About Synthesis and the band... A fan reflection

[Deleted]

It's been 8 years since I've become an EvFan but at this point I don't feel excited for anything related to the band, since 2015 we've in a loop of Greatest Hits tours and releases, We got 2 "best albums" since then: The Ultimate Collection (Everything we have + Lost Whispers as "New Album") and Synthesis (Greatest Hits: The Orchestra Edition).

New songs: Lost Whispers (Intro, 2009), If You Don't Mind (Leaked in 2012), Take Cover (Live, from 2009 session), Hi-Lo (from 2009 sessions) and Imperfection (100% Brand new).

I liked better when Amy talked about Synthesis like as spin-off project but now it's treated like an studio album, I don't get why she decided to do another leg for this tour, there's no hype between fans and in mass media there's no buzz either. Also, I don't get why she complaints about low sales when she takes so long between releases, people lost interest and find new music, some people doesn't even know Evanescence still exists.

Music market now it's faster than before and Amy need an update, she has a lot of demos and new songs that she can put out just for the sake of validity in music scene... Even older bands like Garbage are more active putting out music... "We are alive, we are alive" maybe, but nobody except the leftover of the (before big) fan base are listening to their music.

I wonder how long it will takes to have #EV4 with demos from 2009

[Rarkphoenix]

Personally, I still get excited about new Ev releases and still get the buzz when something is put out, but I completely get you. Synthesis was essentially a more experimental way of doing a 'greatest hits' album and the Ev boxset before that is much the same, so with the exception of the occasional song we haven't really had any major new releases from them since 2011. I feel that it's the way the music industry is going at the moment - releasing standalone singles and small EPs rather than full length album projects. Which I personally hate. I love listening to albums from start to finish and absorbing the album artwork and liner notes.

You're right about there being very little genuinely new Evanescence material lately, too. As much as playing the market and keeping momentum is an economic necessity for a musician nowadays, I personally hope she doesn't feel the need to put out music 'just because', unless she desperately needs to, because as a fan I feel I'd notice that and it would ruin it for me personally. I'd rather wait 10 years for an album that happened organically and where every song feels 'right' to the artist than 1 year for something rushed and tailored to the fans. All of my favourite albums have come about from the former situation.

Demos could be a good shout because as you say, they're already there and ready. They just need polishing/reworking and this process can turn a song you no longer like so much into something relatable to your current mindset as a musician. I don't know, I think it's just because it's how I work too, but I hate the idea of music being rushed through to keep people happy, even though as a fan myself I can completely understand (and feel) the frustration. That said, I'm starting to feel the wind being blown out of the band's sails. It is becoming fairly formulaic (even though, to me, Synthesis was a really interesting way of doing a greatest hits album - I did enjoy that), there's a slight feeling of the band maybe playing more out of necessity/loyalty to the fans than any universal love for it, although that's impossible to say with any certainty and I feel like they'd stop and take a definite break if they ever reached that stage.

I'm hoping the next cycle will give everyone in the band the chance to get involved and create something completely different with no fixed idea of "this is what Evanescence sounds like, so we have to stick to this formula" because that's the space where their best work has come from in the past. I'm optimistic about the future, but only time will tell for sure.

[Lycrymosa]

I feel you. Synthesis was supposed to be a special passion project and it should have been left that way, but it seems like management has been pushing it to become this bigger thing and I feel like even Amy is completely over it. It would have been special and magical with just a few intimate shows, but now with this second US tour, the venues are even bigger and Amy just doesn't seem into it anymore and the band don't seem that excited to be getting ready to sit on their stools again. Personally I think this time would have been better spent resting/relaxing and preparing for the next thing, being the rock album which will eventually come.

[turdyturderson]

I posted in random confessions before I saw this.

This is how I feel exactly. Why still put my all into supporting when the band seem like they are all bailing out. It’s hard to hide it when there is Lindsey releasing 3 albums (Hi-Lo included) and a VIP promo video and just promoting like heck. You can tell she wants to be doing this. Amy, not looking so thrilled.

[thebhoy]

Wait...

Didn’t her Brother just die? Speaking from experience I wouldn’t be the most thrilled person out there. I used work to keep me busy.

I get she has complained about sales but didn’t all this enthusiasm fade after her brother died?

So everyone is all excited at the beginning of the tour and the album release now they are complaining because a woman who has lost her brother isn’t putting all her effort into the promotion of her work.

We don’t know the personal circumstances before his death either and nor should we. It’s this sort of fanatic stuff that probably makes her wanna run way from it all.

[ginjaninja3716]

I kinda feel like a lot of the inactivity stems from the legal battle between the band and the record label, not to mention some of her solo projects. She's said before that each time they put out an album, or at least begin working on one, there's always a fight to be had. While "Synthesis" isn't exactly a "new" thing, it seemed to me that it was a way for them to experiment with not only making the old seem new but to see how much they could get away with under the new management.

It's a little disheartening to see some people the threads and on Twitter assuming how or what Amy and the rest of the band is feeling. That isn't our place. What's even more discouraging is that if you read/hear it enough, then you start to believe it, and I'd rather not rely on the frantic imaginations of fanatic assumptions to convey what is going on with the band. I'd prefer to let her or anyone else involved in the band personally to say anything.

As an artist, I totally understand when someone says they want to focus all of your attention on the current project because the thought of working on another huge project is absolutely daunting and can exhaust you even before you have a chance to begin. So I'm with Rark in that I will always support them no matter what or how long it takes because I would much rather wait a few years for something great than to have something forcefully crapped out in a year. I believe it was will that said at some point that playing the "Synthesis" shows is fun because it's different, but he's really excited for the next one because doing something out in left field sort of adds color to the palette.In the meantime, there is SO much music out there to discover.

I'm excited for the Evanescence/Lindsey Stirling show, as well as the next big project, whatever or whenever that may be.

And I don't want anyone to think that I'm complaining or chewing anyone out. Those are just my thoughts. I understand that through text alone that tone can be taken the wrong way. Peace, love, and rock and roll.

[RapturedLight]

The reason we aren't excited is because we're in the same album cycle and we'll probably have a bit of a wait before the next one. It's fine that we aren't all super hyped 24/7 when there's no reason to be. Personally, I don't see the need to be in constant hype mode over literally anything. I don't really care that Evanescence isn't very productive compared to other bands (say, Epica, who have released like 8 albums since 2002) because I know that they've had so many issues releasing music through Wind-Up and that WU made the process very discouraging. I also know that good things take time for some people, and I'm okay with that. I don't take it personally at all, and I agree with ginjaninja3716 - we can't assume what ANY artist is feeling unless they say it. In literary studies, that's considered a logical fallacy. Besides, there's plenty of other music out there to listen to in the meantime. And regardless of how anyone feels about this tour, it's making the band more money, which is always good. The thing is, Amy's style as an artist is compatible with what my ears like to hear, so I'm always going to be listening. Admittedly, it helps me that Evanescence isn't my only favorite band/artist and I spend quite a bit of energy following other musical careers. (I've noticed that Evanescence is the whole world to some people, and I realize that this constant hype likely stems from a strong emotional connection to the band, but I've seen cases where the connection seems to be borderline reliance. This is a minority of the fanbase.) But those are just my personal feelings.

[carolexodus]

I think it's the typical letargic phase all fanbases go through between albums, it doesn't help much that in the last years we have only had reboots of old songs we have heard a million times and the last brand new album was ages ago. I don't understand anything about the music industry, but I guess they are adding more shows to this tour to make some money before getting to the studio to make new stuff. I guess they must need this since they aren't with WU anymore.
I have not payed attention to Amy much lately, but if she is indeed less esthusiastic it must be because of her brother, it's too recent. Must be hard to have to just keep working like nothing happened, a side of her probably wants to go home with her family and be done with work for a while. That's probably what will happen after this tour.

I feel we have always waited so much for new Ev material that I am used to waiting, I enjoy their music when it comes up on my playlist and that's it. New music will come eventually. But I understand the frustration cause this is probably the longest period without a new album, right? Plus it's a little boring when bands reach this moment of stagnation when they start releasing greatest hits and touring old material all over again. It gets very repetitive.

[ginjaninja3716]

Imagine being a fan of Tool or A Perfect Circle! There was a 14 year gap between the latter's most recent album and their last, and the former has been 12 years. I'm a HUGE fan of both, and the wait for new music from both is very arduous, but they, mainly Maynard, are always working so there is always something to find. I know Tool ran into some legal stuff that really hindered their creative process, but they still managed to tour and whatnot and all of the shows were electrifying. I don't know though, I'm anxious to hear what Evanescence does next, but like I said, I'm fine with waiting. Doubtful it'll be 14 years lmao

[PJ.]

I understand it on both sides... of course they need a break. They have been working and touring for a while, Amy just lost her brother... she needs time. Take it. But the other side... the band has been craving to do a proper follow up to EV3. I know they are frustrated with the lack of activity during sets for Synthesis. When Amy first announced it as a stripped of heavy guitars, strings and drums album.. I assumed that meant it was a solo project/tour. I am happy the band was apart of it, but with that said I am also sad to see them so discouraged with it. I know they need time, but I really hope that this last leg gets Amy motivated and inspired to do the follow up rock album soon. Not 5 years soon. And I say this as a loving fan... don't make me out to be a jerk about it.

[Rarkphoenix]

ginjaninja3716 I'm also a Tool/APC fan so I think that's probably why I agree with you. I guess it's relative. 7 years really doesn't feel like much to me and time flies anyway, but I can still see why people are getting frustrated. It's good that people still care enough about the band to want them to hurry up, too. I'm confident it'll be worth it this time and they're long overdue for an album's worth of original material, so I think we'll get that (albeit in an unusual, inventive format because Amy).

[ginjaninja3716]

I'll only be truly upset if they release their next album and it only has like 10 songs on it lolol*cries*

[carolexodus]

Or Portishead. 11 years between their second and third, ten years later still waiting for their fourth. Only three albums since 1994.

[Rarkphoenix]

carolexodus I also love Portishead! (why do I do this to myself :') )

[RapturedLight]

Or Wintersun. 8 years between their first and second album. Second album had a lot of orchestration, and we were supposed to get a Part II but that's probably never going to happen because their main songwriter insists his record company sucks. (It's Nuclear Blast, and his argument that they're unhelpful is pretty damn weak but that's a long story. Also, they've released another album since then, but not the follow-up we were initially promised.) Some bands have long waits, some have REALLY long waits, some have short waits. It's nothing personal. It's just the way it works sometimes. Also, Stephenie Meyer released a book (The Host - one of my favorite books ever, actually) over a decade ago and said it was the first of a trilogy but have we gotten the other two books? Nope. So it happens sometimes with authors too.