Evanescence’s Amy Lee: ‘My Rage Has Gotta Go Somewhere’

Amy Lee says anger at the state of the world is feeding Evanescence’s current creative drive, as the band put everything into their music and live shows following the release of Sanctuary.

Speaking with Rock 100.5 The KATT FM’s Cameron Buchholtz at Sick New World Texas in Fort Worth, Lee described a band feeling supported by one another and ready to push further, with the response to their latest album encouraging bigger production and more videos.

Evanescence‘s Sanctuary arrived in June, and the band followed it in September with a video for ‘Tell Me When You’ve Had Enough’, directed by Eric Richter.

“In my heart, [I] just [have] a lot to say about the state of the world, and I feel like rock is the place for that. I mean, my rage has gotta go somewhere.”

Evanescence ‘Tell Me When You’ve Had Enough’ video

The comments were transcribed by Blabbermouth, with Lee also explaining how much the connection between the band and its audience matters to her.

“And when we get together, it’s just a really beautiful and powerful thing to be able to bring big groups of people together to feel something real. So we’ve just been going for it.”

Amy Lee (Evanescence) interview

That enthusiasm extends to the stage show, with Lee describing a willingness to commit to the ideas they want to pursue rather than hold anything back.

“Go for the pyro. Make a killer music video. Do another one. We’re just on a roll. So we’re just making our own space.”

When Buchholtz raised the wider upswing in rock music, Lee agreed, although she spoke about experiencing success differently now compared with the rush that accompanied Fallen and ‘Bring Me To Life’.

“I couldn’t appreciate that then the way that I appreciate it now, for a million different reasons.”

For Lee, the resurgence also gives fans somewhere to take their own feelings, with festivals offering the same kind of release she finds in making music.

“We all just need to get together and scream. It’s right. It’s righteous. It’s where we feel our power as human beings. It’s in the soul. And so it’s a beautiful thing.”