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Ex-EVANESCENCE guitarist JEN MAJURA is stepping away from music industry: “I just can't identify with today's attitude and values anymore”

11-06-2024

Former EVANESCENCE and HOW WE END guitarist Jen Majura has announced her decision to “step away” from the music industry, at least temporarily, so that she can focus on doing “healthier and better things” with her life.

On Tuesday, June 10, Majura took to her social media to write: “Dear friends, I’m gonna make this as brief as I can: After careful consideration, observing what’s going on in the music industry, AI related developments and change in society I’ve come to the conclusion to step away.

“Some of you have heard me talk about this quite a while ago. Instead of wasting another year of my life constantly hoping for new energy, drive and creativity, I’ve reached a point in my life where I can confidentially lean back in peace. While time allowed me, I was able to collect an amazing amount of beautiful experiences, tours, shows, travels and moments! I am grateful for every bit of that, but the world has changed. I can confidently make up my mind to stop.

“I am not saying that I will never create any music again, whether recorded or live — but for now I feel there are healthier and better things to fill my life with good vibes and not deal with the overwhelming amount of ridiculousness that comes with the music industry nowadays. I just can’t identify with today’s attitude and values anymore.

“I wholeheartedly want to wish all the ambitious and remaining ‘creators’, young and old, all the best. With time, the meaning will become clearer.

“To you, the fans, I wanna give you a giant virtual hug and say THANK YOU for all your support, love and faith throughout these years of me being an active touring musician, I am grateful. As a final musical endeavor I wanna share 4 tracks with you. Songs that were written over a decade ago together with the great guitarist Dennis Hormes. I found these old demo recordings while cleaning out stuff from my computer and thought they are too good to not be shared. So if you made it this far and read the whole post, I assume you actually ARE someone that truly cares and these 4 singles are for you!”

The now-41-year-old guitarist’s departure from EVANESCENCE was announced in May 2022 via social media.

Majura launched her new band HOW WE END in 2023. Majura is a renowned gutiarist, endorsed by Ibanez guitars, but also plays bass and sings. She has cooperated on several projects and has released two solo albums. With fellow Ibanez allumini Alen Brentini she released a self-titled album with the project Something On 11She was the guitarist for American rock band Evanescence from 2015 to 2022. She is known for mastering a broad variety of styles, including jazz, blues, and shred.  She also sang on former DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Mangini’s new solo album.
 
HOW WE END, the new “European crossover band” established in 2022, featuring musicians from Sweden, Germany, Switzerland and Spain, has previously released its debut single, “My Fighting Heart”.  The band consists of vocalists Diva Satanica (ex-NERVOSA) , Jake E (CYHRA, ex-AMARANTHE) guitarists Jen Majura (ex-EVANESCENCE) and Tom Naumann (PRIMAL FEAR), while Mitch Kunz (bass/synths) and Adde Larsson (drums) provide the rhythm section.

Check “My Fighting Heart” below.

According to a press release, HOW WE END delivers the perfect match of contrasting vocals that shape the band’s style: melodic, heavy, no compromises. HOW WE END‘s music is a kickass blend of heavy guitar riffs and electronic programmed influences, growls and catchy singalong choruses.

HOW WE END will perform live for the first time at this year’s 30th-anniversary edition of Rockharz festival.

The band is currently putting the finishing touches on its debut album and is planning on releasing two more singles.

Check out the interview (in Dutch) we had with Jen Majura AT THIS LOCATION.