Juliet Simms
Birth nameJuliet Nicole Simms
Birth dateFebruary 26, 1986 (age 40)
Birth placeSan Francisco, California, U.S.
AliasLilith Czar
OriginClearwater, Florida, U.S.
Genre
Occupation
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instrument
  • Vocalist
  • Guitar
  • Piano
Years active2000–present
LabelEpic, RCA, Umbrella Records, Sony, Paper + Plastick Records, Universal Republic Records, Ju Ju Productions, Sumerian Records
Past member ofAutomatic Loveletter
Websitehttps://www.lilithczarmusic.com/

Juliet Nicole Simms (born February 26, 1986), also known as Lilith Czar, is an American singer and songwriter.

She established a fan base as the front woman of the band Automatic Loveletter. In 2007 – in the band's earliest years – she became friends with Kevin Lyman. This resulted in her being a returning act on the Warped Tour summer circuit. After the summer of 2011 and working the circuit solo for the first time, Simms has since produced her own content as a solo artist.

In 2011, Simms auditioned for Season 2 of NBC's The Voice. She sang "Oh! Darling" by The Beatles for her blind audition, and chose CeeLo Green as her coach. She went on to cover songs such as "Roxanne" by The Police and "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" by James Brown. After placing second on The Voice, Simms signed with Universal Records, and then ultimately left the record label due to lack of creative control.

Simms went on to become an independent solo artist, releasing 3 EPs and several singles and music videos, before signing with Sumerian Records in 2019.

On April 16, 2016, Simms married Black Veil Brides frontman Andy Biersack.

In 2021, she rebranded and now goes by the stage name of Lilith Czar. Lilith Czar released the album Created From Filth and Dust under Sumerian Records in 2021.

Automatic Loveletter

Simms was the front woman and songwriter/guitarist for the band Automatic Loveletter[1] from 2006 to 2011, releasing four EPs and two full-length albums before their disbandment in late 2011. Automatic Loveletter released its debut album, Truth or Dare, on June 22, 2010,[2] followed by the album The Kids Will Take Their Monsters On through an independent record label, Paper & Plastick, on June 23, 2011.[2]

Automatic Loveletter was formed with Simms on guitar and lead vocals, Daniel Currier on drums, and brother Tommy Simms playing bass and producing,[3] with bassist Sean Noll sitting in on occasion in Tommy's home studio in the Tampa Bay area. The band was first called Stars and Scars and recorded its first song together in December 2005, naming the song after the band but written by Simms. They also recorded "Tin Lizzy", written by Tommy Simms.

They were signed by Allison Hagendorf, the host of Fuse TV's The Pop TV Show, who was then working at Epic Records. Epic struggled with the Sony BMG 2005 Payola Scandal and internal problems, finally dropping over 70 bands in 2007. Automatic Loveletter was not dropped but was also not supported for the next year and a half touring in the drummer's Ford Excursion and burning their own copies of their Epic-produced CD with hand painted slip covers to help fund their tours.[citation needed]

Automatic Loveletter recorded their never-released debut EP in 2007 with producer Matt Squire.[4] "He challenged me and I challenged him," Simms said. "I felt very comfortable and that's when the best of me comes out. The entire time was playful and fun and that's what music is about to me — having a good time." Simms took her songbook to Matt Squire and narrowed down the tunes and crafted them to fit together, sometimes taking songs in entirely new directions. "The Answer", for instance, was originally a ballad, but became one of the more upbeat numbers on the album. Currier and lead guitarist Nelson played on the album, Noll officially joining just before some of their first tours together and Tommy Simms occasionally touring with the band to play lead or rhythm guitar in larger venues and outdoor concerts. The band played both the main Bamboozle and Bamboozle Left in 2008.[5]

The tracks "The Answer", "Parker", "August 28th 3:30 A.M.", "Hush" and "Make-Up Smeared Eyes (Acoustic)" were released on their first official EP release in Recover 2007. But after the tour, when Epic was scheduled to release the album Automatic Loveletter, they were told to continue touring and asked by then President Charlie Walk to write more upbeat music.

Instead, Simms submitted a fan favorite "Black Ink Revenge" which was rejected several times for rewrite until it became "My Goodbye" one of the tracks off the upcoming Sony release. "I had been signed to Epic for going on three years, I toured in cars with my completely broke band and was feeling like I disappointed my fans who had been promised music for over a year so I sat in my room for four days re - writing and re - submitting that song like 5 times. I like "My Goodbye" a LOT but it was the result of a lot of pressure and the desire to get an album released."

"My Goodbye", "The Day that Saved Us", and "Hush (New Version)" were quickly released as another self-titled EP just before the final chapter with Epic Records when they fired all the members except Currier before the first headlining tour.

Epic held auditions for new members and hired Jacob Fatoroochi, James Bowen, and Wayne Miller. Halfway through the tour, Epic called Simms and told her that all of the pay for the band was being withdrawn and the band was dropped from the label. Despite this setback, the band pulled together and stayed on to complete the tour. Automatic Loveletter went on to sell out venues like the Knitting Factory in LA and San Francisco. "It was very liberating. After crying my eyes out for a couple hours, I had some of my best show's ever on that tour." The band was picked up by Sony and Simms was asked to write for a new album produced by Josh Abraham.

In 2011, Automatic Loveletter released an entirely acoustic album through Paper + Plastick Records called "The Kids Will Take Their Monsters On". The album was produced by Shane Henderson.[6]

Solo career

The Voice (2012)

Simms was a contestant on the 2012 season of the American television show The Voice.[7] She sang the Beatles' "Oh! Darling" for her blind audition, and chose to be a member of Team Cee Lo.[8]

Simms advanced to the live rounds after defeating Sarah Golden in a duet. In her first live show, she performed "Roxanne" by The Police.[9] During the quarterfinals, Simms covered "Cryin'" by Aerosmith.[10]

Simms was the only female contestant to advance onto the finals, edging out Jamar Rogers, after covering "It's A Man's Man's Man's World". Simms' cover of "It's A Man's Man's Man's World" reached #70 and also attained positions in three other charts on Billboard.[11]

For the finale, Simms sang Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird."[12][13] She placed second behind Jermaine Paul.[14]

Performances on The Voice Season 2
Round in SeasonSong\ArtistResult
Blind Audition"Oh! Darling"The BeatlesCoaches Adam, Christina, and CeeLo turned Joined Coach CeeLo
Battle Round"Stay With Me" (vs Sarah Golden)FacesSaved by CeeLo Green
Live Show 2"Roxanne"The PoliceSaved (Public Vote)
Quarter-Finals"Cryin'"AerosmithBottom 2 (Saved by CeeLo Green)
Last Chance Performance"Torn"Ednaswap
Semi-Finals"It's a Man's Man's Man's World"James BrownSafe (121 Points)
Finale"Crazy"Gnarls BarkleyRunner-Up
"Born to Be Wild" (with CeeLo Green)Steppenwolf
"Free Bird"Lynyrd Skynyrd

Simms' "The Voice Performances" singles released by Universal Republic Records. Made available on iTunes and CD

TitleOriginal ArtistRelease
"Roxanne"The PoliceJanuary 1, 2012
"Oh! Darling"The BeatlesFebruary 5, 2012
"Stay With Me"FacesMarch 13, 2012
"Cryin'"AerosmithApril 23, 2012
"It's a Man's Man's Man's World"James BrownApril 30, 2012
"Born to Be Wild"SteppenwolfMay 7, 2012
"Free Bird"Lynyrd SkynyrdMay 7, 2012

Post-The Voice (2012–2021)

Shortly after finishing The Voice, Simms was signed by CeeLo Green, her coach on the show. Her debut single "Wild Child" was released on December 11, 2012,[15] followed by a music video in April 2013,[16] for which Cee Lo Green was an executive producer. An album was scheduled for release in 2013,[17] but ultimately was not released after she left the label. Simms completed a US tour with Secondhand Serenade and Veronica Ballestrini during March and April 2013.[18]

Simms transitioned her branding after The Voice, and has since produced her own content as a solo artist. On January 27, 2015, Simms released her "All or Nothing" EP. The recording and development of the album was primarily funded by PledgeMusic,[19] A music video for the EP's fourth track, "End of the World", was released May 2015.[20] Simms heavily promoted the EP during the Vans Warped Tour of that year,[21] where she also began dating Andy Biersack of Black Veil Brides.[22][23] They married in April 2016.[24][25]

Simms second solo EP, From the Grave,[26] was crowd-funded though PledgeMusic with pledgers receiving a free download of the song 'Someday.'[27] The EP was released July 15, 2016.[28]

Simms was featured on the seventh installment in the Fearless Records compilation series Punk Goes Pop. She and Biersack performed a duet cover of Adele's 2015 hit song When We Were Young on July 14, 2017. A music video was also released for the cover upon the release of Punk Goes Pop Vol. 7. On April 27, 2018, she released her new single 'Take Me', which was written about the emotional hardships of two touring musicians in a committed relationship. The music video was released on May 9, 2018.

In 2019, Simms announced her signing to Sumerian Records and released single "Bad Love" to kick off the Rockstar Energy Disrupt 2019 Tour in August 2019. Following this, she released her second single with Sumerian, '100 Little Deaths' in September 2019. In 2020, Simms released a 3-song EP titled 'Descent' along with a music video for the lead song off of the EP, 'All American'.

Rebrand as Lilith Czar (2021–present)

After leaving fans in the dark on social media after her 2020 EP 'Descent', Simms posted teasers and photos, hiding her face. In February 2021, Simms announced her new name Lilith Czar, inspired by Lilith, the female equal to Adam, and a czar, meaning a ruler.[29][30] She announced a new album called Created from Filth and Dust, which was released by Sumerian Records on April 23, 2021.[31]

On February 19, 2021, she released the single 'King',[32] featuring the lyrics “If it’s a man’s world, I want to be king.”[33] Simms has said that the song: "came to me because of some guy in a band that was really misogynistic towards me. I felt sick of being treated badly because I have a vagina and boobs, and that’s where the lyric, ‘If it’s a man’s world, I want to be king’ comes from. Work on this song began in the middle of 2019, but it went through a huge number of rewrites over the course of the following 12 months. I scrutinised over every note and did a significant number of takes when it came to recording, and so many ended up being thrown away. It was pretty painful."[34]

In 2022, Simms toured with The Trinity Of Terror Tour in America, also featuring Black Veil Brides, Motionless In White, and Ice Nine Kills.[35] She also supported Taylor Momsen and The Pretty Reckless alongside The Warning.[36] In 2023, Simms toured in the United Kingdom with Black Veil Brides and Cemetery Sun.[37]

In 2025, Simms featured on track 'Hearse for Two' by The Funeral Portrait.[38][39]

Personal life

On October 31, 2016, Simms was detained by the FBI off of an airplane for allegedly hitting her husband, Andy Biersack while under the influence on a flight to Los Angeles.[40] According to the video testimony given by a witness to the incident, Simms forcibly struck Biersack in the face twice and struck herself in the face with the airline handcuffs until her nose began to bleed. Following the incident, both released statements about the effects of alcohol and confirming that they did not separate.[41][42]

Both of Simms' parents are members of the Church of Scientology and the family moved to Clearwater, Florida, which is the "worldwide spiritual headquarters" of Scientology, when Simms was eight years old, but Simms has not spoken about her adult involvement with the Church. Her father, Jeffrey Simms, claimed that "I'm sure she's known as a Scientologist by many in the Church... But [the support] isn't an organized thing. She probably has more fans from the Vans Warped Tour."[43]

Discography

Albums, Extended Plays, and Singles
MonikerTitleRelease typeReleaseLabel (at the time)
Automatic LoveletterRecoverEPNovember 6, 2007Re-released by Hot Topic label with two bonus tracks, 2008*Epic\Sony BMG Music Entertainment
The Ghosts We Carry HomeIntended for release; unreleased2007\2008*Unfinished\unreleasedEpic\Sony Music Entertainment
Automatic LoveletterEPFebruary 3, 2009
  • Previously unavailable due to

licensing issues with then

label Sony.

Epic\Sony Music Entertainment
"Heart Song"SingleApril, 2010Epic\Sony Music Japan International, Inc.
Truth or DareAlbumJune 22, 2010 Limited-Run U.S Release2011 Worldwide ReleaseEpic\Sony Music Japan International, Inc.
The Kids Will Take Their Monsters OnAlbumJune 28, 2011Paper + Plastick Records
Juliet SimmsWild ChildSingleDecember 11, 2012Universal Republic Records
All or NothingEPJanuary 27, 2015Ju Ju Productions, Inc.
From the GraveAlbumJuly 15, 2016Ju Ju Productions
"Take Me"SingleApril 27, 2018Ju Ju Productions, Inc.
Bad LoveSingleJune 21, 2019Sumerian Records
100 Little DeathsSingleAugust 23, 2019Sumerian Records
All AmericanSingle6 November 2020Sumerian Records
Lilith CzarCreated From Filth and DustAlbumApril 23, 2021First album released under the name Lilith CzarSumerian Records
Feature Artist Work
BandAlbumSongRelease
LoveHateHeroJust Breathe"Theatre of Robots"2005
CartelCartel"Lose It"2007
All Time LowSo Wrong, It's Right"Remembering Sunday"2007
Secondhand SerenadeA Twist in My Story"Fix You"2009
Hear Me NowHear Me Now2010
Win Win WinterThen The Archers Bowed And Broke Their Bows[44]"Here In The Horse's Heart"2011
Black Veil BridesWretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones"Lost It All"2013
Simple PlanTaking One For The Team"I Dream About You"2016
Andy BlackThe Shadow Side"Homecoming King", "Ribcage", "Drown Me Out", "The Void"2016
The Funeral PortraitGreetings From Suffocate City"Hearse For Two"2025
Recorded Covers
TitleOriginal ArtistCover ByNotes\ReleaseRecording Year\Date
"Voices Carry"'Til TuesdayAutomatic LoveletterWas exclusively available for download on PledgeMusic 2014.*2007 (estimated)
"Careless Whisper"Wham!3OH!3 Featured w. Alex GaskarthWas available for online downloading at some point in 2008.*2008 (estimated)
"Take Me Home Tonight"Eddie MoneyFeature Artist for Every AvenuePunk Goes Classic RockApril 27, 2010
"Gimme Shelter"The Rolling StonesJuliet SimmsWas exclusively available for download on PledgeMusic 2014.*July, 2014 (estimated)
"When We Were Young"AdeleFeature Artist for Andy BlackSingle via Fearless Records2017

Music videos

Music video filmography
YearVideoDirector
2006"Hush"Luke Watson
2008"Make-Up Smeared Eyes"Northern Five
2010"Heart Song"Chad Feehan
2010"Story Of My Life"Ehashin
2013"Wild Child"Tabitha Denholm
2015"End Of The World"Joshua Shultz
2017"Trouble Finds You"Patrick Fogarty
2017"Say Hello"Joshua Shultz
2018"Take Me"Joshua Shultz
2019“Bad Love”Patrick Fogarty
2019”100 Little Deaths”Patrick Fogarty
2020"All American"Patrick Fogarty
2021"King"Patrick Fogarty
2021”Lola”Patrick Fogarty
2021"Anarchy"Patrick Fogarty

Charts

YearSongPeak chart positionsAlbumCertifications
USUS
Main.

[45]
as Juliet Simms
2012"Roxanne"86—rowspan="3"
"It's a Man's Man's Man's World"70—
  • US: 67,000
"Free Bird"101—
as Lilith Czar
2021"Anarchy"—23Created from Filth and Dust
2022"100 Little Deaths"—37
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

References

  1. ^ "Interview - Lilith Czar". Cryptic Rock. 2022-04-01. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  2. ^ Tim Karan (May 10, 2010). "Automatic Loveletter reveal album art, release date". AltPress. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  3. ^ Cridlin, Jay (September 5, 2008). "SENSATIONAL SIMMS SIBLINGS". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on July 25, 2012. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  4. ^ "Automatic Loveletter". MTV. Archived from the original on 2008-04-10. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  5. ^ "Bamboozle lineup". Archived from the original on June 16, 2008. Retrieved July 1, 2008.
  6. ^ Kraus, Brian (June 26, 2011). "Automatic Loveletter post new song". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  7. ^ Mortensa, Mala (March 29, 2021). "10 women in pop-punk who have left an unforgettable impact on the genre". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  8. ^ "Blind Auditions, Part 1". NBC. NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 2012. Archived from the original on September 23, 2012. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  9. ^ Zaleski, Annie (April 10, 2012). "Juliet Simms covers the Police on 'The Voice'". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  10. ^ Zaleski, Annie (April 24, 2012). "Juliet Simms covers Aerosmith on 'The Voice'". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  11. ^
  12. ^ IdolsUSA (May 7, 2012). "The Voice – Juliet Simms – Free Bird – The Voice". YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  13. ^ Yancey, Bryne (May 8, 2012). "Juliet Simms (Automatic Loveletter) covers "Free Bird" (Lynyrd Skynyrd) on NBC's 'The Voice'". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  14. ^ Zaleski, Annie (May 9, 2012). "Juliet Simms finishes in second place on 'The Voice'". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  15. ^ "Wild Child – Single". iTunes Preview. Apple Inc. December 11, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  16. ^ Whitt, Cassie (February 4, 2013). "Video Premiere: Juliet Simms, "Wild Child" (acoustic)". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  17. ^ Carly Costello (April 23, 2013). "Former "The Voice" Contestant Juliet Simms Releases New "Wild Child" Video". Artist Direct. Rogue Digital, LLC. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  18. ^ "Secondhand Serenade and Juliet Simms – Tour Dates". Marley Magazine. March 5, 2013. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  19. ^ "Juliet Simms: The "All or Nothing" EP". Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  20. ^ "EW Premiere: Watch an emotional new video from 'The Voice' contestant Juliet Simms". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  21. ^ "Juliet Simms CRUSHES It at Vans Warped Tour". Tattoo Tourist. June 22, 2015. Archived from the original on April 10, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  22. ^ Owens, Paige (October 20, 2020). "Juliet Simms and Andy Biersack know how to dominate together and apart". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  23. ^ Owens, Paige (October 21, 2020). "Here’s how Juliet Simms and Andy Biersack met before Warped Tour". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  24. ^ Ralph, Caitlyn (2016-04-18). "Andy Biersack and Juliet Simms marry". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  25. ^ Childers, Chad (2016-04-18). "Black Veil Brides' Andy Biersack Weds Singer Juliet Simms". Loudwire. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  26. ^ Gonzalez, Sean. "Album Review: Juliet Simms - 'From The Grave'". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  27. ^ Crane, Matt (May 6, 2014). "Juliet Simms (Automatic Loveletter) launches PledgeMusic for solo EP". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  28. ^ Lockard, Megan (2016-07-15). "Juliet Simms - From The Grave (Album Review)". Cryptic Rock. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  29. ^ Schaffner, Lauryn (2021-02-19). "Singer Reborn as Lilith Czar With Dominating Single 'King'". Loudwire. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  30. ^ Moran, Justin (2021-02-19). "Lilith Czar Is the King of Rock". PAPER. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
  31. ^ Serra, Maria (February 19, 2021). "Juliet Simms is Gone, and Lilith Czar is Taking the Throne with "King"". Alternative Press. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  32. ^ Penderwick, Joannie (2022-05-05). "10 of the Best Feminist Anthems in Rock". Loudwire. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  33. ^ "Lilith Czar". Disturbia Clothing. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  34. ^ "Lilith Czar: The 10 songs that changed my life". Kerrang!. 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  35. ^ Kusano, Rodney (2022-02-14). "LILITH CZAR Announced as Support for The Trinity of Terror Tour". OUTBURN ONLINE. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  36. ^ Sprouse, Mike (2022-07-25). "The Pretty Reckless, The Warning, and Lilith Czar rock Baltimore". Metal Talk. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  37. ^ Shaw, Andy (2023-02-21). "Black Veil Brides / A band at the height of their musical powers". Metal Talk. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  38. ^ Howell, Maddy (2025-02-07). "The Funeral Portrait Team Up With Lilith Czar For Romantic Single 'Hearse For Two'". Rock Sound. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  39. ^ McVeigh, Darren (2025-02-10). "The Funeral Portrait – “Hearse For Two” With New Guest Vocals By LILITH CZAR". Metal Planet Music. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  40. ^ "Ex-'Voice' Contestant Hauled Off Plane For Drunken Fight with Husband". TMZ. October 31, 2016. Archived October 4, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  41. ^ Britton, Luke Morgan (2016-11-02). "Black Veil Brides' Andy Biersack and wife issue statements following airplane arrest". NME. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  42. ^ O'Neill, Christina (2016-11-02). "Andy Biersack and Juliet Simms on 'traumatic' plane row". louder. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  43. ^ "Clearwater-raised Juliet Simms just might win NBC's blockbuster singing competition, The Voice". Tampa Bay Times. May 7, 2012. Archived May 12, 2021 at the Wayback Machine.
  44. ^ "24 Hour Service Station - A Record Label, Digital Distribution and Physical Distribution Company » Artists". Archived from the original on May 8, 2012. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  45. ^ Peaks on the Mainstream Rock chart: *"Anarchy": "Mainstream Rock Tracks: September 25, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2021. *"100 Little Deaths": "Mainstream Rock Tracks: August 13, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  46. ^ "Hot Digital Tracks (28/04/2012)". Billboard
  47. ^ "Hot Digital Songs (26/05/2012)". Billboard

Further reading