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Evanescence Members
Amy Lee - Vocals, Piano
John LeCompt - Guitar
Will Boyd - Bass
Terry Balsamo - Guitar
Rocky Gray - Drums
  
evanescence (ev'e-nes'ens ): a dissipation or disappearance like vapor.

Although the band's name may suggest a sudden vanishing, the music of Evanescence is poised for longevity. Fallen, the Wind-up Records debut of this talented quartet from Little Rock, Arkansas, is an emotional, ethereal work of undeniable potency guided by the heavenly vocals of Amy Lee. "We're definitely a rock band," says the 20-year-old Lee. "But the twist is that the band's music is epic, dramatic, dark rock."

Evanescence first took shape in Little Rock at the end of the '90s. Predictably, the band didn't quite fit the mold of most others lingering around the Midwestern state. "It's typically death metal or really soft, older-people music there," says Lee. "I don't even know of any local bands that have female singers."

Influenced by a wide-ranging collection of artists such as Björk, Danny Elfman and Tori Amos, the band started releasing EPs of its material. Even without the benefit of live performances, Evanescence began to establish a reputation.

Fallen was tracked in Los Angeles with producer Dave Fortman (BOYSETSFIRE, Superjoint Ritual). The album successfully finds that intangible balance between lush beauty and primal heaviness. Typical of the record is the first single, "Bring Me To Life," a piano ballad-turned-riff-driven barnburner. Highlighted by a guest vocal from Paul McCoy of 12 Stones, the song is featured prominently in the Daredevil film and soundtrack.

Lyrically, Evanescence explores dark, introspective themes of love, desperation, and despair. But the group insists its fundamental message is a positive one. "The point of this whole record and band is to let people know that they're not alone in dealing with bad feelings or pain or anything that they go through," says Lee, who pens most of the words. "That's life and that's human. They're not alone, and we're going through it, too."

The Massive success that Evanescence has enjoyed so far is, in the words of co-founder and lead singer Amy Lee, "really bizarre when you think about it. Obviously I always thought we were good enough - I love our music and I love our band - but I never thought it would happen on this scale. I look at my face on the album cover sometimes and wonder if its really me."

Indeed it is. Lee's passionate vocals, combined with the band's aggressive muscularity, have helped debut album FALLEN sell over 12 million copies worldwide, spawning the hits Bring Me to Life (#1 in several countries), Going Under and My Immortal. a slew of awards have followed, including two Grammys in 2003: Best New Artist and, for Bring Me to Life, Best Hard Rock Performance.

The inherent drama in Evanescence's musical approach - a kind of widescreen goth that can turn on a dime from piano-led introspection to hammering guitar riff-a-rama - obviously hit hard with audiences worldwide.

We love what we do, and I think that comes through; we definitely try to put that into our music," Lee explains. "It's real, honest and genuine. We're not just trying to sell records, it comes from the heart. Of all of us."

The story becomes even more amazing when one considers the group's humble beginnings: Lee and co-founder Ben Moody started writing and recording together at each other's parents' houses, and only hired musicians to perform live a couple of times a year.

"It was weird going out on our first tour," she recalls. "No one had any expectations, and we were doing a couple of shows in skating rinks for, like, 10 people - it was pretty hilarious. But by the end of the week there would be a huge difference every time, and by the end of the month we were playing to hundreds of people - and by last summer we were playing in from of 50,000 people in Germany."

The inclusion of Bring Me To Life on the daredevil soundtrack (along with My Immortal) helped get the ball rolling. As the airplay picture grew, the request lines starting lighting up. "That's how it spread around the country, and around the world," Lee enthuses. "That's my favorite part of the story - it happened not because we were being shoved down people's throats, but people were finding the band pretty much on their own. Who would we be without the fans? Nobody."

Evanescence has repaid that debt with an unrelenting touring schedule. "To see some of the stuff we've had the opportunity to see has been amazing...though sometimes you feel that 'so close and yet so far' thing," Lee laughs. "We were in New Zealand and thought we'd get to see the rainforest. but we had the show to do. Sometimes we've just seen a lot of really beautiful hotel rooms."

Now Lee and her bandmates are turning their attention to writing for FALLEN's follow-up.

"We're taking it very slowly." she says. "FALLEN was a good piece of art but we don't want to make the same record again - what's the point? We want it to be inventive and original, like the first one was. We write separately, and will come together soon and start to work together."

Joining Lee, bassist Will Boyd, drummer Rocky Gray, and guitarist John LeCompt is new guitarist Terry Balsamo, formerly of alternative metal band Cold, who replaced co-founder Ben Moody after the latter's exist in October 2003.

"Terry's a dream come true," Lee enthuses. "He's a cool, laid back guy that we've all been friends with. He's an incredible musician, a great writer, and an all-around five-star guy. I love him very much - there's no drama, it's more of a celebration than a struggle."

One constant in Evanescence's approach will remain Lee's background in classical music; having spent nine years studying classical piano, she's not about to turn her back on it now.

"What I bring to the band is the idea and vibe of the romantic/classical/orchestral thing - the strings, the choir, the ethereal background vocals, and the piano," she says. "The band brings the rock - the guitars and drums. Together we create something that's very original."