Floor Jansen – ANKH TV

Floor Jansen with Nightwish – Live at Wembley Arena 2015 (Nightwish.)

Floor Jansen (born 21 February 1981) is a Dutch singer, songwriter, and vocal coach, widely regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful vocalists in modern metal. Known for her exceptional ability to move seamlessly between operatic, clean, rock, and harsh vocals, she has become a defining figure in symphonic and progressive metal over the past two decades.

Jansen first gained international recognition as the founding lead vocalist of the symphonic metal band After Forever, which she joined in 1997 at just 16 years old. With After Forever, she helped shape the early European symphonic metal sound, combining heavy guitar riffs with classical influences and progressive song structures. Albums such as Decipher (2001), Invisible Circles (2004), and After Forever (2007) highlighted her vocal growth, lyrical maturity, and increasing creative involvement, as she also contributed as a songwriter.

After the band disbanded in 2009, Floor founded the metal project ReVamp, where she embraced a heavier, more modern metal approach. The albums ReVamp (2010) and Wild Card (2013) showcased a rawer, more aggressive side of her voice, featuring extensive use of harsh vocals alongside melodic singing. During this period, she also collaborated with a wide range of artists and bands, further expanding her stylistic reach.

In 2012, Floor Jansen joined Nightwish, initially as a touring vocalist and officially becoming a full-time member in 2013. Her debut studio album with the band, Endless Forms Most Beautiful (2015), marked a new era for Nightwish, emphasizing cinematic orchestration, progressive elements, and a broader vocal palette. She later appeared on Human. :||: Nature. (2020) and Yesterwynde (2024), solidifying her role as a central creative force within the band. Her live performances—most notably at Wacken Open Air 2013—are frequently cited as career-defining moments, earning praise for their vocal power, control, and emotional intensity.

Beyond metal, Floor has demonstrated remarkable versatility through solo work and mainstream appearances. Her solo album Paragon (2023) explored pop, rock, and symphonic influences, revealing a more personal and melodic side of her artistry. In the Netherlands, she gained widespread public recognition by winning the television show Beste Zangers in 2019, where her interpretations of songs such as “Phantom of the Opera” and “Shallow” went viral and introduced her voice to a broader audience.

Floor Jansen is also known for her openness about vocal technique, health, and artistic longevity, often speaking publicly about the importance of proper training and self-care for singers. Despite facing serious health challenges—including a cancer diagnosis in 2022—she returned to the stage with renewed strength, becoming an inspiration to fans worldwide.

Today, Floor Jansen is celebrated not only as the frontwoman of Nightwish, but as a trailblazer for women in metal, admired for her technical mastery, emotional expressiveness, and ability to transcend genre boundaries while maintaining artistic authenticity.