Richly talented, multifaceted, innovative, eclectic, unconventional, and a Mac addict—singer, songwriter, producer, pianist, and world class violinist Emilie Autumn is that rarest of musical breeds... a true original. Whether she's writing and performing original songs that bring together an extraordinary mix of sounds and styles, performing concerts in the great classical music halls of Europe and the U.S., or bringing down the house with her own electrifying violin rock creations, 21-year-old Emilie Autumn makes music that defies categories, breaks down barriers and builds a bridge to a new era of music with a truly globe-spanning sound.
As a classically trained violinist, Emilie revolutionizes her instrument by playing her electric violin live a la Jimi Hendrix, and belting out her girl-power anthem, “Chambermaid,” during her highly theatrical stage shows. Her vocals fluctuate between preternaturally mature soul singer and sultry siren, as she highlights her mastery of several instruments, including an array of violins, piano, harpsichord, and a multitude of electronics.The result is sexy, surprising, and even controversial.
At at age 17, the violin prodigy recorded her first album, a collection of famous classical pieces. The album, On A Day…, was licensed for use in a variety of feature films, but no one quite expected what was to come. Emilie Autumn's dazzling alternative rock debut album, Enchant, defied all preconceptions, and gave birth to a whole new sound. The album features such standout tracks as the song here, the haunting "What If," which features a heartbreaking violin and piano performance; the hip-hop "How Strange,” a rapid-fire view of mankind's lack of respect for the supernatural; and "Chambermaid,” a scathing rock track utilizing renaissance imagery and backed by Emilie's electric fiddle wizardry.
Emilie's also a true Mac enthusiast. Raised on PCs, Emilie has been computer savvy since childhood, but her inspiration became boundless after test driving her first Mac computer—and she's been using Macs exclusively ever since. “When I got my first PowerBook,” Emilie raves, “I felt like I had been accepted into a privileged community of like-minded people, people that really love their computers. In the PC world, everyone seems frustrated, but Mac owners treat their machines like family members. We may be a bit insane, but we’re a lot happier. What the Mac has done for my music and video production is truly a godsend.”
In her live performances, Emilie is never without her iBook, dubbed “Puppy.” Explains Emilie, “I was desperate to have a dog, but was touring and didn’t think it would be fair. So I got a beautiful silver iBook and named it Puppy. He’s listed on my Web site as a band member.” Puppy acts as a sequencer for Emilie's keyboards during the show, and is prominently featured onstage. “My backup band members are Mac lovers too, and we’re proud to have the little Apple logo lighting up the darkened stage.” Emilie’s bass player and professional computer programmer, Jim Vanaria, runs the iBook during her shows.
“We are always developing ways in which to marry music to technology,” Emilie says, "and the Mac format has been a great help, both to me personally, and as part of my live show.” Apple computers have also factored heavily into Emilie’s recorded music. Her latest release, the alternative rock album, Enchant, was recorded entirely on Mac G4s running ProTools. Emilie’s home studio boasts an array of Macs as well, which she uses not only for recording, but also to produce music videos using both iMovie and Final Cut Pro.
As president of her own label—Chicago-based Traitor Records (which incidentally incorporates an apple into its logo)—Emilie sees to it that all graphics and Web site development are done on Macs. As she puts it, “When you want to run a tight ship, you need things done right the first time, and for me, that means using Macs. As a business owner, I love the increased stability and multitasking features of OS X. I’m excited to see what the future brings for the Mac community, and I’m glad to be a part of it.” Emilie notes that she’s not the only one: “I was boarding a plane yesterday and had to take my iBook out of its case to go through security. I apologized to the gentleman behind me for holding up the line, but he said, ‘Oh, that’s OK. You have an Apple!’”
For more info:
Emilie Autumn, www.emilieautumn.com
Renaissance Artist Management
Graham Brisben, President: 773-294-1120
Traitor Records
Lydia Parrish, Artist Relations: lparrish@traitorrecords.com
