SPIN.com recently conducted an interview with EVANESCENCE frontwoman Amy Lee. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.
SPIN.com: EVANESCENCE took about two years off. Why return now?
Amy Lee: For a long time I didn't know what I wanted to do. I really love scoring film and that was definitely where my head was. I took a few stabs at doing that, but then I started writing more songs. I had such a good time in the studio with [producer, songwriter, and studio whiz] Will "Science" Hunt [not to confused with EVANESCENCE's drummer, who is also named Will Hunt] recording "Sally's Song" — it was a cool, free, creative space. So we thought, "Why don't we just try writing an original song?" He has a studio in Forth Worth, Texas, and we spent two days down there writing and a new song came out that was so different — it was dark and inspiring. It was a groove that I hadn't found in a long time. So we spent all of last year writing like crazy and somewhere halfway through I said, "You know, I think we're writing an EVANESCENCE album."
SPIN.com: Will fans of EVANESCENCE's heavy sound be surprised?
Amy Lee: Well, it's definitely still heavy. Like "The Open Door", the new songs are a rainbow of sounds. But this album spreads out even more. There are moments that are amazingly heavy, but then there are moments that are completely stripped down.
SPIN.com: Did you write the entire album together?
Amy Lee: Most of it. He was definitely my big inspiration and co-writer. Some songs I wrote by myself, and I wrote a little bit with Terry [Balsamo, guitarist] and Tim [McCord, bassist] as well. I have a studio in my home and I flew Will "Science" out here a lot. And we'd work by ourselves then email each other ideas to play with, sort of like a Postal Service method. The songwriting and sound is inspired by a lot of our mutual loves — BJORK, NINE INCH NAILS, and music with a lot of programming and sounds that feel larger than life.
SPIN.com: How did you hook up with producer Steve Lillywhite?
Amy Lee: We decided it would be good to have another brain in the room to provide some perspective, since we've been living with the demos for so long. Steve Lillywhite randomly called my record label said, "Hey, what's Amy Lee and EVANESCENCE doing? I'd really like to work with her." I thought that was really interesting. I honestly wouldn't have thought of him if he hadn't called. So we went to lunch and I showed him some of the songs. He really loved them and wanted to do it!
SPIN.com: It's an interesting fit, considering his work with U2 and THE ROLLING STONES.
Amy Lee: True. And this album isn't going to sound like either of those bands, that's for sure. It's not an organic record. Our idea is to take synthetic and atmospheric sounds and find a way to blur the line between organic and synthetic.
SPIN.com: What are your thoughts on WE ARE THE FALLEN?
Amy Lee: I don't have any. I doesn't have anything to do with me or EVANESCENCE.
Tema: EVANESCENCE Singer Says The New Songs Are 'A Rainbow Of Sounds' 
