Silver Fox Radio Interview
SFR: What has changed in your music since we last spoke with you in 2002?
EA: That's difficult in that I've got a few musical directions going on at once, so while my direction as a classical musician is still similar to what it was, my direction as a jazz artist has veered off from my direction as a rock artist, so that the jazz now has it's own record coming out in the form of 'The Jane Brooks Project,' and the rock is focusing on her next album and going a bit more electronica this time.
SFR: Not too long ago Traitor Records was attacked by a hacker. Did you ever resolve the issue? And how did it make you feel that some person out there would want to mess around with you?
EA: I never resolved the issue because it was unresolvable. It was not personal, I don't think. It came from someone who routinely steals domains and holds them ransom, and that's their source of income. If they had lived a few hundred years ago, they would have been the guy stealing the rings off the fingers of corpses blown up in the French Revolution.
SFR: Since 911 a lot has changed in the USA everything from boarder security to our human rights. What are your opinions on The Patriot Act? (You can read about The Patriot Act at http://www.epic.org/privacy/terrorism/hr3162.html)
EA: OK, even being that it's used as an acronym in this case (though by no accident), the word "patriot" scares the hell out of me. Like "christian." Or "pop music." I'm the kid who wouldn't stand up in elementary school when the Pledge of Allegiance was spoken each and every morning, because someone had been so kind as to inform me that what I was essentially saying by reciting a bunch of mindless words in a droning voice was that I would die for my country, without question or reservation, if and when I was called upon to do so. I will not die for my country, and I won't lie just to conform. My country doesn't represent me. I don't even have to add the disclaimer that I'm proud to be an American, of course I am, given the options. But until my country is lead by someone who is not necessarily male, not necessarily conservative, and not necessarily violence-driven, then this is not MY country. MY country will happen someday, and if I didn't think it would then I'd have to just give up and jump off the nearest bridge right now. But it won't happen if we don't collectively realize that THIS isn't it. In the meanwhile, we don't live in the socialist, egalitarian society I might have hoped for, nor did we ever. I used to say I was an anarchist until I found that nobody knows what that means. Regarding the specific points laid out in the Patriot Act, I do tend to agree with the sometimes held viewpoint that it takes advantage of an opportunity within this country, within a society that is somewhat more inclined to give up it's rights in the face of danger than it might have otherwise been. I mean, of course. I just find it all so predictable, and I'm not shocked in the least by anything that's happening. It's practically boring - we live in a world, not only a country, that is ruled by force, by a singular gender, and you simply can't have that go on for thousands of years without the whole system mutating into something horribly ill. It was always ill, but now we have the weapons to self-destruct, so it's a little more dire. I'm going to stop now before I get into trouble.
SFR: In the last 2 years the RIAA has overgrown their own pants sorta say. Do you think the RIAA has finally gone to far in their war against file sharing?
EA: Of course they've gone too far, they were too far on day one. The real issue here is that we're not being told not to file share by an entity which supports and is good for musical artists, we're being told not to file share by an entity that cheats them out of every penny it can. It's always been an issue of control, and as is the case with most governing entities, what is good for the people (including the artist) would demand more change than the entity is really comfortable with. To me, it's not even a question of whether file-sharing is right or wrong anymore, all of that is over-ridden by the very true and simple fact that file-sharing is GOOD for artists. It's been proven to be good for artists time and time and time again. It has never been NOT good for artists, but it does cut down on the control the RIAA/Major Labels have on what the public hears, likes, and buys. The RIAA getting into the anti-privacy realm is just a last pathetic gasp on their part, more laughable than anything else.
SFR: The RIAA is also still trying to shut down the Online Radio Industry. And they still want to charge Online Stations more money then Commercial. Do you belive that the RIAA is determined to put an end to anything that could improve the Music Industry?
EA: That's funny, because I equate it to my experience growing up as a classical musician in conservatoires in that my professors would always discourage me from doing the very things that might make an audience interested, i.e., buy more tickets at the box office. This mystified me beyond description until I realized that, again, it was about control. If classical performers were truly interesting, it would change the face of what is now a decrepit and restrictive institution, and the professors themselves might be out of a job, simply not necessary anymore; their advice wouldn't be relevant. So it is with the RIAA. Fear of change, fear of losing control, and fear of anything indie (read: anything they don't own/can't buy). There's a simple solution: artists can choose not to sign to a label which is represented by the RIAA. No one makes them do it. But for every singer who turns down a deal, there are a million more who would hang themselves for the chance to be a "star," so there you go. A vicious cycle.. Be strong, fluffy.
SFR: We have recently read that you are sorta going underground to test out some new songs with small groups. How is this working out for you?
EA: Oh, it was fantastic! I sang some nights up to four hours, just to test out all the songs I'd been sitting on for the past several years, and still didn't get through the bulk of them. Anything piano-based however leads people to want to sing along with you, so a duet on Moon River with an inebriated gentleman was not at all uncommon.
SFR: You are one of the few people who take advantage of the newest technology to help you with your music. Has the new technology of today proven to be more trouble then good for you?
EA: I do admittedly have more studio problems than types of tea in my cupboard, but even so, technology has been a wonderful gift to my music. Internet radio has been a gift, as has the internet in general. There is no possible way that I could reach the people I do in the places I do without this technology, and that those people can then connect with other like-minded people in places such as my online forum (www.forum.emilieautumn.com) is so very crucial as well. I am constantly searching for new ways to use what the tech world is offering us - if I weren't, I'm sure I'd be caught up in the fear-based propaganda like so many other artists have been.
SFR: What are the odds that we will see you tour around the United States?
EA: Very good, thank you. I am planning a tour at present that will bring my new songs to fans across the country, and I'm going to have some lovely ladies on stage with me to make this possible. Stay tuned, and watch the mobility increase...
SFR: I am sure your sick of this topic. But were going to go down this road anyway's and see what happens. What did you think about the Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake incident at the super bowl? And do you think the FCC,CBS,MTV,and the SUE Happy people are taking this a tad to far? And how is what happened at the Super bowl any different then what they show in movies and or award shows?
EA: The Janet incident mystifies me to be perfectly honest. Not because I don't see what the big deal was, I DO see what the big deal was, it's just not the same deal everyone else is screaming about. Janet's tit? Not a problem. The violent manner in which JT exposed it? Big problem. He should have been the one embarrassed and ashamed, and the issue should never have been about breasts but about the implication that it's cool for some jerk to rip off a girl's clothes, and then, just like in fucking Darfur, SHE's the one who has to apologize.
SFR: QUESTION OF DOOM!!! I am not sure about everyone else out there. But this interviewer would like to know one thing. Are you single? If your not can you tell us a little bit about your BF?
EA: May the devils rise up and swallow your cat! I am not single, except on Thursdays. My BF is a musician himself. You will be hearing his contribution on the upcoming album, in the form of glitchy-crazy programming. We are a painfully normal couple, though I have dyed his bathtub pink.
SFR: It seems that more and more young aged group singers or singers are coming out into the music industry these days. Do you think they should wait till after HS to pursue their career in music? Or do you think it is important to get an early start while you can?
EA: Really, I don't think it much matters. Early starts mean nothing in themselves if you haven't got something worthwhile to say. I started my musical career rather early, so naturally I don't have anything to criticize in others who do the same. My only complaint is the ageism that occurs on the opposite side of the spectrum, that which tells one that beyond a certain age they are no longer saleable as musicians or public figures of any kind, most especially for women. Thank goddess for people like Annie Lennox, Morrissey, Sting, Chrissie Hynde, and dozens more, who have counterbalanced the whole age equation and given me reason to look forward to growing older.
SFR: Do you find it easier for a Music Artist or Artists to be on their own? VS having to be under a record lable contract and having to pay all the middle men and then get what is left over.
EA: No, it's not easier at all, hence why most musicians are still on that elusive search for the Big Deal. The industry is set up so that, no matter how good you are, if you are not represented by an EMI or a Sony, no one wants to talk to you, by which I mean, booking agents, venues, sponsors, etc. And, no matter how shitty you are, if you ARE represented by one of the majors, the world is temporarily your proverbial oyster (temporarily because the vast majority of major label artists will indeed go home after a few years with no money and a very bruised psyche). It's quite repugnant, which is precisely why I despise the entire industry, what it stands for, and how it works. When an artist does come out today with something truly artistic, I consider it an absolute miracle and write about it in my diary under the "Acts of God" heading. That being said, I am proud to be an indie artist despite the superficial hardships, and I enjoy doing things myself that bigger stars never give a thought to. In the end, I know what's mine is mine, from my soul to my copyrights, and I wouldn't change that for all the tea in China. If ever I join forces with a larger force than myself and my label, it will have to be for a very very special deal wherein I keep my copyrights and the RIAA can't sue people for downloading my music. I'm not holding my breath - I'm far too much trouble. There's a million and one Britneys waiting in the wings, and everyone knows violinists are crazy anyway's.
SFR: Out of the band members you had 2 years ago. How many of them are still with you? And can you give us updates on their status career wise.
EA: All of my band mates are still with me, barring our cellist who felt compelled to move to California. Ironic. I do have different lineups for different gigs however - sometimes I'll do a show completely on my own, sometimes with a cellist (we're hunting for a new one), sometimes with electronics and sometimes with the full band. It's a very flexible entity where the only real constant is my wings.
SFR: POLTICAL QUESTION 101!!!! Do you think the United States will ever be able to get back on track if we continue to spend our Budget and resources on freeing other countries from Iron Fisted Dictators? And what do you belive we should be spending our money on?
EA: No, I don't think there is a chance of our getting back on any sort of track given our current budgeting. I don't even know that this is our intention - we know it's impossible. There is a limit to my presumption, and I know that I do not possess the answers to the world's problems, at least not all of them. I can however suggest we glean inspiration from a few other countries that have been so bold as to make health care a realistic option, and education a priority. I can say what we should NOT be spending our money on - anything our current President says we ought to.
SFR: Out of the albums you have released so far. Which one could you say had the most impact on your life?
EA: "Enchant" has certainly reached the greatest number of people, and so I suppose I would choose that, though my classical debut, "On A Day," caused some wonderfully events in my life to occur as well. I have this feeling that it will take a few more albums before large groups of people really understand what and who I am, and I'm somewhat accepting of that.
SFR: If you were invited to do a show overseas for the soldiers. Would you attend that show? and if so what songs would you perform? And why?
EA: Yes, I would attend, because I support our citizens, if not our cause. I'd perform "What If" and then I'd do a strip tease. Just kidding.
SFR: SCIENCE QUESTION!!!!! As our Technology is advancing and the science industry is growing. Do you think this could lead to more Diseases being created and spread? or lead to more cures? And do you belive that the cloning of Organs or Food can help us in the future or cause problems?
EA: I am so suspect of any government and what they choose to fund and what they don't that I dare say my views might be warped. I can't fathom that anything remotely related to cloning could be a good thing. I'll surmise with the rest about diseases like AIDS, how they came about, and why we can't seem to cure them, and I'll have my suspicious hat on all the while. But I do feel certain that fiddling with life to such a degree as to multiply it in any form beyond that which women have been doing quite well for millions of years is asking for more trouble than we can even comprehend. I simply feel that our tinkering is not going to serve us in the end because we are trying to patch up a rotting structure from the outside rather than from the inside. Let's make people healthier, let's get off the high horse of western medicine and see what else is out there, let's make mentally healthy societies, let's stop feeding people more chemicals than food, and we might actually get somewhere. I suspect it's easier to clone a human than it is to pull of the above, hence, our current reality.
SFR: Thank you Emilie for taking the time to let us interview you. Can you please tell us what shows are coming up or CDs that are coming out that we should be on the look out for.
EA: Thank you for a fantastic chat! Shows are on the horizon, but more pressing is the release in a month or so of "The Jane Brooks Project, Volume I," my jazz side project which will show a whole new voice to those who only know "Enchant." I am now in the studio with "Opheliac," and hope to have that ready perhaps for Christmas or the New Year. I'm so very excited to be putting out a new record, I'm sort of bouncing off walls. Oh! and next week we'll be releasing "Mistress," our first big-time fragrance for my boutique, WillowTech House (www.willowtechhouse.com). It's delicious, and so J. Lo, I know...