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.
Christina Aguilera's 'Stripped' had a lot of good songs. It's my range, so I use it to warm up a lot.
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.
My biggest dream from the beginning - besides Evanescence - is scoring film and writing music for film.
'The Nightmare Before Christmas' is my number one biggest influence artistically in every way.
Evanescence fans aren't the popular kids in school. They aren't the cheerleaders. It's the art kids and the nerds and the kids who grow up to be the most interesting creative people.
I love the creative process. That's always been the closest thing to my heart, creating something.
I'm the goofball. I'm the person cracking people up.
I'm not the fastest writer. I can't just crank out ideas that are good enough.
I was always a drama queen. I remember playing in the kitchen, trying to get my mom to think I was dead and call the police. When she didn't, I would cry. I was always theatrical. I don't think any of my relatives are surprised.
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.
I love contrast in music. Being inspired by classical, actually - in high school especially - classical and metal both, I remember having this cool realization that they are really similar. It's just different instrumentation.
A fan once asked if he could have a piece of my hair for voodoo. I said no, so he hugged me and plucked out a couple of hairs and ran off.
I refuse to accept Pluto's resignation as a planet.
I design a lot of things that I wear onstage, but I'm always looking for unique stuff. I like creative things, so anything I can find at a secondhand costume shop to a Helmut Lang store, it doesn't matter - just unique stuff.
I never really did abandon my true self. It's not like I invented this imaginary person and started to be her.
There's nothing sexy about skin and bone. You gotta have some junk in the trunk.
I wanted to be a veterinarian until I saw a video of a vet performing surgery on a dog. Then I decided I wanted to be a pianist.
