Evanescence vocalist Amy Lee is speaking candidly about the band’s upcoming album Sanctuary, due June 5, while also reflecting on the state of modern media, truth, and the emotional weight behind the record.
In a new interview with Kevin Ryder of Audacy Music, Lee explained how the overwhelming nature of today’s information landscape played directly into the themes of the album.
“We are inundated with so much information now, with people that have a stake in what we believe, and it feels like truth is for sale. And so this for me is kind of — this is about breaking through that into the real world. And the album, it’s called ‘Sanctuary’. It’s like that — it’s a sanctuary, not an escape from this chaotic, surreal violent time, but escape from the lies, saying that we’re not living in that crazy time. It is a sanctuary of truth — and community.”
The record, which arrives after a three-year writing process, features production contributions from Zakk Cervini, Jordan Fish, and Nick Raskulinecz, with Lee describing the sessions as a creative reset for the band.
“It feels like I have been just in this lyric cave of my mind, like an animal busting out of a cage this whole year until very recently when I finally got it all done. I don’t know — I kind of have to go underground to get all of it, especially this time. The lyrics are kind of the thing where I feel like they matter more than ever. I guess I always feel that way, but right now it just feels super important. I really care about all this music, and get to a place I kind of have to just disappear for a minute. So I disappeared, and then I came back just running full speed to the end of everything.”
Lee also spoke about how Evanescence’s songwriting process has evolved, noting that lyrics often come late in the creation cycle once the music is already taking shape.
“It’s all been happening kind of random, but the vocals are one of the last things to get thrown down. As we’re building the songs, I have lyrics, I have bits, I have the point, we’ve got the center of of most of things. But it’s, like, ‘Cool, cool, cool. I’ll write that verse later.’ And then it comes down to it. It’s, like, you really gotta write it and it’s gotta be epic, ’cause at this point the music sounds killer.”
On the collaborative side, Lee highlighted the different energies brought in by the album’s production team.
“We’ve worked with some incredible people this time around — three producers, actually. Nick Raskulinecz, who we’ve worked with a lot. [I] love him. He just feels so much a part of this. We did some tracks together. And then also we sort of found this amazing new collaboration with Zakk Cervini and Jordan Fish. So as a team, being in there with them and creating these songs, we just had a huge creative burst. It has been just a — I don’t know — like a new energy. It’s hard to really explain, but it feels really special.”
The album’s thematic core extends into Evanescence’s recent single “Who Will You Follow”, which Lee says is rooted in questions of perception, control, and modern misinformation.
“It’s about something. God — it’s where we’re at. It’s about, what is real? Breaking through the lies. I feel like we are just inundated with so much information now, with people that have a stake in what we believe, and it feels like truth is for sale. And so this for me is kind of — this is about breaking through that into the real world. And the album, it’s called ‘Sanctuary’. It’s like that — it’s a sanctuary, not an escape from this chaotic, surreal violent time, but escape from the lies, saying that we’re not living in that crazy time. It is a sanctuary of truth — and community. Moving from the song to the album, I just feel like this music is a sanctuary for me — it has been. It is every time. Last time we made an album, it was the pandemic hitting all around us at the same time and kind of wondering what’s next and how do we go on tour, and will things ever be normal again? And I think when we’re in these big — in my life — powerful and painful and difficult moments, and also in the outside world, going through these wild moments where we feel like we don’t have control and things are slipping through our fingers, the music is a place for me to be able to say anything — no censorship, no holding back. Nobody’s telling me I can’t — anything. It’s our world, and it just feels so beautiful also to give somebody else something that gives them joy.”
Lee added that the writing process stretched across multiple years and locations, often built around touring schedules and short creative windows.
“I’d say three years solid. We’ve been tour touring a lot, as you know. But we had a lot of little trips in between — like while we’re somewhere, go rent a place for the days in between the shows. And people come to me and we work together. Or we had some amazing creation sessions with Zakk Cervini and Jordan Fish here in L.A. We recorded stuff in Nick’s house in Nashville. It’s just been kind of all over the place the last three years.”
Reflecting on the purpose behind the album as a whole, Lee said the project became a necessary emotional outlet during a turbulent period both personally and globally.
“I felt very fueled by the state of the world creatively. I feel like I have a ton to get off my chest. This music is a sanctuary for me. I’ve needed this — we all have — just to be able to pour into something. And I know I sound like a broken record ’cause I was saying similar stuff about ‘The Bitter Truth’, but music is so, so needed. And we’ve just been writing like crazy. I’ve been kind of underground. At the beginning of this year, I just sort of had to disappear and finish all the lyrics, which seemed more important than ever. And I finally pulled my head up and we just finished the album. I’m so excited. It’s so good. And it feels so good to finally be releasing the music that we’ve been obsessing over.”
Evanescence recently confirmed a 2026 world tour beginning June 11, with Spiritbox, Nova Twins, Poppy, and K.Flay appearing across various legs of the run. The band has also partnered with PLUS1, donating $1 from every ticket sold toward humanitarian aid and medical relief efforts.
With Fallen still standing as one of the defining rock albums of the 2000s and recent singles like “Afterlife” and “End Of You” reinforcing their modern resurgence, Evanescence enter this new era positioned between legacy and reinvention—while Sanctuary looks set to push that evolution further into focus.
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Cannot wait to hear the album