Sharon den Adel
Encyclopedia
Sharon Janny den Adel is a Dutch singer and composer, best known as the lead vocalist and one of the main songwriters in the Dutch symphonic metal
/rock
band Within Temptation
. She has performed with various bands since she was 13, including a blues rock band called Kashiro, before forming Within Temptation with Robert Westerholt
1996.
and cinematic. Her vocals play a major role in the band's sound, despite having never received formal vocal training. Sharon sings in the mezzo-soprano
range but her vocal quality is light and lyric despite her range.
Before Within Temptation became famous, Sharon worked for a fashion company. As the band became more successful with their hit single Ice Queen, Sharon left the fashion industry to focus on music. She utilises her fashion expertise by designing her stage costumes and the band's merchandise.
, De Heideroosjes, and Delain
. She sang the part of Anna Held in Tobias Sammet
's Avantasia
projects, and the part of the Indian on Ayreon
's rock opera Into the Electric Castle
. She sang the vocals of one Timo Tolkki
song, "Are You The One?", co-wrote and provided the vocals for the track "In And Out Of Love" from Armin van Buuren's 2008 album Imagine
, and sang on the track "No Compliance" for Delain
's album Lucidity
, as well as working with the band Voyage on the track "Frozen" (not to be confused with the Within Temptation
song of the same title
).
have a daughter, Eva Luna, who was born on 7 December 2005, and with whom Sharon was pregnant during The Silent Force
tour. They currently live near Hilversum
, Netherlands
with two cats, Haplo and Lola. On 22 February 2009, Sharon announced that she was pregnant with her second child, Robin Aiden Westerholt, whose birth was announced on the band's official website on 1 June 2009. Going by the name of Aiden, he was born premature at 32 weeks and 6 days. On November 26, 2010, Sharon announced that she was expecting another child which, due to complications with her previous pregnancies, meant that the band's 2011 tour dates would be rescheduled from Spring till Autumn. The birth of her son, Logan Arwin, was announced on 31 March 2011.
Symphonic metal
Symphonic metal is a term used to describe heavy metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that are either borrowed from classical music or, as with progressive rock music, create a style reminiscent of it, e.g...
/rock
Symphonic rock
Symphonic rock is a sub-genre of progressive rock. Since early in progressive rock's history, the term has been used sometimes to distinguish more classically influenced progressive rock from the more psychedelic and experimental forms of progressive rock....
band Within Temptation
Within Temptation
Within Temptation is a Dutch symphonic gothic metal/rock band founded in 1996 by vocalist Sharon den Adel and guitarist Robert Westerholt. Their music is described as symphonic metal, although their earlier material, such as Enter, was gothic metal. In an interview, Den Adel said they fell into a...
. She has performed with various bands since she was 13, including a blues rock band called Kashiro, before forming Within Temptation with Robert Westerholt
Robert Westerholt
Robert Westerholt is a Dutch musician, known as the guitarist, backing vocalist and co-founder of the symphonic metal band Within Temptation. He also writes music for the band, along with the band's vocalist, and his partner, Sharon den Adel...
1996.
Within Temptation
Together with her partner, Robert Westerholt, den Adel is one of the founding members of Within Temptation. She has defined their work as epicEpic poetry
An epic is a lengthy narrative poem, ordinarily concerning a serious subject containing details of heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation. Oral poetry may qualify as an epic, and Albert Lord and Milman Parry have argued that classical epics were fundamentally an oral poetic form...
and cinematic. Her vocals play a major role in the band's sound, despite having never received formal vocal training. Sharon sings in the mezzo-soprano
Mezzo-soprano
A mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above...
range but her vocal quality is light and lyric despite her range.
Before Within Temptation became famous, Sharon worked for a fashion company. As the band became more successful with their hit single Ice Queen, Sharon left the fashion industry to focus on music. She utilises her fashion expertise by designing her stage costumes and the band's merchandise.
Collaborations with other artists
Sharon den Adel has performed on-stage and in the studio with several notable bands, including Armin van Buuren, 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:...
, De Heideroosjes, and Delain
Delain
Delain is a Dutch symphonic metal band. The band was founded by the ex-keyboardist of Within Temptation, Martijn Westerholt.-Founding:Delain was founded by Martijn Westerholt and Charlotte Wessels. Westerholt is the ex-keyboardist and brother of one of the founders of Within Temptation, Robert...
. She sang the part of Anna Held in 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 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"...
projects, and the part of the Indian on Ayreon
Ayreon
Ayreon is a project by Dutch composer and musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen.Ayreon's musical style derives mostly from heavy metal and progressive rock, but combines them with genres like folk, classical and electronica...
's rock opera Into the Electric Castle
Into the Electric Castle
Into the Electric Castle is a progressive metal two-disc album released in 1998 by Dutch multi-instrumentalist Arjen A. Lucassen. It is the third album of his Ayreon project....
. She sang the vocals of one Timo Tolkki
Timo Tolkki
Timo Tapio Tolkki is a Finnish musician best known as the former guitarist, songwriter, and producer of the power metal band Stratovarius. He left Stratovarius in 2008 and formed a new band, Revolution Renaissance. To this day, with his tenure extending for more than twenty years, Tolkki was the...
song, "Are You The One?", co-wrote and provided the vocals for the track "In And Out Of Love" from Armin van Buuren's 2008 album Imagine
Imagine (Armin van Buuren album)
-Credits:*Track 1, 3, 5: Guitar by Eller van Buuren.*Track 2: Vocals by Chris Jones.*Track 3: Vocals by Jaren Cerf.*Track 4: Sample vocals by Denise Rivera...
, and sang on the track "No Compliance" for Delain
Delain
Delain is a Dutch symphonic metal band. The band was founded by the ex-keyboardist of Within Temptation, Martijn Westerholt.-Founding:Delain was founded by Martijn Westerholt and Charlotte Wessels. Westerholt is the ex-keyboardist and brother of one of the founders of Within Temptation, Robert...
's album Lucidity
Lucidity (album)
Lucidity is the debut full-length album by the Dutch symphonic metal band, Delain. It was released on September 4, 2006 by Roadrunner Records. It was released in the USA by Sensory Records on June 22, 2010.The album features many guest artists...
, as well as working with the band Voyage on the track "Frozen" (not to be confused with the Within Temptation
Within Temptation
Within Temptation is a Dutch symphonic gothic metal/rock band founded in 1996 by vocalist Sharon den Adel and guitarist Robert Westerholt. Their music is described as symphonic metal, although their earlier material, such as Enter, was gothic metal. In an interview, Den Adel said they fell into a...
song of the same title
Frozen (Within Temptation song)
"Frozen" is the second single from the Within Temptation album The Heart of Everything . The single was released in Europe on June 11, 2007. The song and the video both deal with the issue of domestic abuse...
).
Personal life
Sharon den Adel and long-term partner Robert WesterholtRobert Westerholt
Robert Westerholt is a Dutch musician, known as the guitarist, backing vocalist and co-founder of the symphonic metal band Within Temptation. He also writes music for the band, along with the band's vocalist, and his partner, Sharon den Adel...
have a daughter, Eva Luna, who was born on 7 December 2005, and with whom Sharon was pregnant during The Silent Force
The Silent Force
The Silent Force is the third studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation, released on November 15, 2004, by GUN Records. This album is the first to feature Ruud Jolie on lead guitar, as well as Martijn Spierenburg on keyboards, after Martijn Westerholt had to leave the band due to...
tour. They currently live near Hilversum
Hilversum
is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Located in the region called "'t Gooi", it is the largest town in that area. It is surrounded by heathland, woods, meadows, lakes, and smaller villages...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
with two cats, Haplo and Lola. On 22 February 2009, Sharon announced that she was pregnant with her second child, Robin Aiden Westerholt, whose birth was announced on the band's official website on 1 June 2009. Going by the name of Aiden, he was born premature at 32 weeks and 6 days. On November 26, 2010, Sharon announced that she was expecting another child which, due to complications with her previous pregnancies, meant that the band's 2011 tour dates would be rescheduled from Spring till Autumn. The birth of her son, Logan Arwin, was announced on 31 March 2011.
Studio albums
- Enter (1997)
- Mother EarthMother Earth (album)Mother Earth is the second studio album by Dutch symphonic metal/rock band Within Temptation. Originally released on December 4, 2000 in the Netherlands, and August 21, 2001 in other parts of Europe, it quickly became a success in the band's heartland, reaching platinum status in the Netherlands...
(2000) - The Silent ForceThe Silent ForceThe Silent Force is the third studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation, released on November 15, 2004, by GUN Records. This album is the first to feature Ruud Jolie on lead guitar, as well as Martijn Spierenburg on keyboards, after Martijn Westerholt had to leave the band due to...
(2004) - The Heart of EverythingThe Heart of EverythingThe Heart of Everything is the fourth studio album by Dutch symphonic metal/rock band Within Temptation, released by GUN Records on March 12, 2007 in Europe...
(2007) - The UnforgivingThe UnforgivingThe Unforgiving is the fifth studio album by Dutch symphonic metal/rock band Within Temptation, released by Roadrunner Records from 25 March 2011. The album is released alongside a comic book series and a series of short films, to encompass a concept story...
(2011)
Singles and EPs
- RestlessRestless (Within Temptation song)"Restless" is the very first single of the Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation. It is taken as the first and only single from their debut album Enter. Although the song was released as a single, it never entered the charts, just like their following single, Our Farewell...
(1997) - The DanceThe Dance (EP)The Dance is the first EP from Dutch Gothic Metal band Within Temptation.It was released after the single "Restless" and the album Enter. The sound is rather gothic and melancholic, unlike the later albums, e.g. Mother Earth and The Silent Force...
(EP) (1998) - Our FarewellOur Farewell"Our Farewell" is the first single of the Netherlands symphonic metal/rock band Within Temptation from their second studio album Mother Earth. Although the song was released as a single, it never entered the charts, just like their previous single, Restless...
(2001) - Ice Queen (2001)
- Mother EarthMother Earth (Within Temptation song)"Mother Earth" is the third single of Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation from their second studio album, Mother Earth. The song peaked at #14 on the Germany Singles Top 100....
(2002) - Running Up that HillRunning Up That Hill (EP)"Running Up that Hill" is a single released by Dutch symphonic metal/rock band Within Temptation in 2003, covering the Kate Bush song from 1985. The song debuted at #9 in the Dutch charts on 17 May 2003...
(EP) (2003) - Stand My GroundStand My Ground"Stand My Ground" is the first single from Dutch symphonic metal/rock band Within Temptation's The Silent Force. The song is also included on the U.S. edition of the band's 2007 album The Heart of Everything. It became a top 10 hit in 3 countries and became a top 40 hit in 4 other countries...
(2004) - Memories (2005)
- AngelsAngels (Within Temptation song)"Angels" is the third single of Dutch symphonic metal/rock band Within Temptation from their album The Silent Force. It peaked at #1 in Finland and #1 in the Netherlands. It is also one of their most successful singles in the U.S...
(2005)
- What Have You DoneWhat Have You Done"What Have You Done" is the first single from Dutch symphonic metal/rock band Within Temptation's fourth studio album The Heart of Everything . The song features guest vocals from Life of Agony's lead singer Keith Caputo and it was released as the album's first single in early 2007 . It became...
(2007) - FrozenFrozen (Within Temptation song)"Frozen" is the second single from the Within Temptation album The Heart of Everything . The single was released in Europe on June 11, 2007. The song and the video both deal with the issue of domestic abuse...
(2007) - The HowlingThe Howling (EP)The other four tracks on the EP are popular singles from Within Temptation's third studio album, The Silent Force. The disc is also an Enhanced CD which contains the video for "What Have You Done"....
(compilation/EP) (2007) - All I NeedAll I Need (Within Temptation song)"All I Need" is a power ballad written by Sharon den Adel and Robert Westerholt for Within Temptation's fourth studio album The Heart of Everything...
(2007) - ForgivenForgiven (Within Temptation song)"Forgiven" is the fourth single from the Dutch symphonic metal/rock band Within Temptation's fourth album The Heart of Everything. It was released to promote their upcoming DVD, Black Symphony as well as being a single off the album...
(2008) - UtopiaUtopia (Within Temptation song)"Utopia" is the first single from the Dutch symphonic metal/rock band Within Temptation's live album An Acoustic Night at the Theatre. The song features guest vocals from Chris Jones, a British singer...
(2009) - FasterFaster (song)"Faster" is the first single from Dutch symphonic metal/rock band Within Temptation's album The Unforgiving. It had its worldwide radio première on 96.3 Rock Radio on 21 January 2011 and, within two days, the song's audio clip gained almost 200,000 views on Youtube.The song's accompanying music...
(2011) - SinéadSinéad (Within Temptation song)"Sinéad" is the second single from Within Temptation's fifth studio album, The Unforgiving, released on 15 July 2011.. Its release was announced alongside the unveiling of its artwork on 15 April 2011...
(2011)
DVD
- Mother Earth TourMother Earth TourMother Earth Tour is Dutch metal band Within Temptation's first live DVD. It was released as a double DVD, including a live CD with the tracklist of the first DVD...
(2002) - The Silent Force TourThe Silent Force TourThe Silent Force Tour is a double DVD which was released by the symphonic metal/rock band Within Temptation on November 18, 2005. In addition to the standard double DVD release, the deluxe edition includes a bonus CD....
(2005) - Black SymphonyBlack SymphonyBlack Symphony is a live album and DVD from Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation. It was released worldwide on September 22–24, 2008 and is available on 2-disc DVD, 2-disc CD, and Blu-ray.- Information :...
(2008)
Live albums
- Black Symphony (2008)
- An Acoustic Night at the TheatreAn Acoustic Night At The TheatreAn Acoustic Night at the Theatre is the second live album by Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation that has been released in October–November 2009.-History:...
(2009)
Guest appearances
- Embrace (Voyage, 1996) "Frozen"
- Bash (Silicon Head, 1997) "Hear"
- Into the Electric CastleInto the Electric CastleInto the Electric Castle is a progressive metal two-disc album released in 1998 by Dutch multi-instrumentalist Arjen A. Lucassen. It is the third album of his Ayreon project....
(AyreonAyreonAyreon is a project by Dutch composer and musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen.Ayreon's musical style derives mostly from heavy metal and progressive rock, but combines them with genres like folk, classical and electronica...
, 1998) "Isis & Osiris", "Amazing Flight", "The Decision Tree", "Tunnel of Light", "The Garden of Emotions", "Cosmic Fusion", "Another Time, Another Space" - SchizoSchizo (album)Schizo is the fifth official studio album by the Heideroosjes. The album has a mix of English and Dutch songs, which are mostly political. It contains a Spice Girls cover "Wannabe". The Heideroosjes play this song as a mocking statement at their live shows...
(De Heideroosjes, 1999) "Regular Day in Bosnia" - Prison of DesirePrison of DesirePrison of Desire is the debut album by Dutch symphonic metal band After Forever. It was released in 2000 in Europe. The album contains the first four installments of "The Embrace That Smothers" collection of songs by Mark Jansen...
(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:...
, 2000) "Beyond Me" - The Metal OperaThe Metal OperaThe Metal Opera is the first full-length album by Tobias Sammet's side project opera, Avantasia. It is a concept album and a rock opera, and further information on the story can be found here.- Track listing :All music and lyrics by Tobias Sammet...
(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"...
, 2000) "Farewell" - Inside (OrphanageOrphanage (band)- History :The band formed in 1993 and released their first demos Morph and Druid . Orphanage then recorded their first full album Oblivion and one year later released their second album, By Time Alone. Then released 1997 the band the EP At The Mountains Of Madness and worked three years on the...
, 2000) "Behold" - Architecture of the Imagination (Paralysis, 2000) "Fly", "Architecture of the Imagination"
- Fast Forward (De Heideroosjes, 2001) "Last Call to Humanity"
- Fooly Dressed (Aemen, 2002) "Time", "Waltz"
- The Metal Opera Part IIThe Metal Opera Part IIThe Metal Opera Pt. II is the second full-length album by Tobias Sammet's side project opera, Avantasia. It is a concept album and a rock opera, and further information on the story can be found here. The songs carry on the story begun in The Metal Opera, with the same characters...
(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"...
, 2002) "Into the Unknown" - Hymn to LifeHymn to Life (album)Hymn to Life is the second solo album by Timo Tolkki. Unlike the first one, Classical Variations and Themes, Hymn to Life does not present Tolkki as a fast and classical heavy metal guitarist, but as a diverse songwriter. The album deals with Tolkki's personal beliefs and thoughts about life and...
(Timo TolkkiTimo TolkkiTimo Tapio Tolkki is a Finnish musician best known as the former guitarist, songwriter, and producer of the power metal band Stratovarius. He left Stratovarius in 2008 and formed a new band, Revolution Renaissance. To this day, with his tenure extending for more than twenty years, Tolkki was the...
, 2002) "Are You the One?" - Pinkpop 2005 (De Heideroosjes, 2005) "Candy (Iggy Pop Cover)"
- LucidityLucidity (album)Lucidity is the debut full-length album by the Dutch symphonic metal band, Delain. It was released on September 4, 2006 by Roadrunner Records. It was released in the USA by Sensory Records on June 22, 2010.The album features many guest artists...
(DelainDelainDelain is a Dutch symphonic metal band. The band was founded by the ex-keyboardist of Within Temptation, Martijn Westerholt.-Founding:Delain was founded by Martijn Westerholt and Charlotte Wessels. Westerholt is the ex-keyboardist and brother of one of the founders of Within Temptation, Robert...
, 2006) "No Compliance" - "CrucifyCrucify (song)"Crucify" is a song by American singer-songwriter and musician Tori Amos. It was released as the fifth single from her debut studio album Little Earthquakes. It was released on May 12, 1992 by Atlantic Records in North America and on June 8 by EastWest Records in the UK.-Background:The song served...
" (De Laatste Show-band, Tori AmosTori AmosTori Amos is an American pianist, singer-songwriter and composer. She was at the forefront of a number of female singer-songwriters in the early 1990s and was noteworthy early in her career as one of the few alternative rock performers to use a piano as her primary instrument...
cover live) - ImagineImagine (Armin van Buuren album)-Credits:*Track 1, 3, 5: Guitar by Eller van Buuren.*Track 2: Vocals by Chris Jones.*Track 3: Vocals by Jaren Cerf.*Track 4: Sample vocals by Denise Rivera...
(Armin van Buuren, 2008) "In and Out of Love" - The Metal Opera: Pt 1 & 2 - Gold EditionThe Metal Opera: Pt 1 & 2 - Gold EditionThe Metal Opera: Pt 1 & 2 - Gold Edition is a box set by Avantasia, released through the band's former label AFM Records on March 6, 2008. The set contains Avantasia's first two albums on two gold CDs, a 44-page booklet with the storyline, rare photos, liner notes, and an interview with project...
(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"...
, 2008) "Farewell", "Into the Unknown" - Pure AirPure Air (album)Pure Air is the second release of the band Agua de Annique formed by the former The Gathering vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen. It was released in 2009. It contains tracks from their first album Air, and also songs featuring Anneke with other artists .- Tracklist :#"The Blower's Daughter Pure Air is...
(Agua de AnniqueAgua de AnniqueAgua de Annique is the solo project of the former The Gathering vocalist, Anneke van Giersbergen.- History :The project was announced June 5, 2007, the same day that both The Gathering and Anneke van Giersbergen issued separate announcements that van Giersbergen would leave the band in August.She...
, 2009) "Somewhere" (Duet) - Night of the Proms 2009 (John MilesJohn Miles (musician)John Miles is an English rock music vocalist, songwriter, guitarist and keyboard player, best known for his 1976 Top 3 UK hit single, "Music".-Career:...
, Katona TwinsKatona TwinsThe Katona Twins are a celebrated Hungarian guitar duo, comprising Peter and Zoltán Katona, identical twins. They have performed at prestigious venues and at major music festivals around the world...
, Sharon den Adel) "Stairway to Heaven" - Truth Or DareTruth or Dare (Oomph! album)Truth Or Dare is the fourth compilation album by the German band Oomph!, released under GUN. The band re-recorded 14 of their songs in English. The songs "God is A Popstar" and "The Power of Love" had already been recorded in English previously. Some of the titles as well as lyrics have been...
(Oomph!Oomph!Oomph! is a German rock band that was formed in Wolfsburg, Germany in 1989. The band is considered to be the original Neue Deutsche Härte musical group. In the 22-year history of the band, there have been no line-up changes.-Early years :...
, 2010) "Land Ahead" - For All We KnowFor All We Know (album)For All We Know is Ruud Jolie’s solo project. Jolie is best known for being the guitarist for Within Temptation. Written over a four year period this album contains 12 original songs and features several guest musicians.-Track listing:# Blind Me...
(Ruud Jolie, 2011) "Keep Breathing"
External links
- Within Temptation official website (English, Dutch and German)
- Official Website profile
- Discogs Profile