Amy Lee recently opened up about Evanescence’s new bassist Emma Anzai. She expressed her enthusiasm about the band’s latest addition in an interview with Rock 108 Radio.
The Evanescence frontwoman discussed her long-standing friendship with Anzai. She explained how the collaboration came together naturally.
“I have been her fan for a million years,” Lee said. “We really got to know each other in 2007. We’ve known each other forever. We toured together back then on the same tour. [Sick Puppies] were opening for us, and we really hung out and really made friends on a deeper level, especially back then.”
Lee praised Anzai’s professional qualities and stage presence.
“She’s extremely talented, extremely professional,” she continued. “She is in it for playing the bass. [She’s an] incredible stage performer. Everything about her — I just love Emma. And we talked over the years about, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool to have a side band?’ just with all the chicks, the whole thing. And that never worked out, but I just always wanted to work together.”
The singer explained how the opportunity arose when the band needed a new member.
“And we were finally in a position where it was, like, we needed somebody,” Lee said. “And I called her first. I was, like, ‘Hey.’ Well, first of all, I was, like, ‘Would you play guitar?’ And she’s, like, ‘No. I’m a bass player.’ And I spoke to Tim, and he was, like, ‘Oh my God. This is what I want. I’ve been wanting to switch it up. Guitar is my original instrument. This is perfect. I need a change. And nobody’s better than Emma. And I would be very critical of any bass player after playing bass in this band for that many years.'”
Lee concluded by describing the positive impact Anzai has had on the band’s dynamic.
“So it was just a very came-together-perfectly moment,” she said. “And we’ve all just felt blessed by her presence. I have a real, a true sister in the band. It’s been great. We’re a good team. And Emma kicks ass. So that has been a huge bonus for us. We feel complete at this point.”
The addition of Anzai to Evanescence represents a significant milestone in the band’s evolution. It brings together two accomplished musicians with a shared history spanning over a decade.
Evanescence Fandom documented that Emma Anzai is an Australian bass player born April 30, 1981. She co-founded the rock band Sick Puppies and officially became Evanescence’s bassist in May 2022. Her recruitment came after the band parted ways with rhythm guitarist Jen Majura. This created an opportunity for longtime bassist Tim McCord to transition back to his original instrument, guitar.
Evanescence Reference reported that Anzai made her live debut with Evanescence during their European Summer tour in Athens, Greece, on June 5, 2022. Since joining the band, she has successfully balanced her commitments between both Evanescence and Sick Puppies. This demonstrates her versatility as a professional musician.
The transition required significant adaptation from Anzai’s usual playing style. Bass Musician Magazine revealed that she had to adjust from her fast-tempo slapping technique and heavy songwriting approach to Evanescence’s slower tempos, pocket-focused bass lines, and extensive backing vocals. This challenge pushed her to new heights as both a bassist and performer.
As part of her evolution with Evanescence, Bass Magazine noted that Anzai recently transitioned from Warwick basses to Music Man Stingray basses. She also incorporated a 5-string bass for the first time. This equipment change brought fresh inspiration that has been evident in her powerful onstage performances. Her performances have thrilled Evanescence fans worldwide during their arena tours.
