The Netherlands has long been a powerhouse in the symphonic and gothic metal scenes, producing an impressive lineup of iconic female vocalists. Ever since I first heard Charlotte Wessels on April Rain with her former band Delain back in 2009, she’s been one of my all-time favourite voices in metal.
In addition to fronting Delain from 2004 to 2021, Wessels was part of To Elysium (2000–2005) and the symphonic rock project Phantasma (2015–2017).
She launched her solo career in 2020, and although her departure from Delain was unfortunate, the timing turned out to be strangely fitting. With the pandemic bringing live shows to a standstill and putting immense pressure on collaborative projects, it also created space for introspection and creative freedom—perfect conditions for a solo artist to bloom.
Whenever an artist goes solo, there’s always that question: are they going full acoustic singer-songwriter now? While Wessels has definitely broadened her musical horizons—blending alternative rock, dark pop, and electronic elements—she’s never turned her back on her metal roots. Her first two solo albums, Tales From Six Feet Under (released in two volumes), leaned into a dreamy, ethereal sound. But with her third release, The Obsession (which she toured with here), she brings more weight and punch back into the mix—a confident step closer to her metal origins.
Backed by a Strong Live Band
Charlotte Wessels' live band features several of her former Delain bandmates, forming a cohesive and dynamic ensemble that brings her solo work to life on stage. The current lineup includes:
- Charlotte Wessels – Vocals
- Timo Somers – Guitar and additional arrangements
- Otto Schimmelpenninck van der Oije – Bass
- Joey Marin de Boer – Drums
- Sophia Vernikov – Piano and Hammond organ
This group has been performing together since 2022 and contributed to Wessels' third solo album, The Obsession, released on September 20, 2024. Their collaboration marks a reunion of the Delain members who departed the band in 2021.
Photographing the Event
It was pure joy to finally experience Charlotte Wessels’ music live. The whole show had such a warm, positive energy—thanks in large part to Charlotte’s infectious smile lighting up the stage. That said, her mid-set wardrobe change into an “I Love Crying” t-shirt for the song The Crying Room added a wonderfully ironic twist.
The concert was organized by FKP Scorpio, and thanks to them, CrowdSnapper was able to secure a photo pass—so big props for accommodating this!
There was no photo pit for this gig, so all the shots you see here were taken straight from the crowd. It was pretty packed, and I ended up on the sidelines for most of the show, which meant staying alert and ready to catch the band whenever they moved into view. All in all, I think I still managed to capture a solid batch of moments. Feel free to check them out in the gallery below!
Gear Used
Wider Shots
- Camera: Sony a7 III
- Lens: Tamron 28-75/f2.8
Close-Ups
- Camera: Sony a7R II
- Lens: Tamron 70-180/f2.8
Concert Photo Gallery
