Mark Jansen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mark Jansen
Jansen performing in 2022
Background information
Birth name	Markus H. J. Jansen
Born	(1978-12-15) 15 December 1978 (age 46) Reuver, Limburg, Netherlands
Genres	Symphonic metal, progressive metal, death metal
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Guitar, vocals
Years active	1995–present

Markus Hubertus Johannes Jansen (born on December 15, 1978) is a talented Dutch musician. He is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Mark is well-known in the world of symphonic metal music. He has been a key member of several bands. These include After Forever (from 1995 to 2002), Epica (from 2002 until now), and MaYaN (from 2010 until now).

In both After Forever and Epica, Mark uses a special singing style called "growled vocals." This is a deep, rough vocal sound. He often sings alongside female vocalists, like Floor Jansen in After Forever and Simone Simons in Epica.

Mark Jansen's Music Journey

Starting with After Forever (1995–2002)

Mark Jansen helped start the band After Forever with Sander Gommans. He was one of the main songwriters for their first two albums. These albums were called Prison of Desire and Decipher.

While Mark was with After Forever, the band's music was greatly inspired by his love for movie soundtracks and classical music. The songs often explored ideas about religion and morals.

Mark left After Forever in 2002 because he had different ideas about the music. He wanted to mix classical instruments and choirs with heavy "death metal" sounds. The other band members wanted a more direct and aggressive style. These differences led to Mark leaving the band. He felt it was a big shock at the time.

Creating Epica (2002–Present)

Mark Jansen playing guitar at Wacken Open Air in 2018.

After leaving After Forever, Mark started looking for musicians for a new project. He wanted to create a more classical and symphonic type of music. This new band was first called Sahara Dust.

In 2003, Simone Simons became the lead singer. She was Mark's girlfriend at the time. The band's name was later changed to Epica. This name was inspired by an album from the band Kamelot.

With Epica, Mark continued to combine symphonic metal with other styles. Over time, the band added strong influences from death metal. They also started using sounds from progressive metal in their music. Epica's songs often include parts from thrash metal and groove metal. They also use fast drumming like in black metal and powerful moments like in power metal. Sometimes, you can hear influences from Arabic, Chinese, and Celtic music.

Epica is also known for its beautiful singing melodies. These melodies are often easy to remember and very emotional. The band's lyrics talk about many different topics. These include philosophy, psychology, science, and world events. Epica often uses a full orchestra and opera choirs in their music.

Forming MaYaN (2010–Present)

In 2010, Mark Jansen announced a new band called MaYaN. He started this band with Jack Driessen, who was also in After Forever. Mark chose the name MaYaN because he was fascinated by the ancient Maya civilization.

MaYaN's songs often discuss religion, politics, and world events. They also explore ideas about philosophy, meditation, and inner struggles. The band has released three studio albums so far: Quarterpast (2011), Antagonise (2014), and Dhyana (2018).

In MaYaN, Mark sings but does not play guitar. The band features many different singers. They use a mix of clear singing, "growled vocals," and screams. The music combines heavy metal and symphonic metal sounds.

United Metal Minds (2018–Present)

Mark Jansen also started an international music project called United Metal Minds. This project brings together musicians from different parts of the world.

Mark Jansen's Life

Mark Jansen was born in Reuver, Netherlands. He studied psychology and has a master's degree. When he was younger, Mark wanted to be a cyclist. However, his interest in music began after he saw a band called Gorefest perform when he was 15 years old.

Since 2011, Mark has been in a relationship with Italian singer Laura Macrì. They welcomed their first daughter, Ilse, on November 12, 2023, in Italy. Both parents shared the happy news on social media. Before this, Mark had a relationship with Simone Simons, which ended in 2005. He first met Simone online when he was looking for a singer for a project.

Music Albums

After Forever

Studio albums

• Prison of Desire (2000)
• Decipher (2001)

Epica

Studio albums

• The Phantom Agony (2003)
• Consign to Oblivion (2005)
• The Divine Conspiracy (2007)
• Design Your Universe (2009)
• Requiem for the Indifferent (2012)
• The Quantum Enigma (2014)
• The Holographic Principle (2016)
• Omega (2021)
• Aspiral (2025)

Live & Soundtrack albums

• The Score – An Epic Journey (2005)
• The Classical Conspiracy (2009)

MaYaN

Studio albums

• Quarterpast (2011)
• Antagonise (2014)
• Dhyana (2018)

See also

In Spanish: Mark Jansen para niños