Amy Lee Says ‘New’ Song ‘Hi-Lo’ Was Written 10 Years Ago

December 6, 2017 By Justin No Comments

Amy Lee spoke to the 105.7 The Point about the two new songs that are included on the band’s latest album, “Synthesis”. The set is a reimagining of some of EVANESCENCE’s best-loved tracks is the band’s first full-length effort since its 2011 self-titled release.

“[The song] ‘Hi-Lo‘ we’ve had in the bank for a long time,” Amy said (see video below). “I wasn’t quite finished [writing it before], but it’s just a song that never fit anywhere that I’ve been holding on to and waiting to find its right home for 10 years. So it’s this weird thing that I feel very close to already that I’ve had to listen to with my family and my friends to now finish it out and have the orchestra on it. That’s what it needed — it needed that beautiful, luscious emotion that [longtime collaborator, orchestra arranger and composer] David Campbell put on there. But I wrote that song with our producer on this album, the guy that did all the programming, Will [Hunt, not to be confused with EVANESCENCE’s drummer, also named Will Hunt]. It was our first collaboration together 10 years ago. And the other one, ‘Imperfection’, is brand new. We just wrote it this year. And it was very collaborative between Will, again, and also David Campbell, the arranger. He’s done all the string arranging for EVANESCENCE for all of our albums, but this one… We went in [and said], ‘Let’s go in and go really deep and rip [the songs] apart and elevate ’em to another place together and make something new.’ So for all of it, and the new [song] included, he was a real part of what laid the foundation of what was gonna happen. So it gave the music and the writing and everything a chance to grow in some different directions.”

“Hi-Lo” includes a guest performance by famed violinist Lindsey Stirling.

In support of “Synthesis”, Evanescence — Lee, bassist Tim McCord, drummer Will Hunt, lead guitarist/backing vocalist Troy McLawhorn and guitarist/background vocalist Jen Majura — is currently in the midst of its extensive “Synthesis Live” headlining tour of North America. “Synthesis Live” features Lee and the band performing with a live 28-piece orchestra and electronic programming.

Lee told Forbes about the fan response to the “Synthesis Live” tour: “I think our fans like it a lot. It’s a way to experience this music, for them and for us, in a different way. We’ve been playing the straight-up original versions of our songs for many years now. So to have an opportunity to go to a different venue for most of these shows, go to a concert hall, sit down and listen to it, it’s a lot more like going to a show, like going to a movie, than going to a rock concert where you’re gonna jump up and down and make noise. There are parts that are very intimate before it goes big and epic and 28 orchestral musicians are going off. So it’s a very personal experience. The reaction I’ve seen has been really good, but it’s definitely different. It feels still weird to us on stage, we’re getting completely used to it. It’s definitely not a rock and roll show, but I think it’s really special and I’m absolutely positive I’m gonna remember these performances and this very special experience for the rest of my life.”

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Evanescence played Synthesis version of “Weight Of The World”

December 3, 2017 By Justin No Comments

On 11-30-17 at the Chicago Theater in Chicago, Illinois Evanescence played a Synthesis version of “Weight Of The World” which is not featured on their new album. You can watch it below:

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Amy Lee Has Had To Fight For Her Art

December 1, 2017 By Justin No Comments

Amy Lee spoke to Billboard about her beginnings in the music industry, saying that “it was sometimes difficult to distinguish the difference between just being treated like a young idiot — you know, ‘You’re just a kid, everybody knows better than you’ — and being treated that way because I was female. I learned as I got more experienced, and a lot of it was because I’m a female,” she said. “People naturally see us as the softer sex that’s going to step aside and let the men do the real work, so there’ve been plenty of times when I’ve had to look at that, recognize it, and go, ‘No, this is what’s going to happen, because I’m positive that I’m right, and it’s my art and you’re not going to change it.'”

One compromise that Lee had to make along the way was including a rap verse in EVANESCENCE’s original 2003 breakout hit “Bring Me To Life”. The song was recently re-recorded in a more stripped-down format — without the rapping — on the “Synthesis” album. Lee explained to News.com.au: “God bless the rap, it’s part of what got us on the radio, I guess. At least according to all the rules of radio that I don’t agree with or understand. The rap wasn’t part of our original idea or sound, it was a compromise in many ways. So to be able to go back to the original vision for the song was great.”

Lee added that she had made her peace with the original version of the song, saying: “That’s a struggle you always fight as an artist. If we only had the one hit, if no one ever heard from us again, then nobody would understand who we were. We’ve made it past that point, so the rap doesn’t make me angry anymore. I’m so glad to put a new version out there without the rap, though.” The rap on the original version of “Bring Me To Life” was performed by singer Paul McCoy of the band 12 STONES.

“Synthesis” was released on November 10. The disc sees many of EVANESCENCE’s songs reworked in new ways, incorporating orchestral and electronic elements into the original compositions. The “Synthesis Live” tour launched in October and like the album, it features a full orchestra and electronics. [Source]

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Amy Lee is bringing Evanescence album to life

November 29, 2017 By Justin No Comments

Logic might have suggested when Evanescence leader Amy Lee had her first child, a son named Jack, three years ago, that motherhood would have meant she would step back from music to some degree.

After all, raising an infant is a major, time-consuming effort in itself, and being a parent is bound to shift priorities away from one’s vocation and toward family life.

For Lee, becoming a mother has had the opposite effect, triggering a new level of musical inspiration and paving the way for the unique new Evanescence album, Synthesis, and an ambitious tour to support the album.

“I always did want to be a mother,” Lee said during a mid-October phone interview. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced. It opened my heart up in a way I didn’t expect. So as much of my attention, as much of my focus as [parenting] takes up, it really inspired me. I feel more feelings. I think differently. There’s a new perspective to everything in life since Jack. And I wasn’t prepared for that. You can’t prepare for that. So it actually made me want to come back to work. I was recording when I was pregnant. I released Aftermath after Jack was born.”

Aftermath served as the soundtrack album to the Mark Jackson movie, War Story. Lee was brought in to contribute to the score and soundtrack of the film by her friend, Dave Eggar, who had been recruited for the project by Jackson. [Source]

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Synthesis Reaches #1 on iTunes Stores in 40 Countries!

November 29, 2017 By Justin No Comments

Evanescence’s just released fourth album Synthesis — out via BMG in the United States and Sony in Europe/Australia — has debuted as the #1 Rock Album in the United States —the #4 best-selling album overall–and at #8 on the Top 200 album charts. In its debut week, Synthesis reached #1 on the iTunes Rock and Alternative charts in over 40 countries worldwide. [Official Website]

Get your copy of Evanescence’s new release here!

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Photo Gallery Updates and Milestone

November 28, 2017 By Justin 1 Comment

Our Photo Gallery has reached 47,000 views. I would like to take the time to thank everyone who visits this site and made this possible. I am planning on adding more to the gallery very soon and in the mean time check out our most popular photos in the gallery.

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Amy Lee talks about the message behind “Imperfection”

November 27, 2017 By Justin No Comments

Amy Lee recently talked to amazon.de about the meaning behind Evanescence’s song “Imperfection” from their brand new Synthesis album. Which has sold over 34,000 units in the week ending on November 16th. Synthesis is a combination of organic and synthesized sounds featuring the lyrical talents of Lee and her band Evanescence. The new album also features the talent of Lindsay Sterling in the song “Hi-Lo”. You can read the rest of the interview here!

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‘Synthesis’ Cracks BILLBOARD Top 10

November 21, 2017 By Justin No Comments

Evanescence’s “Synthesis” sold 34,000 equivalent album units in the week ending November 16, according to Nielsen Music, to land at position No. 8 on the Billboard 200 chart. Of that sum, 30,000 were in traditional album sales. The set is a reimagining of some of Evanescence’s best-loved songs — as well as a couple of new ones. “Synthesis” is Evanescence’s first album since its 2011 self-titled release, which debuted at No. 1. The new album is the group’s fourth top 10 effort, following “Evanescence”, “The Open Door” (No. 1 in 2006) and “Fallen” (No. 3, 2003).

In support of “Synthesis”, Evanescence — lead singer-songwriter and pianist Amy Lee, bassist Tim McCord, drummer Will Hunt, lead guitarist/backing vocalist Troy McLawhorn and guitarist/background vocalist Jen Majura — is currently in the midst of its extensive “Synthesis Live” headlining tour of North America. “Synthesis Live” features Lee and the band embedded with a live 28-piece orchestra and electronic programming, delivering a transcendent experience.

Living up to its name, “Synthesis” is a combination of organic and synthesized sounds featuring Lee’s virtuosic singing and piano playing, supported by her band and a full symphony orchestra performing arrangements by longtime collaborator, orchestra arranger and composer David Campbell as well as an array of electronic music programming and effects engineered by the band, co-producer William Hunt and programmer/mixer Damian Taylor (BJÖRK, THE KILLERS, ARCADE FIRE). The album features two new EVANESCENCE songs: the first single “Imperfection” and “Hi-Lo”, the latter of which includes a guest performance by famed violinist Lindsey Stirling.

Lee told Forbes about the fan response to the “Synthesis Live” tour: “I think our fans like it a lot. It’s a way to experience this music, for them and for us, in a different way. We’ve been playing the straight-up original versions of our songs for many years now. So to have an opportunity to go to a different venue for most of these shows, go to a concert hall, sit down and listen to it, it’s a lot more like going to a show, like going to a movie, than going to a rock concert where you’re gonna jump up and down and make noise. There are parts that are very intimate before it goes big and epic and 28 orchestral musicians are going off. So it’s a very personal experience. The reaction I’ve seen has been really good, but it’s definitely different. It feels still weird to us on stage, we’re getting completely used to it. It’s definitely not a rock and roll show, but I think it’s really special and I’m absolutely positive I’m gonna remember these performances and this very special experience for the rest of my life.” [Source]

Photo credit: P.R. Brown

Filed under Evanescence

Win an Exclusive Signed Merch Pack from Evanescence

November 18, 2017 By Justin 1 Comment

Just Announced – Evanescence is giving away a few exclusive Synthesis merch bundles! Enter Here: http://smarturl.it/SynthesisGiveaway

1st Prize: 3 Winners

– One (1) Exclusive Signed Merch Pack from Evanescence including:
– One (1) ‘Imperfection’ Tee
– One (1) ‘Synthesis’ Journal
– One (1) ‘Synthesis’ Hoodie
– One (1) Signed ‘Synthesis’ CD

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Amy Lee’s song “Speak To Me” won a Hollywood Music in Media Award

November 17, 2017 By Justin No Comments

Last night the Hollywood Music in Media Awards were held at the nightclub Avalon Hollywood in Los Angeles where Amy Lee‘s song “Speak To Me”, the end title theme from Voice From The Stone movie, won in the category best original song in an independent film.
The song competed with the following nominees:

ORIGINAL SONG – INDEPENDENT FILM
• “Calling to Me” (One Percent More Humid) Written by Nathan Halpern. Performed by Emily Forsythe
• “My tiredness Hasn’t limit” (The Enchanted) Written by Ivan Ruiz Serrano, Ricardo Davila and Angela Boj, performed by Angela Boj
• “PBNJ” (Patti Cake$) Written By Geremy Jasper & Jason Binnick. Performed by Danielle Macdonald, Siddharth Dhananjay & Cathy Moriarty
• “Speak To Me” (Voice from the Stone) Written by Amy Lee & Michael Wandmacher. Performed by Amy Lee

“Speak to Me” is a song by American singer Amy Lee recorded for the ending credits of the independent movie Voice from the Stone (2017). It was published online and made available for digital download on March 17, 2017. For the song, Lee collaborated with the movie’s score producer Michael Wandmacher and director Eric Dennis Howell with whom she got acquainted to Voice from the Stone and its plot. Inspired by the movie’s story line which she could relate to her personal life as a recent mother, Lee decided to contribute to the soundtrack with an original song. Musically, “Speak to Me” is a piano ballad instrumentally complete with strings, booming drums and cellos and features lyrics in which the protagonist pleads for love.

Upon its release, the song received critical acclaim from music critics most of whom praised its haunting and cinematic sound accompanied by the singer’s trademark vocals. A music video for the song for which Lee collaborated with Howell was filmed at the same location as the movie, in Siena. It serves as a backstory to the movie and it features Lee singing the song and playing the piano in a gothic castle setting; shots of her walking at a garden with a boy are present throughout. As the song itself, the visual received positive feedback from critics who felt that it was a fitting accompaniment to the song’s overall musical style and the movie’s tone. [Source]