Emilie Autumn: Faerie Queen and Violin Virtuoso

Violinist and singer Emilie Autumn combines mediaeval and Celtic sounds with a modern beat. On stage she channels her alter ego: The Faerie Queen, a bizarre mix of Elf queen and cyberpunkgirl. She describes her trademark style as 'fantasyrock'.

Classical Training

Emilie (1979) started preparing to be a concert violinist at the age of four. On several conservatories she learned to play other instruments alongside the violin, composing and studied music from baroque to Bach.
Her teens saw her touring through the whole of Europe, but when she turned twenty she chose to compose her own music instead, in which many influences can be found, like gipsy music and Celtic violin.

Do It Yourself

At age 18 she decided she'd had enough of the guidance of sleazy record companies and starts her own label, the aptly named Traitor Records'.
"I didn't think that they knew more about music than me," say Emilie of this decision.
She has much faith in her fans, and gives them the chance to download her album in its entirety on her website:"My fans are true music lovers, and they have proved to me time and time again that if they like my album they will buy it, even if they already have a downloaded version!"
To aid other independent artists she is writing a book , called How To Be An Indie Queen.

Faerie Fashion

The frail singer has made her faerie wings into her trademark. Dressed in a tight corset, crystal-encrusted faerie wings, long hair extensions and Victorian chokers she formed her alter ego: the 'Faerie Queen'. She designs and creates her own costumes; She was taught by her mother, a costume designer herself.
In the webshop of Traitor Records she sells her own designs, buttons and beauty products.
On Emilie's forum (look at www.emilieautumn.com) she shows you how to make your own faerie wings and a few fans post their own creations; definitely worth a visit.

About Enchant

From the very first sounds of the fairytale-like Enchant, you know you're dealing with something special. Emilie Autumn combines the vocal
expressions of Tori Amos with the mysterious violin sound of Loreena McKennit. Sometimes the computer tunes seem a little kitschy, but you forgive her the moment you hear the clear sounds of her violin. Her lyrics are wonderfully melancholic, as in the Kate Bush-like Castledown, but she also shows some girlpower in Chambermaid, in which she doesn't want her boyfriend to behave like a 'lord'.

You can tell by the many styles on Enchant (from folk to jazz) that Emilie is till searching for her own style. Because of this the cd seems a little cluttered sometimes, but most of it leaves you keeps you coming back for more. Emilie is a busy bee, beside her solo career she is a part of Courtney Love's band and of the renaissance rock group Ravensong, let's hope that she'll soon have time for a new solo cd!