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Emilie Autumn was born in [[Malibu, California]] on September 22, 1979.<ref name="Bio"/> According to Autumn, "being surrounded by nature and sea had a lot to do with [her] development as a '[[Freethought|free spirit]].'"<ref name="MD"/> Her mother worked as a seamstress.<ref name="Bio">{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:kzfexq90ldje~T1|title={{Emilie Autumn > Biography}}|author=Wilson, MacKenzie|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|accessdate=11 August 2010}}</ref> Her father immigrated from Germany at the age of nine; Autumn claims that he suffered a "difficult and cruel upbringing".<ref name="Dad"/> He did not share a close relationship with his daughter.<ref name="Dad">{{cite web|url=http://forum.emilieautumn.com/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=364|title=My dad's gone, and more pleasant notes on the world today...|date=September 28, 2004|author=Autumn, Emilie|publisher=Official site|accessdate=September 21, 2010}}</ref> She also has a sister.<ref name="MD"/> While not musicians, her family enjoyed various genres of music.<ref name="MD"/>
Emilie Autumn was born in [[Malibu, California]] on September 22, 1979.<ref name="Bio"/> According to Autumn, "being surrounded by nature and sea had a lot to do with [her] development as a '[[Freethought|free spirit]].'"<ref name="MD"/> Her mother worked as a seamstress.<ref name="Bio">{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:kzfexq90ldje~T1|title={{Emilie Autumn > Biography}}|author=Wilson, MacKenzie|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|accessdate=11 August 2010}}</ref> Her father immigrated from Germany at the age of nine; Autumn claims that he suffered a "difficult and cruel upbringing".<ref name="Dad"/> He did not share a close relationship with his daughter.<ref name="Dad">{{cite web|url=http://forum.emilieautumn.com/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=364|title=My dad's gone, and more pleasant notes on the world today...|date=September 28, 2004|author=Autumn, Emilie|publisher=Official site|accessdate=September 21, 2010}}</ref> She also has a sister.<ref name="MD"/> While not musicians, her family enjoyed various genres of music.<ref name="MD"/>


At age two, Autumn was diagnosed with [[leukemia]], which later led her to question her existence. In an interview with Metal Discovery, she asked herself, "Am I actually alive or did I die when I was two and had leukaemia, and I‘m a very convincing ghost? Because, the truth is, I don’t know, and I sometimes wonder, I don’t know if I’m alive."<ref name="Metal discovery pg 4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.metal-discovery.com/Interviews/emilieautumn_interview_sheffield_2010_pt4.htm|title=Metal Discovery: Interview with Emilie Autumn Page 4|author=Holmes, Mark|date=9 March 2010|publisher=Metal Discovery|accessdate=5 July 2010}}</ref> She recovered from the illness and started learning the violin at four, something that helped her to cope with [[bipolar disorder]], symptoms of which included mood swings and hearing voices constantly, and abuse that began when she was six years old.<ref name="Bizarre mag"/><ref name="kerrang">{{cite magazine|author=Bryant, Tom|title=Girl Interrupted. Abuse, attempted suicide and bipolar disorder…|publisher=[[Kerrang!]]|issue=1299|date=13 February 2010|page=44|quote=If you’ve had difficult things happening or have had an upbringing that was really fucked up — (mine) had massive amounts of abuse since I was six years old and rape — then it’s sometimes hard to tell exactly what [causes a suicide attempt]}}</ref> At the age of nine/ten,<ref name="Shred News interview"/><ref name="MD"/> she left regular school with the goal of becoming a world-class violinist.<ref name="Shred News interview">{{Cite web|url=http://www.shrednews.com/chat-with-emilie-autumn/|title=Secrets From The Asylum: A Chat With Emilie Autumn|author=Rowland, Jay|date=16 December 2009|publisher=Shred News|accessdate=3 January 2010}}</ref> Instead, she went to Colburn School of Performing Arts, where she became friends with the violinist [[Nigel Kennedy]].<ref name="Bio"/> Eleven-year-old Autumn went [[vegetarian]] after being unable to rationalize why she should eat farm animals but not her pet; in her late-teens, she turned [[vegan]].<ref name="PETA"/> She began writing her own music at age thirteen/fourteen.<ref name="MD"/> At fourteen, she attended the Music Conservatory at [[Indiana University]].<ref name="Shred News interview"/> After two years at the university, she left because she disagreed with their views on individuality and classical music.<ref name="Shred News interview"/>
At age two, Autumn was diagnosed with [[leukemia]], which later led her to question her existence. In an interview with Metal Discovery, she asked herself, "Am I actually alive or did I die when I was two and had leukaemia, and I‘m a very convincing ghost? Because, the truth is, I don’t know, and I sometimes wonder, I don’t know if I’m alive."<ref name="Metal discovery pg 4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.metal-discovery.com/Interviews/emilieautumn_interview_sheffield_2010_pt4.htm|title=Metal Discovery: Interview with Emilie Autumn Page 4|author=Holmes, Mark|date=9 March 2010|publisher=Metal Discovery|accessdate=5 July 2010}}</ref> She recovered from the illness and started learning the violin at four, something that helped her to cope with [[bipolar disorder]], features of which included mood swings, and which she blames for her hearing voices constantly, and abuse that began when she was six years old.<ref name="Bizarre mag"/><ref name="kerrang">{{cite magazine|author=Bryant, Tom|title=Girl Interrupted. Abuse, attempted suicide and bipolar disorder…|publisher=[[Kerrang!]]|issue=1299|date=13 February 2010|page=44|quote=If you’ve had difficult things happening or have had an upbringing that was really fucked up — (mine) had massive amounts of abuse since I was six years old and rape — then it’s sometimes hard to tell exactly what [causes a suicide attempt]}}</ref> At the age of nine/ten,<ref name="Shred News interview"/><ref name="MD"/> she left regular school with the goal of becoming a world-class violinist.<ref name="Shred News interview">{{Cite web|url=http://www.shrednews.com/chat-with-emilie-autumn/|title=Secrets From The Asylum: A Chat With Emilie Autumn|author=Rowland, Jay|date=16 December 2009|publisher=Shred News|accessdate=3 January 2010}}</ref> Instead, she went to Colburn School of Performing Arts, where she became friends with the violinist [[Nigel Kennedy]].<ref name="Bio"/> Eleven-year-old Autumn went [[vegetarian]] after being unable to rationalize why she should eat farm animals but not her pet; in her late-teens, she turned [[vegan]].<ref name="PETA"/> She began writing her own music at age thirteen/fourteen.<ref name="MD"/> At fourteen, she attended the Music Conservatory at [[Indiana University]].<ref name="Shred News interview"/> After two years at the university, she left because she disagreed with their views on individuality and classical music.<ref name="Shred News interview"/>


She began singing at age seventeen and learned piano by herself.<ref name="MD"/> After an unpleasant experience with a music producer, she created her own [[independent record label]], Traitor Records.<ref name="MD"/> Through it, she debuted with her 1997 classical album ''On a Day: Music for Violin & Continuo'';<ref name="Bio"/><ref name="MD"/> the title is a reference to Shakespeare and the fact that the album took only a day to record.<ref name="MD"/> She recorded the [[Extended play|EP]] ''Chambermaid'', and wrote the 2001 [[charity single]] "By the Sword" after the events of [[September 11, 2001]].<ref name="Bio"/><ref name="MD"/> According to her, the song "is about strength....not a declaration of violence, far from it. It is merely a statement: We will actively enforce right and good through our thoughts, our words, and our deeds, whatever this may mean to you. We believe that our modern "[[knights of the round table]]" still exist, and I can tell you quite factually that they do."<ref name="MD"/>
She began singing at age seventeen and learned piano by herself.<ref name="MD"/> After an unpleasant experience with a music producer, she created her own [[independent record label]], Traitor Records.<ref name="MD"/> Through it, she debuted with her 1997 classical album ''On a Day: Music for Violin & Continuo'';<ref name="Bio"/><ref name="MD"/> the title is a reference to Shakespeare and the fact that the album took only a day to record.<ref name="MD"/> She recorded the [[Extended play|EP]] ''Chambermaid'', and wrote the 2001 [[charity single]] "By the Sword" after the events of [[September 11, 2001]].<ref name="Bio"/><ref name="MD"/> According to her, the song "is about strength....not a declaration of violence, far from it. It is merely a statement: We will actively enforce right and good through our thoughts, our words, and our deeds, whatever this may mean to you. We believe that our modern "[[knights of the round table]]" still exist, and I can tell you quite factually that they do."<ref name="MD"/>

Revision as of 11:42, 2 October 2010

Emilie Autumn

Emilie Autumn (born September 22, 1979) is an American singer-songwriter, poet, and violinist who is best known for her wide range of musical styles and her usage of theatrics.[1]

Life and career

1979–2003: Early life and beginnings

Emilie Autumn was born in Malibu, California on September 22, 1979.[2] According to Autumn, "being surrounded by nature and sea had a lot to do with [her] development as a 'free spirit.'"[3] Her mother worked as a seamstress.[2] Her father immigrated from Germany at the age of nine; Autumn claims that he suffered a "difficult and cruel upbringing".[4] He did not share a close relationship with his daughter.[4] She also has a sister.[3] While not musicians, her family enjoyed various genres of music.[3]

At age two, Autumn was diagnosed with leukemia, which later led her to question her existence. In an interview with Metal Discovery, she asked herself, "Am I actually alive or did I die when I was two and had leukaemia, and I‘m a very convincing ghost? Because, the truth is, I don’t know, and I sometimes wonder, I don’t know if I’m alive."[5] She recovered from the illness and started learning the violin at four, something that helped her to cope with bipolar disorder, features of which included mood swings, and which she blames for her hearing voices constantly, and abuse that began when she was six years old.[6][7] At the age of nine/ten,[8][3] she left regular school with the goal of becoming a world-class violinist.[8] Instead, she went to Colburn School of Performing Arts, where she became friends with the violinist Nigel Kennedy.[2] Eleven-year-old Autumn went vegetarian after being unable to rationalize why she should eat farm animals but not her pet; in her late-teens, she turned vegan.[9] She began writing her own music at age thirteen/fourteen.[3] At fourteen, she attended the Music Conservatory at Indiana University.[8] After two years at the university, she left because she disagreed with their views on individuality and classical music.[8]

She began singing at age seventeen and learned piano by herself.[3] After an unpleasant experience with a music producer, she created her own independent record label, Traitor Records.[3] Through it, she debuted with her 1997 classical album On a Day: Music for Violin & Continuo;[2][3] the title is a reference to Shakespeare and the fact that the album took only a day to record.[3] She recorded the EP Chambermaid, and wrote the 2001 charity single "By the Sword" after the events of September 11, 2001.[2][3] According to her, the song "is about strength....not a declaration of violence, far from it. It is merely a statement: We will actively enforce right and good through our thoughts, our words, and our deeds, whatever this may mean to you. We believe that our modern "knights of the round table" still exist, and I can tell you quite factually that they do."[3]

In 2002, she released her concept album Enchant.[10] She described it as "true 'fantasy rock'" and "about dreams and stories and ghosts and faeries who'll bite your head off if you dare to touch them".[3] At the same time, Autumn had several side projects: Convent, for which she recorded all four voices; Ravensong, "a classical baroque ensemble" that she formed with friends in California; and The Jane Brooks Project, which she dedicated to the real-life 16th century Jane Brooks—a woman executed for witchcraft "for nothing more than giving a boy an apple from her garden."[3]

2004–present: Opheliac, autobiography

I prefer to not have it, and then not be artistic, and probably be a lot happier...I’d still trade it in for anything else but, while it’s here, I’m going to use it for all it’s worth so that I’m not a victim of it.

— Autumn on bipolar disorder, [11]

In September 2004, her father died of lung cancer, even though he had quit smoking twenty years earlier.[4]

Returning from Courtney Love's 2004 tour, Autumn learned that she was pregnant, although she had been on birth control.[6] Terrified of childbirth and unwilling to pass on her bipolar disorder, she decided to have an abortion.[6] Later, she attempted suicide, which caused her to be admitted to a Los Angeles mental institution and kept on suicide watch.[6][12] On her experience there, she commented: "No one tried to break me out or contact me, and I wasn’t allowed to call anyone. Now, I watch One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, and realise it’s actually a pretty accurate portrayal of a modern-day asylum."[6]

After being released, she had her cell block number tattooed on her arm[6] and penned her autobiography, The Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls, which was published in December 2009.[13] The release was delayed because some did not want it published.[13] Autumn explained that "one of the main messages is" that many of the patients were not insane and that the subject of mental illness is still misunderstood.[11] Fond of rats because of their intelligence and loving personalities, she included talking rats in the book.[9] She described the book as "social criticism of Victorian to now – not much has changed and that’s not okay."[14]

Her concept album Opheliac was released by the German label Trisol Music Group in Oct 23, 2006.[15] She recorded Opheliac because "it was the documentation of a completely life-changing and life-ending experience".[13] The title is a reference to Shakespeare's character Ophelia from the play Hamlet, whom Autumn felt a connection to,[13] and the archetype of the "self-destructive" woman.[11] Autumn's songs "Manic Depression", "Swallow" and "Misery Loves Company" deal with the subject of bipolar disorder.[16] Her other songs touch on a range of issues: "The Art of Suicide" sarcastically centers on glamorized suicide,[13] "Liar" focuses on self-mutilation,[16] the autobiographical "Gothic Lolita" centers on sexual abuse,[17] and "Thank God I'm Pretty" is derived from her experience in the mental institution.[16] She later broke away from the label to join The End Records and re-release Opheliac in the United States on October 27, 2009; previously, it was only available there as an import.[11][13][18] The re-release included extras such as pictures, bonus tracks, an excerpt from The Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls, and a video.[18]

She released several more EPs and albums. November 2006 saw the release of the double feature EP Liar/Dead Is the New Alive, which featured remixes of songs from Opheliac and new material.[19] Her March 2007 album, Laced/Unlaced, consisted of two discs: Laced, her take on classical violin pieces, and Unlaced, new songs for the electric violin.[20] In August 2007, she released A Bit O' This & That: a collection of her covers, including songs from The Beatles and The Smiths, classical pieces, and her own songs.[21] In 2008, she released 4 o'Clock, which contained remixes of songs from Opheliac, new songs, and a reading of The Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls.[22]

She also cares for two pet rats, Sir Edward and Basil.[9]

Emilie Autumn self-identifies as asexual, despite having relationships with men and women.[23]

She also endorses companies such as Manic Panic and Samson Tech and is also active in organisations such as Amnesty International and Peta.[24]

Style

Autumn describes her music and style as "Psychotic Vaudeville Burlesque."[25] Her music has been labeled as Steampunk, neo-Victorian, and Industrial Gothic.[26] Her earlier album Enchant has been called "a sprawling and mystical work of new age chamber music, trip-hop baroque, and experimental space pop" with potential appeal to fans of Enya, Sarah McLachlan, and fantasy.[27] An Allmusic reviewer wrote: "Autumn's style incorporates quite a few contrasting elements, including cabaret, electronic, symphonic, new age, and good ol' rock & roll (and heavy on the theatrical bombast)."[15]

Autumn enjoys history because of its "cyclical" nature and her research into the Victorian era has influenced her music.[13] According to Autumn, her music "wasn't meant to be cutesy" and is labeled as industrial mainly because of her use of drums and yelling.[13] She also incorporates sounds resembling Victorian machinery such as locomotives, which she noted was "sort of a steampunk thing".[13] Commenting that her music is "hard to categorize as 'Victoriandustrial'",[13] she labels her music as glam rock because her use of glitter onstage.[13][26]

Television appearances

Autumn has been a guest artist on the Adult Swim cartoon Metalocalypse, in which she performed all violins as the London Philharmonic Orchestra in the episode "Detharmonic". She also appeared on The Dethalbum.

She also appeared on HGTV's Crafters Coast to Coast, showing viewers how to create Fairy wings and Sushi soap.

Discography

Albums

EPs and singles

Special editions

  • Opheliac (Digipak)
  • Liar/Dead Is the New Alive (Digipak)
  • Laced/Unlaced (Double CD and hardcover photo book)
  • Enchant (CD and limited hardcover-digibook)
  • A Bit O' This & That (CD and limited hardcover-digibook)
  • 4 o'Clock (Digipak)
  • Girls Just Wanna Have Fun & Bohemian Rhapsody Double Feature EP (Digipak)
  • Opheliac -- The Deluxe Edition

Guest contributions

Bibliography

References

  1. ^ "Weekend Hotlist". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. December 3, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e Wilson, MacKenzie. "{{Emilie Autumn > Biography}}". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Elliot, Russell W. (October 15, 2003). "Emilie Autumn at Musical Discoveries". Musical Discoveries. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
  4. ^ a b c Autumn, Emilie (September 28, 2004). "My dad's gone, and more pleasant notes on the world today..." Official site. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  5. ^ Holmes, Mark (9 March 2010). "Metal Discovery: Interview with Emilie Autumn Page 4". Metal Discovery. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Emilie Autumn Interview". Bizarre. April 2010. Retrieved September 29, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ Bryant, Tom (13 February 2010). "Girl Interrupted. Abuse, attempted suicide and bipolar disorder…". No. 1299. Kerrang!. p. 44. If you've had difficult things happening or have had an upbringing that was really fucked up — (mine) had massive amounts of abuse since I was six years old and rape — then it's sometimes hard to tell exactly what [causes a suicide attempt] {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  8. ^ a b c d Rowland, Jay (16 December 2009). "Secrets From The Asylum: A Chat With Emilie Autumn". Shred News. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  9. ^ a b c Harkens, Ray. "Pro Violinist Emilie Autumn's Interview". Peta2. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  10. ^ "Enchant". Emilie Autumn. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  11. ^ a b c d Holmes, Mark (30 January 2010). "Metal Discovery: Interview with Emilie Autumn – Page 2". Metal Discovery. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  12. ^ Holmes, Mark (9 March 2010). "Metal Discovery: Interview with Emilie Autumn Page 2". Metal Discovery. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Ohanesian, Liz (October 23, 2009). "Interview: Neo-Victorian Violinist, Singer Emilie Autumn". LA Weekly. Retrieved March 20, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ Perry, Clayton (January 10, 2010). "Interview: Emilie Autumn – Singer, Songwriter and Producer – Page 8". Blogcritics. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  15. ^ a b Prato, Greg. "(Opheliac > Review)". Allmusic. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  16. ^ a b c "Story–Welcome to The Asylum:: The Official Site of Emilie Autumn". Emilie Autumn. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  17. ^ Autumn, Emilie (October 24, 2004). "Gothic Lolita". Official site. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
  18. ^ a b "Opheliac -- The Deluxe Edition". Emilie Autumn. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  19. ^ "Liar/Dead Is the New Alive". Emilie Autumn. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  20. ^ "Laced/Unlaced". Emilie Autumn. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  21. ^ "A Bit O' This & That". Emilie Autumn. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  22. ^ "4 o'Clock". Emilie Autumn. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  23. ^ Steinfeld, Dave (June 2010). "Interview with Emilie Autumn". Curve. Retrieved 5 July 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  24. ^ Z., Mickey. "Interview with a Vegan Vaudeville Violinist: Talking Music, Justice, and Rodent Love with the One and Only Emilie Autumn". Green Planet. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  25. ^ a b Holmes, Mark (9 March 2010). "Metal Discovery: Interview with Emilie Autumn Page 2". Metal Discovery. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  26. ^ Spano, Charles. "(Enchant > Review)". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 September 2010.
  27. ^ a b c d e "Welcome to the Asylum :: The Official Site of Emilie Autumn". Emilie Autumn. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
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