Just like one of the gang, Evanescence frontwoman Amy Lee emerges from a hotel suite, strides up to a pristinely arranged table of cold cuts and crackers, and declares herself famished.

Garbed in a pixie-like outfit, which sees her sporting a sleeveless heather-grey tee, over a black, pink frilly edge skirt and slightly worn Cons, the 24-year-old California native then joins her handlers in trying to figure out who’d be wearing what to last night’s MuchMusic Video Awards.

Moments later, now fully energized, the fresh-faced singer/ songwriter tucks herself comfortably into a plush couch in her Yorkville hotel, eager to talk about her band’s latest disc, “The Open Door,” due in stores October 3.

“It’s just killing me,” she says with a mock laugh. “I wish we could put it out right now.”

“I mean, who knows what’s going to happen by October? We may all be worshipping polka people by then.”

Three years after their major label debut, the multi-platinum, Grammy-winning “Fallen,” Lee says the new record lets her finally stretch herself in ways even she didn’t think possible.

“The Open Door,” the band’s first album since the departure of lead guitarist and main songwriter Ben Moody in 2003, finds Evanescence rocking out way more, she says.

“I think if people expect this album is going to be softer and more feminine and more wimpy, they’re going to be surprised,” she begins carefully. “It’s not an album full of “My Immortal”-like songs. Every song is completely different and I feel like at times it definitely goes heavier than we had the capacity to do before. But in a way that’s still new and fun and unique and not trying to be like anything else that’s out there.”

Sidestepping Moody’s abrupt departure for a moment, Lee admits that her work on the disc, which was recorded in Los Angeles earlier this year, helped her discover how to be a better artist.

“This time around I was in control completely and didn’t have any real limits,” she says. “I felt like I could do things that I didn’t know I could do before and that’s an incredible feeling. And I realized I could do a lot more things than I thought I could, as a singer, as a music writer, even as an engineer.”

(more…)

Amy looked great last night! Unfortunately I haven’t been able to find many pictures from the event but I will keep trying =)

Click image to view the rest of the pictures.

Thanks to Rachel for the heads up!

Happy cupcake sprinkly funland-the album!

hi guys. part of me thinks it would be best not to say a word about the first single, because the only way to really appreciate or ‘get’ the title of the song is to hear it- BUT- i just want to assure you- no rainbows or butterflies. Call me when you’re sober is cool to me because the lyrics are so blunt, its impossible to misinterpret. Im just getting a little braver, thats all. I wrote it pissed off and finally ready to change my life after putting up with way too much. Its not a pop song, its not a ballad, it rocks. But it isn’t “typical evanescence” either. I hope you all love the record, i know i do, but just one tip about it- each song really has a life of its own. It would be impossible to judge the record on one song alone. Some are much heavier than weve ever been before, some more soulful, some more fun- the only word that really describes all of them is “more.” …as I’m reading this I still think its all meaningless without hearing the album. Just be open minded, because I wasn’t aiming to give people what they expect.
i love you guys!!! almost there!
-amy

—————————————-

Man am I excited about this album! Just..a…few…more…months! Can’t wait!!

Click here to pre-order Evanescence’s new album ‘The Open Door’. :D

Just a quick note to let you all know that Evanescence will be presenting an award at the 2006 MuchMusic Video Awards which airs Sunday June 18th. =)

Hollywood, CA (May 2, 2006)–Multi-Platinum band Evanescence recently recorded overdubs and mixed their upcoming album in Ocean Way’s Studio D, equipped with the Neve 88R console and totally extensive collection of vintage outboard gear and microphones.

The project was helmed by producer/engineer Dave Fortman, who produced and recorded Evanesence’s 2003 album Fallen, which has been certified 6x Platinum, spent 43 weeks in the Billboard Top Ten and has sold over 12 million copies worldwide. The new Evanescence album, The Open Door, is on the Wind-Up Records label and will be released on October 3.

Bands New Studio Album To Debut October 3

Los Angeles (April 26, 2006) Following the multi-platinum, worldwide success of their major-label debut, Fallen, Evanescence is poised to build upon their respected position in the rock community with their sophomore effort, The Open Door, from Wind-up Records in stores October 3, 2006.
With what some call a meteoric rise to the top, Fallen brought the Little Rock, Arkansas band to global success with 14 million records in the hands of fans worldwide, two Top 10 singles, My Immortal and Bring Me To Life, two Grammy Awards in 2003 (Best New Artist and Best Hard Rock Performance for Bring Me To Life). Fallen spent over one hundred weeks on Billboard Magazines Top 200 chart, was certified gold or platinum in over 35 countries Worldwide, and supported sold-out arenas globally.

The Open Door was recorded in Los Angeles at The Record Plant in early 2006 and mixed at the venerable Ocean Way Studios in March 2006. It includes the return of long-time friend and producer Dave Fortman (Mudvayne, Bif Naked). The new album is an ideal showcase for the bands inevitable personal and professional growth, with songs of introspection, longing, doubt, self-respect and ultimately, empowerment and anticipation. Several songs include a choir, as well as strings recorded in an old chapel. The album is defined by Amy Lees beautiful melodies, profound lyrics, stunning vocals and poignant piano, which fuse with Terry Balsamos urgent, yet intricate guitar playing, to form a remarkable, ethereal blend perfectly rooted in the bands rock and classical sensibilities.

“The making of this record has been really intense, but I’ve come out feeling purified, shared Lee. I’ve grown so much since ‘Fallen,’ and Terry is the perfect writing partner — I feel like I’ve been lifted up to a whole new level of inspiration and possibilities. After all the things we’ve seen over the past couple of years, beautiful and tragic, in the end I’m really grateful. It has made us create music I could not be more in love with.”

Evanescence is Amy Lee (vocals, piano), Terry Balsamo (guitar), John LeCompt (guitar), Will Boyd (bass) and Rocky Gray (drums). Formed in the late 90s, Evanescence released two EPs and their first full-length album, the much-sought-after Origin, which included My Immortal, on their own before finding a home at Wind-up Records. Fallen, their major-label debut, was released in April 2003 to critical and commercial success and is certified 6x platinum. Anywhere But Home, their 2004 live DVD release, has sold over 1 million copies. For more information, please visit www.evanescence.com or www.winduprecords.com

Credit: www.myspace.com/evanescence

Frontwoman says Ben Moody held her back, new songwriting partner lifts her up.

This summer’s going to be an impossible one for Evanescence frontwoman Amy Lee.

If she ruled the world (or at least ran her band’s label, Wind-Up Records), The Open Door would be on shelves by week’s end. But instead, fans will have to wait until October 3 for the follow-up to Evanescence’s 2003 breakthrough, Fallen.

“I’m just totally dying to get it out,” she said. “It seems like it’s been forever since Fallen,” which has sold about 6.5 million copies in the United States. Plus, Lee’s just flat-out psyched about The Open Door.

“I feel like with Fallen, a lot of those songs sound like I was trying to prove myself and establish what we were and our sound,” she explained. “I was trapped having to feel a certain way. But with the new record, I sort of went with everything. I am not afraid to feel happy sometimes, and I think there’s moments on the album with sensuality, which is really fun and beautiful, instead of the last time, where I felt like I was only getting out part of me. This record embraces the whole me.”

It’s been a hell of a three years for Evanescence. The forthcoming disc — which will feature 13 tracks including “Good Enough,” “Weight of the World” and the first single, “Call Me When You’re Sober” — will be the Arkansas band’s first since the departure of lead guitarist and principal songwriter Ben Moody, who jumped ship in 2003, in the middle of Evanescence’s European tour.

  (more…)

Revolver magazine is reporting that EVANESCENCE have set “The Open Door” as the title of the follow-up to their multi-platinum major label debut, “Fallen”, tentatively due in August via Wind-Up Records. The upcoming CD will be the group’s first since the departure of guitarist/chief songwriter Ben Moody, who quit in 2003.

In November, Moody’s replacement, Terry Balsamo (ex-COLD), was rushed to the hospital after suffering a stroke caused by a torn neck artery. And December brought a flurry of lawsuits between singer Amy Lee and her former manager, whom she accused of professional negligence and sexual assault.

“Yeah there’s been some drama,” Lee told Revolver. “When we started recording, I was in a pretty dark place — there were nights where I’d stand in the backyard, turn up PINK FLOYD really loud and jump in the pool with my clothes on. It was a tearful, rough time.”

Eventually, though, Lee turned a corner and decided to “clip out all the black spots” in her life; that’s when her role as the group’s new main songwriter began to bloom. “With Ben it was always, ‘No, no, that’s not commercial enough,’” she told Revolver, “It’s so liberating not to have someone standing over me constantly shooting my ideas down.

“I don’t want to insult my first record, because I love it,” she continued. “But I love this 10 times more — it’s sexier. On the first one I was young and small and afraid to express myself. Now I’m talking from my true heart — which isn’t always miserable.”

Check out this short article with Amy where she reveals that the new album will be called ‘The Open Door’.