Simone Walraven

Simone Walraven is a radio- and TV presenter, actress, filmmaker and writer. She was born in Amsterdam, Holland. In 1982, 15-year-old Simone began her career in journalism and music, working as a newsreader and DJ at the popular Dutch pirate station, Radio Decibel. Using the alias "Sipi Dubrowski", she became part of a diverse talent pool of future Dutch media stars, among them Jeroen van Inkel and Adam Curry. After graduating from the Athenaeum in 1984, Simone was invited by the Veronica Broadcasting Organization to produce and present an informative weekly radio show, Club Veronica Trend. In 1985 Simone made her debut as a presenter on Dutch national television with Schoolplein ("Schoolyard"), a program made by and for high school students. Simone co-hosted the show with Alfred Lagarde. During 1986, more programs were added to Simone Walraven's repertoire such as Oh, Wat Een Nacht ("Oh, What A Night"), a 3-hour music radio show every Friday night. She also became guest-presenter on Veronica's hugely popular music television show Countdown, hosted by fellow Decibel veteran Adam Curry. In 1987 Curry left Veronica to host MTV in the United States. Simone succeeded him to become the first female presenter of Countdown, popularly known as Europe's #1 Rock Show. She also presented five weekly international editions of Countdown for Europa Television, broadcast to an estimated audience of 15 million viewers in countries across Europe and East Asia. Alongside her flourishing career in entertainment, Simone ventured into print journalism with monthly articles and columns for the official Club Veronica and Countdown magazines. Simone made her debut as a film actress with the female lead role in the Dutch comedy Donna Donna. Other special projects in 1987 included the presentation of the live broadcast of Veronica's Muziekdag ("Veronica's Music Day"), a televised event starring many national and international artists. Simone stayed close to her radio roots throughout 1987 and 1988, with a music show every Friday morning on Veronica Hit Radio 3. Shortly after her 22nd birthday, in September of 1988, Simone took leave from the public eye to focus on her education and personal projects. During 1989, Simone traveled to Central Africa to host Water In The Third World, a UNICEF documentary about the construction of basic water facilities in Rwanda. She also joined forces with her future husband, Johnny Hates Jazz singer/songwriter Clark Datchler, and contributed backing vocals to his first solo album, Raindance. Simone's experience in Africa directly influenced her decision to pursue a higher education. In search of a greater understanding of the world, she studied history at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. She also took a foundation course in Art, with a focus on drawing and photography. In 1990 Simone married Clark Datchler and soon became a mother. For the next twenty years, she and her husband ran their independent music production company, with Simone acting as Executive Producer for Clark's numerous solo projects. She also developed her skills as a storyteller behind the camera and as a film editor. While in the UK in 2008, Simone created the online mini-documentary The Unknown Poet, highlighting the hidden poetic genius of a London cab driver. Additionally, two of her short films about Clark's environmental songs, Tomorrow and Power, were featured at the 2008 Clean Tech Media Awards in Berlin. After the launch of her personal website in the Autumn of 2008, Simone was contacted by ex-Veronica colleague and renowned Dutch DJ, Rob Stenders, with an invitation to be part of an all-star lineup for his free-format station, KX Radio. From a mobile recording studio located wherever she lays her hat, Simone currently presents the hour-long music bonanza ConneKXions every Friday morning. In March 2009, Simone hosted The Edison Music Awards at the World Trade Center in Rotterdam. Anno 2010, Simone Walraven continues to work as a media professional in North America, the British Isles and Holland. She is one of the four members of the jury panel on the Dutch talent show Popstars for SBS6.