Autumn Tears
Autumn Tears is an international dark wave band formed in September 1995 by Erika Swinnich and Ted Tringo. Their music has goth and industrial characteristics. However, the band does not use electric guitars, which would be conventional. Rather, Autumn Tears' utilize "operatic" orchestration for its "epic" connotation.[1]
Autumn Tears | |
|---|---|
| Genres | Dark wave |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | Dark Symphonies |
| 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 |
| Website | autumntears |
History
Autumn Tears was formed in September 1995 by Ted Tringo, keyboardist and pianist. We recorded our first songs for a studio album at West Record Studios. From that experience I was inspired to self-release my music on my label Dark Symphonies. In April 1996, the first CD, ‘Love Poems for Dying Children… Act I’ was released. The music of Love Poems… consisted of symphonic arrangements inspired by ancient chants, classical music, and various 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’.
The first release of Act I was originally meant to be limited to 2000 copies, however, due to an overwhelming number of requests, it was re-released with a new layout and artwork in 1998. All tracks were remixed and remastered and a bonus track titled ‘The Intermission’ was included on the repress, marking Jen’s vocal debut appearance in the band.
Autumn Tears released a mini-CD titled ‘Absolution’. The following year, they would release the third and final full-length album to the ‘Love Poems…’ trilogy, ‘Love Poems for Dying Children, Act III: Winter and the Broken Angel’.
In 2004, the band recorded the album ‘Eclipse’. During recording, we branched out to include new musicians to join Autumn Tears, including female vocalist Laurie Ann Haus, who sang alongside our lead vocalist Erica in a majority of the tracks on Eclipse.
In 2007, Autumn Tears released ‘The Hallowing’, which was speculated to be the final release.
According to the liner notes on the 2008 re-issue of Love Poems… Act I, these claims are acknowledged and notes that the band has not broken up, but simply taking 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 mastered by Peter Bjärgö at Erebus Odora studio, and all 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, a follow-up album was released by the title of ‘The Air Below The Water’, which was pressed as a double CD set. It included 40+ musicians and vocalists including opera singer Caroline Joy 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 orchestral 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 ninth full-length album, ‘The Glow of Desperation’, presented as a limited CD and available through digital download. The CD features a lyric booklet illustrated with paintings by artist Marcela Bolívar.
In February 2022, Autumn Tears released a split album titled ‘Widowing’ with Zeresh featuring 7 new Autumn Tears tracks and 6 new Zeresh tracks. Cover artwork by award winning artist Marcela Bolívar. The new double album – ‘Guardian of the Pale’ was released under The Circle Music banner in March of 2023.
Members
Current lineup
- Ted Tringo - Composition, arrangements, lyrics, piano:
- 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 and backing vocals, vocal and lyric arrangements
- Ffion Elisa Williams - Lead vocals and vocal arrangements
- Soroush Abedi - Composition, accompaniment, arrangements and percussion
- Artur Silveiro - Composition, accompaniment, arrangements and percussion
- Jess Townsend - Violin, viola
- Tom McCluskey - Cello
- Sanja Smileska - Violin, viola
- Sanja Smileska - Viola
- Mercedes Bralo - Harp
- Val Cortoni - Hammered dulcimer
- Kelly O'Donohue - Trumpet, trombone
- Oli Parker - Trumpet
- Matt Giella - Trumpet
- Josué García García - Trumpet
- María Gabriela Soto - Trombone
- Austris Apenis - French horn
- Claude Lumley - French horn
- Giulia Cacciavillani - Flute, piccolo
- Alia Fay - Wooden traverse flute, tin whistle
- Sasko Temelkoski - Clarinet
- Carolina Prado Sánchez - Oboe
- Callum Edwards - Snare drum
Past members
- (1995-2004) Erika (Swinnich) Tandy - Lead and backing vocals, composition and keyboards.
- (1998-2001) Jennifer LeeAnna - Lead and backing vocals, vocal arrangements, composition and keyboards.
Discography
Albums
- Love Poems for Dying Children... Act I (1996)
- Love Poems for Dying Children... Act II: The Garden of Crystalline Dreams (1997)
- Love Poems for Dying Children... Act I: REPRISE MCMXCVIII (1998)
- Love Poems for Dying Children... Act III: Winter and the Broken Angel (2000)
- Eclipse (2004)
- The Hallowing (2007)
- Colors Hidden Within The Gray (2019)
- The Air Below The Water (2020)
- The Glow of Desperation (2021)
Mini-CD
- Absolution (1999)
- The Origin of Sleep (2018)
- Widowing (Split album with Zeresh) (2022)
References
- "Autumn Tears - The Air Below The Water". Echoes And Dust. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2022.