Life can be tough sometimes. But I think it just starts with admitting, 'Okay, the world's not perfect, how do we live our lives within that and not be miserable?'
I've realized that Evanescence is who I am.
There are people hell-bent on the idea that we're a Christian band in disguise, and that we have some secret message. We have no spiritual affiliation with this music. It's simply about life experience.
When you're miserable, you don't want anyone around you to be happy.
The Nightmare Before Christmas is my number one biggest influence artistically in every way.
Everyone on the bus can laugh at me, and I'll be like, 'Screw you guys: I look good!'
I am Evanescence. I am the only original member. I have basically hired the band. Evanescence has become me. It is mine and it's exactly how I want it to be.
My biggest dream from the beginning - besides Evanescence - is scoring film and writing music for film.
I'm the goofball. I'm the person cracking people up.
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.
The first real concert, other than going with my dad to see Three Dog Night, was Smashing Pumpkins and Garbage. I was fourteen or fifteen. I liked Shirley Manson because she reminded me of Annie Lennox. They both have these deep, sexy, powerful alto voices.
I never really did abandon my true self. It's not like I invented this imaginary person and started to be her.
I write by myself initially. That's the way I've always written, just working on pure thought by myself. Then I bring it to the table with whoever I'm collaborating with.
The only place I'm recognized is at the mall, because that's where the teens are.
L.A. doesn't have any big personality to me; it's not inspiring.
Writing music is my therapy. It’s very purifying!
I feel like for me the lyric writing really comes from just what's going on in my heart and that's what consumes me; think a lot of our heart is relationships. Not just with boyfriend or girlfriend but all your relationships in your life with other people and our interactions with other humans.
I really do listen to all types of music, not only rock, but everything from good pop music - which is usually older pop music - to RB and indie rock. I love indie rock more than a lot of the commercial stuff that you'd expect.
I love the creative process. That's always been the closest thing to my heart, creating something.
The way that I've always gone about making music, the rule of thumb, has just been to make what I love.
Success gave me confidence as an artist. And now I'm able to do what I want without anybody thinking it's dumb.
That's where I spent of lot of my high-school years -- in the closet. It wasn't too cramped, but you do get really hot.
I'm not the fastest writer. I can't just crank out ideas that are good enough.
I'm not ashamed of my spiritual beliefs, but I in no way incorporate them into this band.
Christina Aguilera's 'Stripped' had a lot of good songs. It's my range, so I use it to warm up a lot.
