Evanescence's broken record

Blog dedicated to Evanescence's "broken record" produced by Steve Lillywhite, intended to be their third album. This serves as an archive for that era. - Interviews - Photos from the studio - Videos from the studio

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Evanescence leaves the studio

On April 20, 2010, Amy announced on EvClub that the band had left the studio to work more on the songs, adding, “like I’ve always said, good things take time.”

I wanted to let you guys know that we’ve decided to take a little time out of the studio to work more on the music. There is more that I want to do and I want to make this album the best it can possibly be, so I’m not going to rush it. It means too much to me. Taking a breath, digging deeper into myself, and moving forward with even more strength than before. Like I’ve always said, good things take time! ;) I’ll keep you posted, talk to you soon...

On June 21, 2010, she made a public post on EvThreads announcing the band had taken time out of the studio to work on more songs and that her label had been going through “uncertain times”:

Hey guys, I wanted to fill you in on what's been going on. We've taken some time out of the studio to get our heads into the right creative space, work on the songs and even write some more music. Terry and I spent a little time together this month working in Jacksonville, kinda like we did before we recorded The Open Door, and the whole band is getting together to jam this week. My record label has been going through some very uncertain times, as are many record labels, and that's made things a little unclear....we really want to make sure the whole machine is working together when it's time to put out the album. We are focusing on what we do best: making music. We'll be back in the studio recording the album soon enough. I think that it can only be stronger for this extra time we're putting into it, and we will all be better for the hurdles in the end. Thank you, again and always, for being such patient and loyal fans- I believe in this music and I can't wait to share it with you.

love, Amy

In 2015, Amy explained how the material recorded in 2010 was rejected by her record label and said she plans to release some of it someday:

That album was the first time I watched something I was working on totally blow up in my face. The suits had a change of heart during a frustrating recording process and I was told that none of the songs I'd been pouring my heart into for a year, in any form, were good enough- time to start over. I was devastated. I was furious. I was determined to take control of the situation and use it to push myself forward. It ended up making me angry enough to write Evanescence's heaviest album- which I love- and we did end up using 3 songs from the original project, but I was still left feeling unsatisfied about what I lovingly refer to as my "broken record." I've believed, mostly alone, in this damaged little handful of unfinished recordings for 5 years- and for the first time, I own them. I plan to finish some, re-do some, and probably keep a couple to myself.

Note: We included EvClub info because the forum no longer exists.

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Terry recording guitar on April 8, 2010.

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On March 27, 2010, producer Warren Riker entered the studio with Steve Lillywhite to work on the album.

Source

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Evanescence Recording New Album, Plots Summer Tour (March 26, 2010)

After just over three weeks in the studio in New York, Evanescence's Amy Lee says she feels "like I'm making the best album of my life." "I know that seems weird to say, but I wouldn't be here in the studio making another record if I didn't think it was going to be better than anything I've ever done," Lee -- who came to fame with Evanescence's seven-times platinum 2003 debut "Fallen" and continued with 2006's double-platinum "The Open Door" -- tells Billboard.com. "I feel like so much has already happened. I don't even know where to begin to try to describe it...'cause it's just so many things at once. I'm really excited." Lee began writing for the as-yet untitled album -- which is due for a fall release, with a first single out in the summer and a tour to follow -- more than a year ago, then accelerated the process when she began working with percussionist and producer Will "Science" Hunt (not to be confused with Evanescence drummer Will Hunt), who's been her chief collaborator on the new songs. The result, Lee says, is "a lot of electronic influence -- industrial is a better word for it," but she promises it's not going to be a wholesale reinvention of the Evanescence sound. "It wouldn't be an Evanescence album if it didn't sound somewhat like Evanescence," explains Lee, who's incorporating the harp, which she learned to play between albums, in several of the new songs. "I feel like our band has always had programming and inspirations from Bjork and Depeche Mode and Massive Attack and that kind of thing. It's not like we're making one of those records; it's just, like, that is playing a bigger role in the sound of Evanescence this time. Those little nuances and hints come in in ways that are cool. The sound that we're going for as a group is to fuse synthetic instruments with organic instruments and create something that sounds like a whole new place. It just sounds larger than life." Lee says the group -- which also includes guitarist Terry Balsamo and bassist Tim McCord -- and producer Steve Lillywhite are currently recording about 16 songs and is "still working and...finishing writing here and there. Some of them aren't finished lyric-wise or writing-wise, but I really feel like it's mostly there." Some of the songs, Lee acknowledges, are compositions for potential film projects that weren't used. Lee confesses to being a bit apprehensive after the long gap since "The Open Door," but she says a pair of one-off shows during November in New York and Brazil gave her confidence that Evanescence's following is still intact. "I was really nervous 'cause it had been so long," she says, "but it was amazing to see how many fans there still are that are waiting for us after all this time. It's really inspiring, and it makes me excited to show them how much we've grown." Lee is, not surprisingly, less excited to talk about We Are The Fallen, the group formed by Evanescence co-founder Ben Lee and other former members -- John LeCompt and Rocky Gray -- whose debut album comes out in May. "It just doesn't have anything to do with me or Evanescence," she notes. "The only thing that bothers me about it, really, is I keep hearing...about 'the original members.' The only original members of Evanescence are me and Ben; John and Rocky came into the band after we'd already recorded "Fallen," so there's a lot of years there...that didn't include anybody but Ben and I. Other than that, I don't have an opinion or anything to say about it."

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another piece of the puzzle...

On March 24, 2010, Amy Lee posted a clip Twitter in which she plays the piano part for a new song.

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“I can’t explain how excited I am to make this record”, said Amy Lee. “Over the past year and a half these songs have become the center of my life, and I can't wait to hear what they grow into in the studio. I think our sound is evolving into something that will surprise people, in a very good way. I feel, as always, that growth can be an incredible, limitless thing if you let it. I never want to make the same album twice.”

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Interview with Amy Lee of Evanescence on East Village Radio (Transcript) - March 23, 2010

Steve Lillywhite: Ah, Steve Lillywhite here on East Village Radio and I am joined by, shall we turn the microphone up for Amy? Um, do we have that? Is Amy? You’re on there? Hey, Amy Lee! Welcome to the Lillywhite Sessions! Amy Lee: Test, 1, 2, 3… yeah… Hey! How’s it going? *laughs* Thanks for having me! Steve: Here we are, yes, who would’ve of thought? Um… Amy: Everybody! Steve: Everybody would’ve thought… they’re all listening, all those ten people now! We’ve doubled our listeners… so that’s wonderful, and um, I’m just going to play one more song and then we’ll get down to chat. Amy: Sweet. Steve: Okay, this is the wonderful Damien Rice and The Blower’s Daughter. (Music Break: Damien Rice – The Blower’s Daughter) Steve: There you go, it’s nice and quiet now. This is Steve Lillywhite with Amy Lee and Amy, so, uh, I hear that you’re in town… you’re living in New York now. Amy: Yes, that’s right. Steve: Or more like Brooklyn. Amy: Well, whichever. Steve: Well, one of the two. Amy: Yeah *laughs* Steve: And uh, you’re here making a new album. Amy: Yes, with you! Steve: Oh, really!? Wow, that’s fantastic! Amy: Yeah, in fact I think we’re headed there right after this. Steve: Exactly! That’s why Amy came here towards the end of the show cause we’re both going to jump in a taxi afterwards and head off to the studio where we’re gonna be starting to do some singing. Amy: Yup. Tonight. Steve: And, tonight, I’m so excited. Although, I have to say, even her rough vocals are sounding extremely, extremely good. Amy: Ah! I’m ready to get rid of those rough vocal tracks, yeah… I’m ready to make it rule this time. Steve: Make it rule, well, I think so far so good. I mean these people say to me “Does it sound? What’s it sound like? Do you have any ideas of how would you describe this record so far?” Amy: It’s really hard because I just feel like it’s so many things at once. But, um, I’ve always felt that way. *laughs* Like every time we make a record, but I do feel like this record is definitely different even more-so than before, but in a really cool, good, true, way. You know, um, I think that there’s more influences from all over the place and honestly I’ve… in the creative process I had a lot more fun, I think than? I mean I had a lot of fun last time actually, making The Open Door was a great experience, but I don’t know… this is all the choices that you make when you’re writing. I feel like they were always about just what felt good and was really fun without thinking about any kind of consequences. Steve: Right, you have a great new, um, guy you’re working with, like, Will? Amy: Yes, Will, yes. Steve: Uh, his, his name is Will Hunt, although there is another Will Hunt. So… *laughs* Amy: Yeah, that’s right! There’s two Will Hunts in the band now, so, we have to always stick with the difference… and much to Will’s probably, I don’t know he probably hates it, hates it! Yeah! *laughs* But, um, we call him ‘science’ as a joke because he does so many of these cool beats, you know, and sounds… he’s really good at it. Steve: Yeah, he’s a, I must admit, you know, he’s a young guy from Texas and his time will come. He is a very talented, talented guy. Amy: I believe it. This may be that time! Steve: Yeah! Oh, this will be his time and um, I must admit, I’m every excited by working with him and all of you. Amy: Yeah, me too. Me too. Steve: So, uh, Amy has chosen a wonderful track off the new Depeche Mode album to play. Amy: Oh, yes! Steve: And, um, we’ll play that and talk about that afterwards, the opening song, called… Amy: In Chains. (Music Break: Depeche Mode – In Chains) Steve: Hi… Steve Lillywhite on the East Village Radio.com so, that’s it, it’s on the internet, it’s not on the radio. I’m here with Amy Lee and we are opposite the funeral home. Did you know, Amy, that in England we don’t bury our dead? Amy: Hey, *laughs* really? Steve: We just burn them. Amy: Awww. Steve: Because we don’t have any room. Amy: You don’t have the space, yeah. Steve: We don’t have the space, so, um… Amy: Well, New York feels that way. For sure, sometimes… Steve: New York, yes! If anyone dies in New York, they’d probably burn you as well. But, there you go! There’s nothing wrong with that. We all die at the end as you well know. Amy: You’re turning dark! Is that me rubbing off on you? *laughs* Steve: No, no, no, no… so, um, so Amy! Someone has been instant messaging us about lyrics. Amy: Yeah! What’s the question say? Steve: Inspiration, maybe? Or? Amy: Um, I missed the question… they’re just asking about inspiration! Where they come from, I guess… Steve: Well, what was the question about over there? Yeah! Amy: Um, just from my life! I mean, honestly, I’m always writing about what I’m feeling and a lot of times the things that I feel like I can’t say. Like to people around me or even to myself. So, it’s an interesting thing sometimes. I’ll listen back to lyrics, like a couple months later after recording them and writing them and then go, “Oh…”, like, I know what I was talking about. My subconscious was trying to tell me something. It’s really cool, it’s just very therapeutic for me. I definitely just write what makes me feel better and then sometimes the sense comes a little bit later. Steve: Right, right. And I’ve always said to new artists I’ve worked with, actually, I said “Journalists will always try and trick you, when they’ll always say ‘What’s that song about?’ You don’t, you never need to explain your lyrics because you always just say to them ‘What do you think?’” Amy: Oh, that’s good to hear! *laughs* Yeah, well, its art, you know. There’s so many ways that you can interpret it, and I think, um, it’s cool. I get all kinds of people saying that different songs mean different things to them. Steve: Different things to different people. Amy: And… I love that. Steve: That’s the thing, you know, I think sometimes when an artist is so specific about the meaning of a song… I just, quick story… I remember with U2, there was song off the Atomic Bomb album which Bono said was about his Dad, called ‘Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own’. And I always thought that he should never have been so specific about this being about his father because, in fact, the song could really mean a lot more to people if they didn’t think of Bono talking about his Dad. Amy: Hmmm. Right. Steve: You know, it could just be about, you know… about whatever you think. Amy: About whatever. Like something anyone could apply, yeah. Steve: Yeah, yeah. So, anyway… that was that. We’re now going to play a little more music which is a band that I had something to do with, that we all love. Uh, it’s a band called MGMT. Who, uh… Amy: Who I’ve been listening to a lot lately and I remember we were talking about that when we were talking about you producing the record. Steve: Yes. Amy: And I mentioned that I liked them a lot, and you were like, “Oh, well, I’m partially responsible for them.” Yeah… Steve: I know, I know. I was… I had a conference job, um, an A&R man at Columbian Records and this band came in and one girl I was working for said “Steve. We really want to sign them. Can you talk to this band and give them the schmooze and I listened to the music and I said “Yeah, we really need to sign this band.” Amy: Yeah… Steve: So, you know, we brought them in and had a long chat and actually I bumped into them the other day at a Phish concert funnily enough and uh, yeah, their a great band and their new album’s coming out. But this is ‘Electric Feel’ from their first album. Amy: Oh, cool… one of my favorites. (Music Break: MGMT – Electric Feel) Steve: Steve Lillywhite here on East Village Radio with, of course, the beautiful Amy Lee from Evanescence. Who’s actually on the phone with someone else, but there she goes… *laughs* Amy: Sorry, sorry… I was on the phone. Steve: She was on the phone! Amy: We just got a call from Kuwait. Steve: A call from Kuwait!? Oh, my goodness. Amy: Yes. From Muhammad, who was very nice. Steve: Muhammad from Kuwait. How are you doing, Muhammad? I’m going to play a song for you. Um… just to change it up and oh, make it different. (Music Break: ) Steve: Hello, Steve Lillywhite on East Village Radio! I was just telling Amy that I did stand at the exact place where Jesus was crucified and I started singing that song. How cool was that? That I didn’t get struck down by lightning. There you go! Enough of that… *laughs* Amy: There you go! Steve: Um, yes, what can I say… but here I am, East Village Radio, Steve Lillywhite with Amy Lee and we’re on our way to the studio. Amy: Good to be here. Steve: But not after… not until another twenty-four and a half minutes goes by. Whoa, there’s the phone. Amy: We’re getting a lot of calls. Steve: We’re getting a lot… this is, uh… Amy: My phone, guys, is kind of like not working now because there’s been too many tweets, so… ha-ha, it’s totally fried. Steve: There’s lots, uh, really? Amy: But I can’t really look at them for the next five minutes until they slow down a little bit. Steve: Right, um… we’re going to play another Amy Lee choice… which is? Amy: Oh, I chose… one of my very favorite songs from high school. It was sort of like my, one of my big anthems in high school is by Garbage, it’s called Stupid Girl. Steve: Ah… we love this. (Music Break: Garbage – Stupid Girl) Steve: Steve Lillywhite here on East Village radio and the phones are ringing off, awww, this is so much fun here! I’m here with Amy Lee and we’re having fun, so… everyone wants to know, Amy, there was a fire at the studio, lets talk about that. Amy: Yes, okay… well, I was in a different room. I was in the library and playing the piano, um, I think I was writing a little part and yeah. And then, Derek, our wonderful assistant, busted in the door and goes “There’s a fire in the building! We got to get out of here right now!” and I was like “Um, okay!” So, I… *laughs* Steve: Well, I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you what happened because we were in the control room and the technical guy from the studio came in and said “Look guys, there is a fire in the studio.” So, um, of course, the first thing we did, which was really, what you’re not supposed to do was pack up our laptops. *laughs* Amy: Right, right. Well, it was more than that because everybody started packing up, okay, I didn’t. I bailed on everything because I smelled something right before and I thought “Hmmm, it smells kind of like a fire in the fireplace.” But it smelled kind of good to me at first? So, I didn’t think about it, we have a fire place at our place, so I was kind of used to it. Um, and then I ran out, and went “Oh, no.” Ran back in the room which is what you’re really not supposed to do and I got my laptop, and my phone, and my stuff and then ran out. And then I heard, or I remember, Will ran back half way through or whatever and got the hard drive. So, that if all else was lost we would have the album. *laughs* Steve: The hard drive, right. Well, yeah and, in fact, I, um, I was told that I shouldn’t use the elevator and go down the stairs. And I went down the stairs and walked through a lot of smoke. But, I was two minute ahead of you and this just shows how fast fire does travel. Because you tried to go down the stairs but you couldn’t. Amy: No, we couldn’t. Yeah, and we could not. That’s where it was coming from! Steve: Yeah, yeah, so they had… it was actually from another building that shared the same fire escape. Amy: Connected stairwell, and all that. Steve: And the same stairwell, but you know, the firemen came and who knows whether it could’ve spread but they did their job. Amy: They were great. Yeah. Steve: Because, uh, there was a lot of smoke, but… Amy: Well, I talked to the firemen after and I said “How often do you guys do this?” and he said “This is our second one today.” And it was only the middle of the day… I think it happens a lot in town, so. Steve: Right, it does. But you know, there you go! So that’s for everyone who wanted to know about the fire. Amy: So, we’re fine! Everything is fine from the fire… still smells a little smoky, but… we’re on track. *laughs* Steven: The album’s [fine]… *laughs* It does! *laughs* We are on track. I’m going to play a song now, that I recorded, back in the day with a band called, um, The Lars. (Music Break: The Lars) Steve Lillywhite: Steve Lillywhite, East Village Radio and uh, that was The Lars’ “Son of a Gun”, off the album “The Lars”, it was their only album. But in fact I did an interview last week for the box set, which is very strange, very strange. Ah, but anyway, I’m here with Amy Lee. …and how are we doing? Amy Lee: I just picked a song, last minute, so… he’s plugged it in for any second. Well, you can talk if you want. Talking’s cool. Steve: [she picked a song, alright] Well, we’ll talk, we have fifteen minutes to go, uh, the weather here in New York’s a little bit gloomy. But, uh… Amy: *laughs* I like it that way. That’s the most inspiring to me definitely. Steve: Yes, yes, Amy… my sensible (?) opinion. Amy: *laughs* What’s that supposed to mean!? Steve: *laughs* Oh! I don’t know! Amy: Well, it’s like you’re supposed to be inside and it’s raining or whatever and… Steve: Well, yeah, the great thing when you’re making an album, is that you don’t want to be tempted by “Oh, the weather’s nice. I wanna go outside.” You wanna go “Oh I wanna go in and” which is… yeah! Amy: *laughs* Yeah… and just hunker-down in the cave and get creative and read. Steve: Which is why I always thought the best music came from, um, from places that were not great weather. Amy: Right. Steve: You know, because… Amy: Oh, right. Like Seattle! Steve: Yeah, like Seattle, or London, or Manchester. Amy: Yeah, mhmmm Steve: You know, although L.A., you know, all that sort of… although I have to say I love the Beach Boys as well, you know… Amy: Hah… totally. Steve: Um… what can I say? So, Amy, would you like to introduce this next song? Amy: I just picked a song off my iPod. It is Tear Drop by Massive Attack. It’s probably… it, it is my favorite song of theirs. Steve: Fantastic. Here we go! (Music Break: Massive Attack – Tear Drop) Amy: Hah, somebody said that? Steve: Someone just tweeted: let’s, we don’t want to hear songs, let’s just… Amy: Talk Amy, nobody wants to hear your song. Steve: Aww, well, you know, if you wanna hear… I mean, that’s why we didn’t play any old Evanescence because basically if you’re listening to this… Amy: You’ve heard it. Steve: You can listen to it whenever you want. Amy: Sure. Steve: So… Amy, we talked about the fire, we talked about lyrics, um, what about touring? Amy: What, what are you saying? Oh, they’re asking… Steve: Ah! The stomping! Well, that’s about me, that’s nothing to do… Steve’s stomping… Amy: No, it was pretty funny! Well, that’s us in the studio. I mean, I wonder if they know what we were doing. Steve: We were doing some, some stomping, uh… Amy: A stomp track. Steve: A stomp track. Amy: To, like, effect and filter and make into a really cool, like, beat. Steve: Right. And I was stomping, we had to stomp on the beat. Now, I realized… Amy: *laughs* Steve: As I was, see these are all these thoughts that are all gonna happen within a split second, but as I was jumping up I realized I’m a little ahead of the beat… so I need to hold, I need to slow… Amy: I need to defy gravity and stay in the air longer and that doesn’t work. *laughs* Steve: Exactly! That’s what I was trying to do! And all these split second decisions happened in my mind that actually ended up me, falling over, and uh… Amy: It was priceless. Steve: I did say we should send that off to America’s Funniest Videos and we could earn $250. Amy: Well, I was saying, they should have a show called um, America’s, well, not America’s, just like Funniest Celebrity Videos type show… [it'd be pretty lame]. But no one would ever approve of anything. Steve: No, exactly. But, I want everyone to see me falling over. Amy: Yeah, it’s pretty good. Steve: That was awful. Amy: I, I plan on tweeting more videos from the studio soon. Steve: Yes, there will be more videos! Amy has been doing a fantastic job with her Flip camera… Amy: Oh yeah, I have! I’ve been documenting pretty well. Steve: Yeah! So… have you worked out how to edit them and that? Amy: Sort of. It just takes a long time… I have to, like, take it from that camerea and put it into the program. Anyway, it’s boring… Steve: Into another program. Okay… so that’s good! So, um… just hearing that last song, I thought I’d play this one. (Music Break) Steve: It’s Steve Lillywhite here, on the Lillywhite sessions, with the special guest, Amy Lee and we’re coming to the end of this part of my career… and your career! And the next part of our careers will start about in a half an hour. Amy: *laughs* Do you…? Yup, it’s been an honor, a pleasure, thank you for having me on the show. Steve: Awww…. well, hang on! Amy: It doesn’t have to end here! Steve: Let’s not be too soon cause we have another minute and ten seconds to go! Amy: Oh! Okay! Steve: So, uh, where are you going now, Amy? Amy: Well, I think… I’m just gonna get in the cab with you and we’re gonna go to the studio *laughs* and make some more awesome sounding songs Steve: Oh, right! We’re going to go to the studio… *laughs* Yeah! We’re going to start singing. Do you have any ideas on how you would like to start? Amy: I think I want to start on ‘You Got A Lot to Learn’. Steve: Right, so you’ve just given away a song title. *laughs* Amy: Right. Right, I guess. That’s cool! I was prepared for it when I, when it came out of my mouth. Steve: *laughs* Yeah, so there’s a song called ‘You Got A Lot to Learn’ on the album. Amy: Yes. Steve: Excellent. Amy: Special drums by Quest Love. Steve: Oh! I’m excited to hear that! Amy: *laughs* Steve: Now, it sounds fantastic, as I know cause… I… record it. *laughs* Amy: Sounds really cool so far. Steve: So, it’s really good and, um, that should be a nice, nice one to get started. Amy: I think that’s, I think that’s the vibe of the day. I think that’s what I’m feeling. Steve: That’s the vibe of the day! So, again, thank you very much… it was a pleasure to have you on the show and for the last 23 seconds…? Amy: Ahaha! and 20… 19…okay! Steve: Oh, got it! Limping across the finish line here. *laughs* Amy: Thank you, everybody for calling in and twittering me. Everybody’s been so sweet and… Steve: Yeah! And there will be lots of, uh, juicy updates! Amy: Definitely, definitely. Steve: Of the video and any sort of kind, so, uh, keep listening and thank you so much. Amy: Stay tuned! *laughs* Steve: I’ll be back next week, okay. Amy: Okay. Steve: Bye… bye! 3… 2… 1…! Amy: *laughs*

Listen part 1 and part 2.

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Amy Lee, Steve Lillywhite, Chad Copelin and Will “Science” Hunt on the studio. (March 23, 2010)

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Chad Copelin on MSR studio, New York, where Evanescence was recording their third album with Steve Lillywhite in 2010. Copelin was part of the recording sessions. (March 23, 2010)

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A very worthy first twitvid in my opinion.... ladies and gentlemen: Stompin' Steve.

On March 19, 2010, Amy put up a video on Twitter in which her and Steve Lillywhite dance to the song (and Steve falling to the floor as he jumps) which Amy later confirmed its title as “Perfect Dream” on EvClub.

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Some inspirations: unknown worlds, the ocean's abyss, life within dreams, strength, detachment, love and liars....

Amy on the album’s inspirations. (March 14, 2010)

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Miyazaki films play in the background as I listen to a b-side become my new favorite song...

Amy tweets about listening to a b-side from the album while watching Miyazaki films. (March 11, 2010)

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On March 10, 2010, there was a fire at Evanescence’s studio in NY. Luckly, the  hard drive was rescued by Will “Science” Hunt. This fact was revealed by Amy on Twitter.

All clear! Thanks for saving me, NYFD

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Lot of 'electro' talk regarding our new album. That doesn't sum it up. Influences include: Rock, electronica, pop, classical, hip hop... Industrial, eastern, dark soul...

Amy Lee on Twitter. Source 1 and 2. (March 10, 2010)

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Just started tracking keyboards and pianos. Its my turn in the hot seat and I'm ready for the challenge! :)

Amy Lee about the recording of keyboards and pianos. (March 8, 2010)

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Amy Lee posted a picture of drummer Questlove. (March 06, 2010)

She later revealed he made a guest appearance on song “You Got a Lot to Learn.”

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Exclusive: Amy Lee on the New Evanescence Album (March 5, 2010)

Evanescence singer Amy Lee is over the drama.

“There’s a lot of bullshit related to that band name for me,” Lee tells SPIN.com, “but I’m ready to move past it. I’ve realized that Evanescence is who I am.”

She’s not kidding about the bullshit. Since their 2003 Grammy-winning, multi-platinum debut Fallen rocketed the Little Rock, AR, natives to world stardom, the group have been plagued by in-fighting and lineup changes, beginning with the departure of co-founder Ben Moody. In a very public 2006 spat, the last remaining original members — guitarist John LeCompt and drummer Rocky Gray — left or were fired, and soon joined Moody to form We Are the Fallen with ex-American Idol finalist Carly Smithson on vocals.

Evanescence is also moving on. The goth-rock outfit will release their first album since 2006 this September, with a new lineup — and a new sound.

Lee, guitarist Terry Balsamo, bassist Tim McCord, drummer Will Hunt, and the band’s newest member, producer, songwriter, and studio whiz Will “Science” Hunt (that’s right — the band has two guys named “Will Hunt”), are recording the album in a New York studio with producer Steve Lillywhite (U2, Rolling Stones). And they’re taking Evanescence’s characteristically heavy, goth-rock sound in an electro-pop direction inspired by Lee’s favorite bands: Massive Attack, Bjork, and Portishead.

“The album has sounds that are distorted, changed, reversed,” says Lee. “There’s a lot of that fun stuff going on.”

Below, she tells SPIN.com more about the record, her former bandmates, and her favorite hobby: painting.

How did you get a second guy named Will Hunt in your band? That’s freaky. [Laughs] Well, part of getting back to Evanescence was the new Will Hunt. I met this Will — I call him Will “Science” Hunt because he does a lot of programming and beats — when we recorded “Sally’s Song” for Nightmare Revisited.

Evanescence took about two years off. Why return now? For a long time I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I really love scoring film and that was definitely where my head was. I took a few stabs at doing that, but then I started writing more songs. I had such a good time in the studio with Will “Science” Hunt recording “Sally’s Song” — it was a cool, free, creative space.So we thought, “Why don’t we just try writing an original song?” He has a studio in Forth Worth, TX, and we spent two days down there writing and a new song came out that was so different — it was dark and inspiring. It was a groove that I hadn’t found in a long time. So we spent all of last year writing like crazy and somewhere halfway through I said, “You know, I think we’re writing an Evanescence album.”

Tell us about that first song you guys wrote “Hi-Lo.” It’s a working title. It’s going in an electro-pop direction — there are no organic instruments. It’s a Portishead or Massive Attack direction, and lyrically it’s about moving on, but in a very non-confrontational, non-angry way. It’s just, “Hey, everything that happened, I’m over it and I’m not mad at you.”

Will fans of Evanescence’s heavy sound be surprised? Well, it’s definitely still heavy. Like The Open Door, the new songs are a rainbow of sounds. But this album spreads out even more. There are moments that are amazingly heavy, but then there are moments that are completely stripped down.

Did you write the entire album together? Most of it. He was definitely my big inspiration and co-writer. Some songs I wrote by myself, and I wrote a little bit with Terry [Balsamo, guitarist] and Tim [McCord, bassist] as well. I have a studio in my home and I flew Will “Science” out here a lot. And we’d work by ourselves then email each other ideas to play with, sort of like a Postal Service method. The songwriting and sound is inspired by a lot of our mutual loves — Bjork, Nine Inch Nails, and music with a lot of programming and sounds that feel larger than life.

How did you hook up with producer Steve Lillywhite? We decided it would be good to have another brain in the room to provide some perspective, since we’ve been living with the demos for so long. Steve Lillywhite randomly called my record label said, “Hey, what’s Amy Lee and Evanescence doing? I’d really like to work with her.” I thought that was really interesting. I honestly wouldn’t have thought of him if he hadn’t called. So we went to lunch and I showed him some of the songs. He really loved them and wanted to do it!

It’s an interesting fit, considering his work with U2 and the Rolling Stones. True. And this album isn’t going to sound like either of those bands, that’s for sure. It’s not an organic record. Our idea is to take synthetic and atmospheric sounds and find a way to blur the line between organic and synthetic.

Is this direction a byproduct of listening to any new music? I think so. There is something really cool happening in music right now. There are bands that sound like they’re from another time — it’s like ’80s throwback music with analogue synthesizers and Moogs. I love it. I’ve been listening to a lot of La Roux.

Is there a lyrical theme? I write about what I’m going through at the time. There are moments of, “Hey, I’m over it and I’m good” and others of fun sarcasm like, “Hey, everything’s not the most dramatic thing in the world.” But it gets really, really, really deep in places, too. That’s probably why it’s been really hard to pick an album title. [Laughs] But lyrically, it’s a more real version of myself. I’m saying things that I would’ve been afraid to say before. I’m more confident and more comfortable.

When we last spoke in 2008, you were writing Celtic inspired songs for a solo album. Any plans for that? I was in a very different creative space then, before hooking up with Will “Science.” I wrote a couple of songs that are good, but in a totally different direction. Nothing from that period is making it to the new record.

Other than music, what does Amy Lee do in her spare time? I love to paint. I’ve been working on this one painting for a year and a half. It has a lot of tiny sea creatures and I keep going back to it, but it has become this daunting project. When I need to free my brain, that’s one of the things that I do. I have also been playing the harp. When Evanescence took time off, I bought a big concert harp and started taking lessons like I was in high school again, which was really, really fun. I felt like I was learning again. I’m definitely going to use it on this album.

What are your thoughts on We Are the Fallen? I don’t have any. I doesn’t have anything to do with me or Evanescence.

Would it be safe to say that you haven’t talked to Ben, John, or Rocky? Oh yeah, that’s very safe to say.

It sounds like you’ve over the drama and revitalized. I am, definitely. I’m in a new headspace. I’m good with me and I don’t need everybody else’s approval.