Speaking in a new interview with NME, Evanescence singer Amy Lee talked about how she handles negative reactions to being outspoken on issues outside of the band.
In 2020, Evanescence released the song “Use My Voice,” which promoted speaking out in order to promote justice in the world. The song was used to encourage eligible voters in the United States to register, and the band’s album, “The Bitter Truth,” was “not about showing your prettiest side,” Lee said to KLAQ at the time. “It’s about showing your realest inside and being more of your true self on the outside at any cost. I feel like there’s a way that you can have a strong opinion and still be respectful to your fellow humans that don’t necessarily agree with you.”
NME asked the singer if she cares less about criticism as she gets older.
“It’s not that I care less; I just feel more confident in my decisions,” she said. “And I guess, yeah, I care less when I think people don’t get it or don’t understand. I go, ‘I’m not gonna worry and change what I believe or who I am because somebody might misunderstand or call me a b*tch or whatever.’ I’m not one — I’m confident that I’m not one. And I think that no matter what you do…”
“I don’t know… Especially when you’re on a large stage… It was harder for me to understand this when I was 21 and we were just starting,” she admitted. “But you can’t expect everybody to really know you. They get to see a part of you and they get to see your music and they get to hear your voice and see the piece of you that is shown. But there’s more to all of us. Just like I don’t know them. So you’ve gotta kind of not be mad when people don’t understand.”
“[You just have to] be strong,” Amy added. “When you know you’re doing the right thing and you know you’re being true to your heart, just don’t think about it.”
Lee previously spoke out following the death of George Floyd, and she also criticized then-president Donald Trump. “I do not accept lying, cheating or bullying from my government…” Lee wrote in 2020. “Accepting this abuse says it’s okay for our leaders to lie to us, cheat on us, make decisions without our input, and silence us when we try to speak up.” This isn’t about your policies or beliefs, it’s about our freedom. I will never bow down to a dictator.”
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