Formed in 1996, Evanescence became truly known in 2003 with their debut album "Fallen" in which one can find the unforgettable "Bring me to life". The alternative rock album sells nearly 25 million copies worldwide and is ranked number one on the charts in many countries. Following this huge success, the band won two Grammy Awards for best song Rock/Metal and Best New Artist. New Tribune met the group on the occasion of their visit to Mawazine.

New Tribune: Is this is the first time you come to Morocco?

Evanescence: Yes this is the first time that we will perform in Morocco and we are very proud to participate in the eleventh edition of Mawazine.

Will you perform some songs from your first album?

Yes, we will play a few tracks from previous albums we enjoy the most and we hope the audience will appreciate it.

It's been five years since Evanescence's second album was released. Why did you wait so long?

At first we just did not plan to return. I was happy to live my little life for a while, it was really nice. Evanescence had been the center of my life since my teenage years up to 25 or 26 years. So I got married and I just wanted to be married, spend time with my husband, working on the house, look after my cats, playing the piano - not because people wanted me to play it but because I wanted to. Music, it must be loved. I must take my time to enjoy it and not just take it as a job. So I learned to play the harp, it was good for me, for my brain. But, I love music then obviously, I started writing more and more and gradually, and then I knew Evanescence was important for me, and this is what returned the idea and the desire to make an Evanescence album.

What are your inspirations?

Life inspires me, my experiences, the death of my loved ones all that inspires me is why my songs are about love and death.

You spent five years between the two albums, there's a change ... How would you describe?

It's hard to describe music. I think the most difference is in the band. We are very united, we really worked on the songs more as a group. Everyone was involved in the creative process, which was also new to us. I think we hear the instruments work together. Everything is more cohesive, more united. Of course, there is all around production, strings, choirs, all programming, but the center of it all, there is the band.

What are your future projects?

Finishing our tour. We go to Spain, Paris, Beirut and Dubai and finally to Germany.

Original article: lnt.ma (French)
Translated by Evanescence Croatia

Thanks to EvanescenceShadow

Carnival Of Madness, the annual touring rock extravaganza, will make its roaring return with rock titans EVANESCENCE, CHEVELLE, HALESTORM and NEW MEDICINE. Kicking off Tuesday, July 31 in Springfield, Illinois, the 2012 trek will hit major cities across the U.S. including Boston, Baltimore, Atlanta, Nashville, Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee and Pittsburgh (see full itinerary below). Select radio pre-sale tickets will be available beginning Tuesday, May 22; Carnival Of Madness fan club members can begin purchasing tickets Wednesday, May 23; artist fan club pre-sales start Thursday, May 24; and general public on-sale begins Friday, June 1. Please note that HALESTORM will be performing on the majority of the tour.

"We're really looking forward to the Carnival Of Madness tour this summer," says EVANESCENCE singer Amy Lee. "We love CHEVELLE and haven't hit the road together in years, and I'm really stoked to finally be playing some shows with HALESTORM. Naturally I'm a fan of strong women in music and Lzzy's voice is spectacular."

Carnival Of Madness tour dates:

Jul. 31 - Springfield, IL - Prairie Capital Convention Center
Aug. 01 - Columbus, OH - LC Pavilion
Aug. 03 - Atlantic City, NJ - House Of Blues
Aug. 04 - Chester, PA - Harrah’s Chester Downs
Aug. 06 - Boston, MA - Bank of America Pavilion
Aug. 07 - Baltimore, MD - Pier Six
Aug. 08 - Charlotte, NC - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre **
Aug. 10 - Atlanta, GA - Aaron’s Amphitheatre atLakewood
Aug. 11 - Gulfport, MS - Jones Park
Aug. 13 - Belton, TX - Bell County Expo
Aug. 14 - Laredo, TX - Laredo Energy Center
Aug. 15 - Midland, TX - Midland Horseshoe Arena
Aug. 17 - Lubbock, TX – [to be announced]
Aug. 18 - El Paso, TX - Don Haskins Center
Aug. 20 - Sioux City, IA - [to be announced]
Aug. 21 - Milwaukee, WI. - Eagles Ballroom *
Aug. 23 - Grand Rapids, MI - Rock The Rapids – Downtown **
Aug. 24 - Detroit, MI - DTE Music Theatre
Aug. 26 - Chicago, IL - Toyota Park
Aug. 28 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE **
Aug. 29 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Amphiteatre
Aug. 30 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun **
Sep. 02 - Buffalo, NY - [to be announced] **
Sep. 05 - Evansville, IN - [to be announced]

* Show features EVANESCENCE and NEW MEDICINE with very special guests
** Show features EVANESCENCE and CHEVELLE with very special guests

Source: blabbermouth.net

Absent since 2007, the band Evanescence comes back with a new album and a world tour that will take them to play in Morocco in May, as part of the Mawazine Festival. Interview with Amy Lee, their charismatic singer.

You disappeared for almost five years, just after the success of your second album The Open Door. Why?

After the release of this album, we toured for over a year and a half. It was very stressful, and I felt the urgent need to stop. At the time, I did not know if it was for a few months or forever. There was too much pressure around us, and I felt hounded about my privacy. I got married right after the tour, and then I preferred to put my career in stand-by for some time to see things more clearly.

Did you continue to compose music during this period or did you completely stop?

It had to pass a long time to get back into it. I needed some time for myself, I had to let go completely. But I soon felt the need to reconnect with the music, and also because of the lack of contact with our fans. I never experienced anything more extraordinary than the experience of being on stage, in communion with our audience.

Evanescence, your latest album (released in late 2011) is different from your two previous albums. Were you afraid that your fans could be confused by the first time hearing it?

Honestly, not really. I knew they would enjoy it, because the universe has not really changed, although there are new sounds. Moreover, if the artists necessarily evolve over time, the public does too. This is quite normal. Nobody can do the same for several years.

It's delicate intro and it's singer's emotional, questioning voice make it among the last decade's most immediately recognisable songs. A four week chart - topper in the UK, Bring Me To Life racked up similar success elsewhere, propelling debut album Fallen towards sales of 17 million, and making singer Amy Lee just about the most famous female in rock. Yet, as Amy recalls, the song's origins relate to a simple meeting in a coffee shop. 

"It goes back to the start of my relationship with Josh [Hartzler], who is now my husband. I was in a difficult relationship at the time, and I was having coffee with Josh when he looked at me and said "Are you happy?" It freaked me out and there was a split second when I wondered if he could see into my eyes like open doors - hence the opening line of the song. I tried to hide it, pretend I was fine, but he knew I wasn't." 

While in the process of choosing material and talking to labels, Amy quickly wrote the first verse and chorus in her room, based on that experience. The song grew out of several older parts, with then - band members Ben Moody and David Hodges also contributing.  

Evanescence has been nominated for "Best International Band" and "Hottest Female" in the Kerrang! Awards 2012.
The polls are open from now until May 25 and the winners will be announced on June 7.

Vote now and spread the word!

*Note: You can vote as much as you want, there's no limit!
Use  #VoteEVKerrang  on Twitter

Thanks to Evanescence.com