Emilie Autumn - "If you want something done right, do it yourself"

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12 Nov, 2007

Emilie Autumn - If you want something done right, do it yourself
One of the most prolific acts from this moment is the one-woman project Emilie Autumn. Born in 1979 in Malibu, California, this American singer-songwriter and violinist has set the entire goth scene afire thanks to a pro approach that has seldom been seen in today's scene. And her qualities have gotten her much farther than most would ever dream of, because if you are getting invited by Courtney Love or Billy Corgan for a collaboration, then you must probably be doing something good. Her theatrical performance style and the mix of classical and industrial musical genres have earned her a rightful place in the spotlights. Just a few minutes ago on stage, now in Side-Line. (By Bernard Van Isacker)

SL. You have been re-releasing quite some material lately, "Laced" for instance which is a re-release of "On A Day..." (2000) and now there is also the limited deluxe edition of your debut album "Enchant" and "A Bit o' This & That" which includes tracks from "By The Sword" and "Chambermaid", both homemade demos. In how far were these demos still up to date for you?

EA. Firstly, I'd like to thank you for taking the time to go through all of this material. At the rate that I seem to be putting out records these days, I know it can be difficult to keep up and really get to know the material in depth. As you know, "Laced" was not merely a re-release of my teenage classical recording, "On A Day," but it also includes nearly an hour of live, never-before-heard (except by the people who were there at the time of course) classical concert recordings from my childhood. It's impossible for music like this to go out of style because it's already out of style by default, being hundreds of years old. It was extremely important for me to release a classical record before going forward with the world of "Opheliac" in order to show that I had a full, rich musical life long before anyone in the popular scene ever knew who I was. And of course, "Laced" is only half of the set that is "Laced / Unlaced," which includes an entire second album of all original metal shredding violin.

As far as the two special edition releases, "Enchant" and "A Bit O' This & That," I have a strict rule not to discuss them because they were a gift to my fans who had been with me from the beginning several years ago, not something that is, or was ever intended to be, relevant to who I am today. As you also know, neither "By The Sword" nor "Chambermaid" were "homemade demos," they were studio recordings from my childhood. I will only say that I was making a valiant attempt to be optimistic about the world around me even though I honestly had no reason to be...sort of a last hurrah before reality set in and I had to face both myself and the world as they are.

SL. Your record label, Traitor Records, is only taking care of your material and that of Ravensong, Convent, and The Jane Brooks project. Do you plan adding extra artists?

EA. I have every intention of signing and developing artists in the future, but for the time being, it is home to my multiple personalities and my childhood releases only.

SL. During your acts, you are accompanied by several fellow artists, the Bloody Crumpets, one being Lady Aprella who now also fronts the "F**k the mainstream" 4CD compilation set. How did you get in touch with all these people and how did you find a way to incorporate them in your shows?

EA. The Crumpets are my band and fellow Asylum Inmates, and there are actually dozens of them spread throughout the globe, all of whom I found initially via letters in bottles and the occasional past life experience. Simply put, if you are a Wayward Victorian Girl, I'll find you. I have a handful on stage with me at every gig, and what's so exciting for me personally as much as for those watching is that the lineup changes as does the show every time we perform, resulting in a performance that is never static. I'm privileged to have so many fans follow us from show to show, country to country because of this - it's never the same show twice, and as much as I'm a tyrannical control freak, even I love not knowing what is going to happen next. It's like improv comedy combined with absolute chaos.

SL. You also bring a stuffed bear toy, Suffer the Bear, to all of your performances... a gimmick or is there something else we need to know?

EA. Suffer the Bear, while being stuffed, is actually quite real, and he, unfortunately for him, bears the brunt of most of the violence that takes place on stage. I'm sure you've seen him get shot several times within a single show, and that's nothing compared to what happens in the tour bus, poor thing. But that's what you get for being a boy in a girl's world...good thing he's not human or he'd be dead by now. But yes, he's a gimmick. And so am I.

SL. Some describe EA as a very well marketed project, how do you look at this?

EA. I certainly hope I'm well marketed. As some say that real art cannot be marketed, that's quite a compliment that some seem to think I've done it.

SL. You are really a busy bee, you are finishing the 'gothic children's book for adults only', titled "The Alphabet Book of X-Boyfriends" I read? What is it about? Is it planned to be released as part of a CD?

EA. "X-Boyfriends" is actually finished, but something has come up with demands to be released first, so it will have to wait a few more months. The next release you'll hear about is going to change everything.

(�)

To read the complete interview, be sure to buy Side-Line issue 60 !

Side-Line issue 60
Emilie Autumn CDs

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