In an era when Juicy Couture sweatshirts dominated and Seth Cohen of "The O.C." was TV's No. 1, it was hard not to hear "Bring Me To Life (opens in new tab)" by Evanescence. The throaty vocals and guitar riffs propelled the single to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and a certified platinum disc; it's hard to believe that nearly two decades ago, this level of success seemed unattainable for the band. [Bandleader Amy Lee told Marie Claire from her home in Nashville.

She continues, "A lot of what we were doing didn't fit into the mainstream to safely spin [on the radio]."

She continues: "The biggest difference between us is that I am a woman. The label insisted on a male vocalist for the chorus of this song to make it more accessible. I said 'no,' so the label cut off funding and I moved back home. I thought it was over. Instead, after a few weeks, a compromise was reached, and I was offered a one-song chorus, and if I did the chorus, I would be allowed to appear in a film that would intertwine the male/female theme and give the song a bit of creative purpose.

That movie was the critically acclaimed (opens in new tab) "Daredevil" (opens in new tab). Regardless of the film's flop, however, the band's pedigree was strengthened by its inclusion on the film's soundtrack, and in 2003, within just a few months, Evanescence went from playing clubs to touring international stadiums with its debut album, Fallen. The band became famous for its melodramatic, baroque harmonies. Lee, then only 21 years old, with her black eyeliner and raven hair, became revered for her "goth" rock princess aesthetic.

Lee's life soon changed.

"I struggled with the difference between myself and my image of myself, always feeling like I wasn't living up to someone's expectations and frustrated by the lack of support from others," she says of the band's early success. I had to toughen up and fight for my place, my beliefs, my music, and my band." Lee's inner battle eventually prompted a change in tune on Evanescence's second album, 2006's The Open Door." "I stopped asking someone to 'save me,'" Lee says, quoting lyrics from "Bring Me to Life."

But it's been nine years since Evanescence has released a new song. 'I needed to remember who I was,' he says. 'We were going through hard days. I was ready for a new chapter in my life.' So she started doing just that. During the band's sabbatical, Lee has worked on music for several films, including the 2014 drama War Story and the romantic film Blind (2017), as well as a children's album featuring original songs as well as covers. He recorded. Lee, now 38, recalls, "I really wanted to create something that didn't sound like Evanescence." 'I needed an outlet to show another side of my personality for a while. It felt really good."

"It was a really good feeling.

At the same time, Lee was experiencing changes on a personal level: after 13 years in New York, he moved to Tennessee, had a son, now 6, and lost an older brother. Then he lost his younger brother. She says, "It was like zooming out on myself, as I began to see life in a more essential way."

That perspective eventually evolved into something tangible: this year, she reunited the band, and by February, Evanescence had a few songs ready. We were going on a big tour," she recalls. Of course, Pandemic had other plans for the group.

But Lee was determined to release music. But Lee was determined to present her music. 'I wasn't going to stop,' she said. 'I wasn't going to wait any longer, so I was going to find a way to do it now, within the limitations. "It became difficult to get into the studio, so Lee worked alone with producer Nick Raskulinetz. She met Raskulinetz in the parking lot, where he laid out the preamps, compressors, and equipment needed for the recording. The process was "unorthodox," but it worked. [The result was Evanescence's next album, The Bitter Truth. Says she, "Some of the songs on this album we've been working on for 10 years, some we just started this year." The songs reflect how the songwriter has found inspiration over time. She muses, "I get inspired by being in nature, walking in the woods, seeing weird bugs up close." But her biggest inspiration is the emotional experiences she has had in her life that make Evanescence's music "dramatic." Things like losing a loved one or being part of creating a new life," Lee says. . shakes me on such a deep level that I feel compelled to make music."

To usher in a new era, Evanescence released the slow-burning single "Wasted on You" in April. She recalls, "We started writing [the song] on New Year's Eve, and we got together and finished it as a band." Evanescence had no intention of making this particular song the lead single for 'Bitter Truth,' but as the doors closed, the meaning resonated more, prompting a change of plans." Wasted On You was not supposed to be a song about this moment when all of us were feeling like time had stopped, stuck in place, wanting to part with the moment, and so on."

Due to the overwhelming presence of COVID-19, April was not the time to release the song they had planned as their first single. Instead, it debuted last week. Says Lee about the song, "Our world is really fucked up right now, and if we want to change it, we can't just sit around and complain." We need to stand up, speak up, use our voices, and make a difference."

For Lee, "Use My Voice" has been a track that has "sprung up" and "accumulated" over the last few years because of the political situation in the world and in America. However, she was struggling to find a chorus that was appropriate for the verses. To complete the song, Lee enlisted Veridia singer and friend Deena Jacoub, something she could not have imagined 15 years ago when she felt she had to completely own her music to be taken seriously. "It was very difficult to break through, and I had to fight for my rights beyond being a 'cute frontwoman,'" Lee says. 'I'm a writer. I'm also a piano player. So before you rule me out for technicalities, wait a minute. If it had been before, I would not have accepted this kind of collaboration."

As one of the most powerful women in rock, a (largely) male-dominated category, Lee had to prove herself and get used to speaking up for her needs. Frankly, she didn't have much choice.

"I was definitely the only girl in the room many times in my life," she says. While she feels "empowered" by the number of women in diverse roles, such as producers, engineers, and lighting technicians, she cannot help but acknowledge the challenge she faced: "I have to make a place for myself. I have to make my place. You have to be the best, make a good impression, be professional, punctual, and patient. You have to prove that a woman deserves to be in that room."

Amy Lee has always done that.