music Productions. The ten tracks tell a story about the world Zaephyr and its destruction...
(2002); vocalist - Mob RulesMob Rules (band)Mob Rules are a German power metal band. They were founded in 1994 by erstwhile Van Blanc guitarist Matthias Mineur and bassist Thorsten Plorin. Pulling in vocalist Klaus Dirks and drummer Arved Mannott, the quartet began to gig. Opening slots included shows with Pink Cream 69, C.I.T.A...
– Hollowed Be Thy Name (2002); vocalist - Shaman – Ritual (2002), Reason (2005); vocalist, lyrical editor
- Virgo – Virgo (2001); worked as vocalist, lyrical editor
- SebastienSebastienSebastien is a Czech power metal band from Pardubice and Brno. The band was formed by George Rain in 2008.-Biography:Sebastien origins date back to February 1999. The first real line-up appears under the name Calypso in December 1999....
- Tears Of White RosesTears of White RosesTears Of White Roses is the debut album of Sebastien, melodic power metal band from Czech Republic, released in 2010.-Track listing:*All songs written by George Rain & Andy Mons*All lyrics written by Jan Petričko# "Museé Du Satan Rouge" - 3:47...
(2010); vocalist - SerenitySerenity (band)Serenity is a melodic power metal band from Austria with progressive, power and symphonic influences.- Biography :Serenity was founded in Tyrol, Austria in January 2001 receiving "fine reviews" for their first demo "Starseed V.R.". In 2003/2004, three of the original members left the band. The...
- Death & LegacyDeath & LegacyDeath & Legacy is the third full-length studio album by symphonic metal band Serenity.-Reception:The Dutch review website Kwadratuur rated the album 3.5 stars out of 5, concluding that Death & Legacy is a very entertaining album with undeniable craftsmanship...
(2011); vocalist