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Post by princeofpersia on Jun 11, 2020 11:06:48 GMT -5
'Like water in the desert': Evanescence's Amy Lee on making music and 'The Bitter Truth'The record is their first studio album in 9 years
Amanda T. Lago
Published 3:00 PM, June 11, 2020
MANILA, Philippines – Most of us know Evanescence for bringing gothic rock to our young ears in the early 2000s particularly with songs like "Bring Me to Life" and "My Immortal" off their debut album Fallen.
Now it's been over 17 years since that album was released, and 9 years since the band came out with their last studio album – but we still sing their songs and they haven't stopped making music.
The band is set to release a new studio album, The Bitter Truth, dropping their first single from that album, "Wasted on You" in April, while under quarantine.
Frontwoman Amy Lee said that they were recording the music for "Wasted on You" until they couldn't go into the studio anymore, and continued to work on it remotely through file sharing and phone calls – which seems to be how many musicians have been working these days. Even the song's music video was filmed while the band was in quarantine.
Amy said that working on the song "has been like water in the desert" for her, a light in the darkness of the pandemic.
Evanescence has said that it will be releasing new songs from The Bitter Truth little by little this year, culminating with the release of the full album – though no dates have been set yet. It may be a little too much to hope for, but they also plan on going back on tour as soon as conditions permit.
As the band continues to work on the new album, Amy tells Rappler a little bit about how the album came about, and how she's keeping creative under quarantine.
What led up to the making of The Bitter Truth? When did you first decide to release a new album?
We decided when we were making Synthesis that making a new album would be next. After we finished the orchestral touring we got back into rock mode and started playing lots of shows- getting into the spirit and loving it. We started getting together to intentionally write together in between the tours in the spring of 2019. Touring can get monotonous, and make you crave new material, writing can drive you insane, and make you crave touring. We started this process of inserting writing between the tours to keep it all fresh and exciting.
What was it like to work on the album remotely? Was it a big adjustment for the band? Did you have to compromise on anything because of the technical constraints?
We’re still not done! We had to finish the recording and mixing of the first batch of songs remotely — nearly all the recording was done but I had to finish the vocals on a song so Nick Raskulinecz, our producer, sent me home with the microphone, preamp and compressor we had been using in his studio. I dropped it back off to him along with the hard drive in the parking lot of the studio. Crazy times.
How are you staying creative while in lockdown? Do you have any tips for other creatives – musicians or otherwise – for keeping the ideas flowing even in quarantine?
I’ve been cooking more, making my own bread, and pulling out old recipes from my grandmothers. Doing things the long way because I can, hunting for frogs and doing science experiments with my son, I spent one day making about 50 of my own tiny samples from different keyboards and then built a little song out of it that I’m not going to use for anything. Allowing this time to be a free pass for creative experimentation, and also taking days where I don’t try to make anything. Just let my brain and heart rest, because there is unavoidable stress and anxiety that goes along with this moment in time.
What can we expect from this album as a whole?
I think whatever you’re expecting, you will both get it and not get it. The songs are all different. I want this album to show all of our sides, really, but most importantly I want to create without thinking too much about what I want it to be, and just let it be what it is. There’s definitely a little bit of a 90s, grungy alternative thing emerging which is lovely, that’s a return to roots for me in the most honest sense since that’s the music that inspired me so much in my formative years.
I'm having fun with keyboards and sound effects and haven’t wanted any real strings yet. We’re all feeling a lot of feelings right now so I’m looking forward to seeing what this next batch will become. – Rappler.com
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Post by acoustic_ev on Jun 11, 2020 16:32:52 GMT -5
😔 re: strings
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nz
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Post by nz on Jun 11, 2020 17:29:23 GMT -5
I feel you.  I think it's going to be impossible to have a "de-constructed" Evanescence without strings. They're essential. I'm keeping my fingers crossed they will add some with the next batch of songs!  |
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StormsxSaints
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Post by StormsxSaints on Jun 13, 2020 3:02:38 GMT -5
I'm interested in this 90s grunge/alternative sound tbh
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TDS
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Post by TDS on Jun 13, 2020 7:48:11 GMT -5
That seems very far from the TOD vibe she was describing.
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Post by arlieimperfection on Jun 13, 2020 7:49:31 GMT -5
That seems very far from the TOD vibe she was describing. I doubt the whole album will sound remotely similar to it, given it’s been over a decade, we have had lineup changes, and each song is supposed to sound like its own unique sound. |
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Post by jaekmusiconline on Jun 13, 2020 9:17:29 GMT -5
That seems very far from the TOD vibe she was describing. I doubt the whole album will sound remotely similar to it, given it’s been over a decade, we have had lineup changes, and each song is supposed to sound like its own unique sound. At this point hearing Evanescence now, it’s like listening to a band whose sound resembles the band, but isn’t. The beautiful quality and tone of their music isn’t the same as what is used to be. Some call it maturing, I believe that bc you can’t just keep putting out the same record. It’s a whole new band including lineup and style and sound. I personally don’t have high hopes for this record but it would be a great reward to have at least a few songs I can connect with in a way that their older music had done for me. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2020 20:03:12 GMT -5
I doubt the whole album will sound remotely similar to it, given it’s been over a decade, we have had lineup changes, and each song is supposed to sound like its own unique sound. At this point hearing Evanescence now, it’s like listening to a band whose sound resembles the band, but isn’t. The beautiful quality and tone of their music isn’t the same as what is used to be. Some call it maturing, I believe that bc you can’t just keep putting out the same record. It’s a whole new band including lineup and style and sound. I personally don’t have high hopes for this record but it would be a great reward to have at least a few songs I can connect with in a way that their older music had done for me. Then leave, and keep listening the records you love, don't ruin the experience for people who are waiting this album with this whole "not the same quality" that some fans keeps pulling.... You know what "Evanescence" means right?? The band lives their name |
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Post by RapturedLight on Jun 13, 2020 21:45:25 GMT -5
Reminder that people are most certainly allowed to be critical as long as they remain respectful, which I think people on our forum have been doing. Nobody is trying to ruin anything here. Please be kind.
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Post by jaekmusiconline on Jun 14, 2020 9:46:50 GMT -5
At this point hearing Evanescence now, it’s like listening to a band whose sound resembles the band, but isn’t. The beautiful quality and tone of their music isn’t the same as what is used to be. Some call it maturing, I believe that bc you can’t just keep putting out the same record. It’s a whole new band including lineup and style and sound. I personally don’t have high hopes for this record but it would be a great reward to have at least a few songs I can connect with in a way that their older music had done for me. Then leave, and keep listening the records you love, don't ruin the experience for people who are waiting this album with this whole "not the same quality" that some fans keeps pulling.... You know what "Evanescence" means right?? The band lives their name Lol take a breath and calm down. My point I made was that the sound of the band has evolved so far that at times it doesn’t sound like the same group which again is normal. Do I have a preference? Yes I do and that’s okay. And if my preference is strong enough to ruin an experience for anyone then their own dedication and love for the band isn’t as strong as they think it to be. Have a good day |
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Post by arlieimperfection on Jun 14, 2020 13:33:00 GMT -5
This forum gets way too emotional sometimes.
By the way, it appears another song was added to that list called Use My Voice.
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carolexodus
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Post by carolexodus on Jun 14, 2020 17:12:42 GMT -5
Hard to expect to feel the same things or hear the same vibe as in TOD or Fallen, cause the members that made those albums are pretty much all gone except Amy. I mean, even Terry who was part of TOD isn't here anymore. So you combine that with Amy getting older and trying different stuff and the music is goint to sound different, regardless of what Amy says to the press and fans. In the other hand we haven't heard the whole thing yet, so maybe some songs do ressemble TOD, who knows? But to me WoY sounds like Ev3 meets Amy's solo stuff and that makes sense if we look at the current lineup.
Everyone have their tastes. In my case, even though I like TOD and Fallen, especially TOD, I sort of stopped listening to those albums in the last few years, I enjoy them when they come up on my playlist, but ever since the Lillywhite videos started to come out back in 2009 I got super excited with the idea of them making different things, I liked the addition of Will a whole lot and now Jen, so I am pretty excited to hear the band go another route, I feel we could have gotten that earlier if it wasn't for wind up. I was disappointed when they scrapped all that material.
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Post by acoustic_ev on Jun 14, 2020 17:38:39 GMT -5
I'm all for different, I've really liked the electronic vibe personally and I'm excited for the grunge stuff. I'm hopeful when they get back to work that strings will come in eventually but if they don't it won't be a deal breaker.
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Post by jaekmusiconline on Jun 14, 2020 17:40:30 GMT -5
Hard to expect to feel the same things or hear the same vibe as in TOD or Fallen, cause the members that made those albums are pretty much all gone except Amy. I mean, even Terry who was part of TOD isn't here anymore. So you combine that with Amy getting older and trying different stuff and the music is goint to sound different, regardless of what Amy says to the press and fans. In the other hand we haven't heard the whole thing yet, so maybe some songs do ressemble TOD, who knows? But to me WoY sounds like Ev3 meets Amy's solo stuff and that makes sense if we look at the current lineup. Everyone have their tastes. In my case, even though I like TOD and Fallen, especially TOD, I sort of stopped listening to those albums in the last few years, I enjoy them when they come up on my playlist, but ever since the Lillywhite videos started to come out back in 2009 I got super excited with the idea of them making different things, I liked the addition of Will a whole lot and now Jen, so I am pretty excited to hear the band go another route, I feel we could have gotten that earlier if it wasn't for wind up. I was disappointed when they scrapped all that material. I kind of relate to how you said you don’t listen to the albums fallen and tod as much. For me it was just being turned on to newer music that came out after while still enjoying Evanescence especially the self titled album. I think when synthesis was released it was a cool concept but in my opinion unnecessary. I think they could have put that creative energy and time and money into writing something completely new. Regardless that there were two new songs featured. Also to make a point from my statement earlier, I meant it more so as first it was the choir element that was removed on the tod album other than being in lacrymosa. Then it was less ballads in the self titled and now it’s less strings. It’s just a change based on how we first new of the band. Not a bad thing but just different. But I’m still hopeful for the new record. |
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nz
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Post by nz on Jun 14, 2020 18:40:03 GMT -5
I do not believe people should be asked to leave if they are critical of Evanescence's new music. You can totally be a fan and be a critical - I believe that's how you define a true fan (at least for me). You don't just blindly follow and like everything a band puts out - you have opinion, and you want to 'use your voice' to communicate what aspects of their music you like and don't like. I've seen rumors that there's a new song on the record called 'Yeah, Right'. Does anyone know how likely any of these three songs rumors are likely to be legit? |
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I think it's going to be impossible to have a "de-constructed" Evanescence without strings. They're essential. I'm keeping my fingers crossed they will add some with the next batch of songs! 
