Don de Leaumont of The Great Southern Brainfart recently conducted an interview with vocalist Simone Simons of Dutch symphonic metallers EPICA. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

The Great Southern Brainfart: We’ve seen so many talented people in all genres of music just crumble and die because of drug and alcohol abuse. Is your anti-drug stance something that you try to influence your fans with?

Simone: I don’t do drugs, I don’t smoke and I drink very little alcohol but I do eat candy and cupcakes. [laughs] I think that a lot of musicians start using drugs not because they want to be cool but because they can’t deal with the pressure of things. I know myself and sometimes I am so tired to the bone and I feel like, “I need energy and I can’t make it anymore.” Those artists turn to drugs because that’s what keeps them awake, gives them energy and I can understand that it is tempting.

The Great Southern Brainfart: Were your parents supportive of you performing heavy metal music?

Simone: I didn’t tell my parents at first. I lied to them. [laughs] I had a show with my choir on the same day that we had our first EPICA show and I didn’t know what to do so I had to tell my parents. My dad was concerned about my education. My mom loved it but my dad was a little bit skeptical about it. Now he sees that I’ve made the right choice. Every parent wants the best for their child and tries to keep them away from making mistakes.

The Great Southern Brainfart: When touring in America, what is your favorite kind of food to eat?

Simone: America definitely has the best hamburgers around so I always try to eat a couple of burgers while there. I have to set a limit of five burgers for a whole tour because I do like a lot of cheese on my burgers. I don’t want to look like a burger after eating them so much. [laughs] I love burgers and I love your frozen yogurt. I love cupcakes. I have my list of foods that I always have to eat when I’m in American and of course I love it that there is a Starbucks on every corner. I have to have my tea with milk and I love those little cake pops. Oh my God, those are dangerous. [laughs]

The Great Southern Brainfart: They are very dangerous. I could eat like seven of those things.

Simone: [laughs] Yeah. That’s your whole day’s worth of calories and you’re still hungry afterwards. I love that. America has great food and I always shop like crazy too. Everything there is almost half the price of what we pay for things here. I love hot tamales and I love Vitamin Water. I always come with a full suitcase and then I have to buy another suitcase to fill up because I buy so much stuff there. America is such a wonderland [laughs].

The Great Southern Brainfart: Simone, you are such a positive thinking and speaking person.

Simone: Aw, thank you. I’m just a jolly person by nature. Positivity gives you more energy than negativity and that’s why I try to be away from people who are negative all the time. You can get drawn into that negative spiral. If you think positive you can always get out of nasty situations.

The Great Southern Brainfart: Last but not least, do you have any advice for up-and-coming musicians trying to make it in the music world?

Simone: I’m really lucky that so many of my dreams came true and I wish the same for other people. I encourage them to work hard and to not think too much about it. Follow your heart and just know that if you fall down you will always get your feet back on the ground. Never think that you are never going to make it or that you’re a loser. That is negative thinking and that will not get you anywhere except for standing still and not moving forward.

Read the entire interview from The Great Southern Brainfart. Source: Blabbermouth.net