Autumn Tears
Autumn Tears is an international dark wave band formed in September 1995 by Erika Swinnich, a vocalist who would found IGNITOR, and Ted Tringo. Their music has been described as goth and industrial, despite having little electrical instruments present.[1]
Autumn Tears | |
|---|---|
| Genres | Dark wave |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | Dark Symphonies |
| Website | autumntears |
| Members | Ted Tringo Caroline Joy Clarke (Trovatori) Darren Clarke (Trovatori) Tamar Singer Agnete Mangnes Kirkevaag Ann-Mari Edvardsen Alexis |
| Past members | Erika (Swinnich) Tandy Jennifer Judd |
After creating a record deal entitled Dark Symphonies and releasing their first CD Love Poems for Dying Children...Act I (1996) they would follow-up with the sequel act in 1997. Shortly after, Swinnich would leave, and the band would undergo a lineup change. However, Swinnich would return after they had remastered Act I, and they would release a mini-CD called Absolution (1999), Love Poems for Dying Children, Act III: Winter and the Broken Angel (2000), and Eclipse (2004).
After the release, Swinnich would leave leave again to form IGNITOR, and they would release Hallowing. It would take another 11 years for them to release anything besides a remaster of Act I, but in 2019 they would release Colors Hidden Within The Gray and two follow-up albums called The Air Below the Water (2020) and The Glow of Desperation (2021).
History
The band was formed in September 1995 by Erika Swinnich, the former vocalist, and Ted Tringo, who does keyboard and piano. After recording songs for a studio album, they got entered West Record Studios, although they did not sign a record deal. In April 1996, their first CD, Love Poems for Dying Children... Act I was released through Dark Symphonies, their own record label. The music of Love Poems... consisted of symphonic arrangements influenced by ancient chants, classical music, and contemporary artists (Dead Can Dance, Anchorage, Stoa, Enya). In May 1997, Autumn Tears released the sequel to their previous album, The Garden of Crystalline Dreams - Love Poems for Dying Children: Act II.
Erika shortly afterward left Autumn Tears after Act II's release to pursue writing her novel. Vocalist Jennifer LeeAnna was recruited to replace her spot. The first release of Act I was originally supposed to be limited to 2000 copies, but an overwhelming number of requests once it had sold out, it was re-released with a new layout and artwork in 1998. All tracks were remixed and remastered and included a bonus track titled "The Intermission" was included on the repress, marking Jennifer LeeAnna's debut appearance in the band.
In December 1999, Erika rejoined Autumn Tears as a full-time member. In July 1999, Autumn Tears released a mini-CD titled Absolution. In the following year, they would release the final album third full-length album to the acts series, Love Poems for Dying Children, Act III: Winter and the Broken Angel.
In 2004, the band recorded the album Eclipse. In the Eclipse recording, Ted Tringo had invited new musicians to join Autumn Tears, such as female vocalist Laurie Ann Haus, who shared the female voices with Erika in a majority of the tracks on Eclipse. After the release, Erika left Autumn Tears again to form her new band, Ignitor.
In 2007, Autumn Tears released The Hallowing speculated to be their final release. The liner notes for the 2008 re-issue of Love Poems... Act I acknowledges the claims and notes that the band has not broken up, they are just on a break.
The Origin of Sleep EP was released in 2018 featuring Irish harpist Brona McVittie, Tom Moth, and John Clark, as well as original Autumn Tears woodwind player Terran Olson and Jennifer Judd. It was recorded by Peter Bjärgö at Erebus Odora studio, and all the songs included were exclusive to release.
In 2019 Autumn Tears returned with their first full-length album in 11 years, Colors Hidden Within The Gray. The album features a full orchestral ensemble and 30+ musicians, including ones that returned from The Origin of Sleep. Various ethnic instruments such as bagpipes, kamancheh, and bansuri were featured.
In 2020 they released a follow-up album The Air Below The Water, presented as a double CD set. It included 40+ musicians and vocalists including opera singer Caroline Clarke, singer-songwriter Tamar Singer, and vocal coach Anne "Anaé" Laurent. Also returning were singer-songwriters Brona McVittie and Nathan Nasby. The album featured an orchestrated classical ensemble as well as instruments including kamancheh, bansuri, and duduk.
In March 2021 to coincide with International Women's Day, Autumn Tears released their next full-length album The Glow of Desperation, presented as a limited CD and available through digital download. It again was an orchestrated, classical album featuring many musicians. The CD features a lyric booklet illustrated with paintings by artist Marcela Bolívar.
Lineup
Current lineup
- Composition, arrangements, lyrics, piano: Ted Tringo
- Lead and backing vocals, vocal and lyric arrangements: Caroline Joy Clarke
- Lead and backing vocals, vocal and lyric arrangements: Darren Clarke
- Lead and backing vocals, vocal and lyric arrangements: Tamar Singer
- Lead and backing vocals, vocal and lyric arrangements: Anne "Anaé" Laurent
- Lead and backing vocals, vocal and lyric arrangements: Agnete Mangnes Kirkevaag
- Lead and backing vocals, vocal and lyric arrangements: Ann-Mari Edvardsen Alexis
- Lead and backing vocals, vocal and lyric arrangements: Dawn Desireé Smith
- Lead and backing vocals, vocal and lyric arrangements: Bróna Mcvittie
- Lead and backing vocals, vocal and lyric arrangements: Nathan Nasby
- Lead vocals and vocal arrangements: Ffion Elisa Williams
- Composition, accompaniment, arrangements and percussion: Soroush Abedi
- Composition, accompaniment, arrangements and percussion: Artur Silveiro
- Violin, viola: Jess Townsend
- Cello: Tom McCluskey
- Violin, viola: Sanja Smileska
- Viola: Sanja Smileska
- Violin, viola
- Harp: Mercedes Bralo
- Hammered dulcimer: Val Cortoni
- Trumpet, trombone: Kelly O'Donohue
- Trumpet: Oli Parker
- Trumpet: Matt Giella
- Trumpet: Josué García García
- Trombone: María Gabriela Soto
- French Horn: Austris Apenis
- French Horn: Claude Lumley
- Flute, Piccolo: Giulia Cacciavillani
- Wooden traverse flute, tin whistle: Alia Fay
- Clarinet: Sasko Temelkoski
- Oboe: Carolina Prado Sánchez
- Snare drum: Callum Edwards
Past members
- (1995-2004) Erika (Swinnich) Tandy - Lead and backing vocals, composition and keyboards. (Ex- Ignitor, currently vocals and guitars for death metal act Morgengrau, vocals for Drifter and Bracaglia)
- (1998-2001) Jennifer LeeAnna - Lead and backing vocals, vocal arrangements, composition and keyboards.
Discography
Albums
- 1996 Love Poems for Dying Children... Act I
- 1997 Love Poems for Dying Children... Act II: The Garden of Crystalline Dreams
- 1998 Love Poems for Dying Children... Act I: REPRISE MCMXCVIII (re-release of Act I with a bonus track)
- 2000 Love Poems for Dying Children... Act III: Winter and the Broken Angel
- 2004 Eclipse
- 2007 The Hallowing
- 2019 Colors Hidden Within The Gray
- 2020 The Air Below The Water
- 2021 The Glow of Desperation
Mini-CD
- 1999 Absolution
- 2018 The Origin of Sleep
References
- "Autumn Tears - The Air Below The Water". Echoes And Dust. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2022.