EVANESCENCE Frontwoman: 'I'm Hearing Myself Grow Within The Music'

Melissa Rayworth of The Associated Press recently conducted an interview with EVANESCENCE frontwoman Amy Lee. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

On how the band's new album comapred to "Fallen":

"It's still, first and foremost, coming from my heart. But you can definitely say it's feeling different since Ben's [Moody] leaving. The guitars are a completely new style. Terry [Balsamo, guitar] rocks. It's innovative, but not so out there that you can't relate."

On being looked to for advice at an age when most women are seeking mentors of their own:

"It's really wild. I never went into this thinking, 'I'm gonna set a good example.' I started creating art because I was searching for answers, and it was that searching that led to my music. From a lot of my lyrics, I feel like I don't understand how people are really looking up to me. Because it's all questions.

"But I do encourage people to care. There's a lot of apathy in our youth. A lot of people living with situations they're in without doing anything about it. In the new album, I go for, 'What's the solution? How do I get out of this?' I'm hearing myself grow within the music and also personally grow."

On always being an adviser of sorts:

"I think part of my job probably is counseling. I don't want to say more than I should. I mean, I don't have a medical degree. But I'm sort of a friend, like an advice columnist. In high school, I was the person a lot of people would come to, even people who didn't know me that well. They wanted to spend the night at my house and talk."

On helping fans through their darkest times, even saving some from considering suicide:

"It's important to let out what you're feeling, to tell somebody or write a song or write a poem, and read it to your class. Better to do that, rather than pretending it's fine and kicking yourself later. React to the world. The world is a scary place."