From the age of 14 , she performed with various bands , including a blues rock band called Kashiro , before joining with Robert Westerholt in 1996 to form a band called The Portal , though the name was changed to Within Temptation before their debut recording .
From the age of 14 , she performed with various bands , including a blues rock band called Kashiro . 
 As their partnership grew , in 1996 they came to form a band called The Portal , though the name was changed to Within Temptation before their debut recording .