Helena Iren Michaelsen (born 2 June 1977) is a Norwegian singer-songwriter, known as the frontwoman for European symphonic metal band Imperia and her solo project Angel. She was the lead singer of the Gothic metal band Trail of Tears from 1997 to 2000, and was briefly the singer of Dutch symphonic metal band Sahara Dust (later renamed to Epica).
Michaelsen was born in Evje, and started off as the female vocalist in 1997 for Norwegian gothic metal band Trail of Tears, succeeding after Ales Vik who departed from the band that same year. Up until that year, the band had been called Natt. A year later, Michaelsen and the band recorded their debut album Disclosure in Red in which she sang contralto vocals and contributed to writing lyrics. In 2000, she again took role of contralto vocals in their second album Profoundemonium, which was their last album to feature Helena.
Soon after, she was replaced by Cathrine Paulsen in May of that year.
Sahara Dust (2002–2003)
Two years after leaving Trail of Tears, she was selected by Mark Jansen (who had just left After Forever) as vocalist for his new band Sahara Dust; but she left not long after, replaced by then-unknown Simone Simons.[1] The band was renamed Epica, inspired by the album of the same name by Tampa, Florida-based Kamelot that was released the same year.
Michaelsen was not present during the Sahara Dust reunion in 2022. She has also stated that she doesn't think much about her time with the band as it was brief.[2]
Imperia and Angel (2004–present)
After leaving Sahara Dust, Michaelsen teamed up with Steve Wolz (who was to be the drummer for Sahara Dust) and the pair relocated to Norway. Upon their return to The Netherlands they formed the band Imperia.
As Imperia, Michaelsen and Wolz recorded a cover of "The Lotus Eaters" by Dead Can Dance for a double tribute album with the same title released through the Greek label Black Lotus Records. The track subsequently was included in Imperia's 2004 album The Ancient Dance of Qetesh as a bonus track.
As of 2022, Michaelsen has released six studio albums with Imperia and three with Angel.
Personal life
Helena's birth name was Margrethe Jacobsen, but she had changed it at the age of 18.
Michaelsen has 2 children—a son named Joackim (b. 1995), and a daughter named Angel (b. 2006). Her daughter was kidnapped in 2014, and hasn't had contact with Michaelsen since 2018.[3]
She's married to her Angel bandmate Oliver Phillips.
^"Epica". Metal Storm.ee. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
^"Interview with Helena Michaelsen". lyricalspellmagazine.jimdo.com. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
^"An Interview With Helena Iren Michaelsen". femmemetalwebzine.com. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
^"Interview with Helena Michaelsen & Single Review". lyricalspellmagazine.com. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
December 27, 2022
helena, iren, michaelsen, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, a. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Helena Iren Michaelsen news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message Helena Iren Michaelsen born 2 June 1977 is a Norwegian singer songwriter known as the frontwoman for European symphonic metal band Imperia and her solo project Angel She was the lead singer of the Gothic metal band Trail of Tears from 1997 to 2000 and was briefly the singer of Dutch symphonic metal band Sahara Dust later renamed to Epica Helena MichaelsenBackground informationBirth nameMargrethe JacobsenBorn 1977 06 02 2 June 1977 age 45 Evje NorwayGenresSymphonic metal gothic metal symphonic black metalOccupation s Singer songwriterInstrument s VocalsYears active1997 presentLabelsMassacre Records Contents 1 Musical career 1 1 Trail of Tears 1997 2000 1 2 Sahara Dust 2002 2003 1 3 Imperia and Angel 2004 present 2 Personal life 3 Discography 3 1 Imperia 3 2 Angel 3 3 Trail of Tears 4 ReferencesMusical career EditTrail of Tears 1997 2000 Edit Michaelsen was born in Evje and started off as the female vocalist in 1997 for Norwegian gothic metal band Trail of Tears succeeding after Ales Vik who departed from the band that same year Up until that year the band had been called Natt A year later Michaelsen and the band recorded their debut album Disclosure in Red in which she sang contralto vocals and contributed to writing lyrics In 2000 she again took role of contralto vocals in their second album Profoundemonium which was their last album to feature Helena Soon after she was replaced by Cathrine Paulsen in May of that year Sahara Dust 2002 2003 Edit Two years after leaving Trail of Tears she was selected by Mark Jansen who had just left After Forever as vocalist for his new band Sahara Dust but she left not long after replaced by then unknown Simone Simons 1 The band was renamed Epica inspired by the album of the same name by Tampa Florida based Kamelot that was released the same year Michaelsen was not present during the Sahara Dust reunion in 2022 She has also stated that she doesn t think much about her time with the band as it was brief 2 Imperia and Angel 2004 present Edit After leaving Sahara Dust Michaelsen teamed up with Steve Wolz who was to be the drummer for Sahara Dust and the pair relocated to Norway Upon their return to The Netherlands they formed the band Imperia As Imperia Michaelsen and Wolz recorded a cover of The Lotus Eaters by Dead Can Dance for a double tribute album with the same title released through the Greek label Black Lotus Records The track subsequently was included in Imperia s 2004 album The Ancient Dance of Qetesh as a bonus track As of 2022 Michaelsen has released six studio albums with Imperia and three with Angel Personal life EditHelena s birth name was Margrethe Jacobsen but she had changed it at the age of 18 Michaelsen has 2 children a son named Joackim b 1995 and a daughter named Angel b 2006 Her daughter was kidnapped in 2014 and hasn t had contact with Michaelsen since 2018 3 She s married to her Angel bandmate Oliver Phillips Discography EditImperia Edit Studio albums The Ancient Dance of Qetesh 2004 The Queen of Light 2007 Secret Passion 2011 Tears of Silence 2015 Flames of Eternity 2019 The Last Horizon 2021 Angel Edit Studio albums A Woman s Diary Chapter I 2005 A Woman s Diary Chapter II 2020 4 Trail of Tears Edit Studio albums Disclosure in Red 1998 Profoundemonium 2000 References Edit Epica Metal Storm ee Retrieved 27 September 2022 Interview with Helena Michaelsen lyricalspellmagazine jimdo com Retrieved 27 September 2022 An Interview With Helena Iren Michaelsen femmemetalwebzine com Retrieved 27 September 2022 Interview with Helena Michaelsen amp Single Review lyricalspellmagazine com Retrieved 3 May 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Helena Iren Michaelsen amp oldid 1122455387, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
