“I’m testing out a bunch of batches for the Asylum Emporium Tea Company which is about to get launched and it’s something I never thought I’d be doing! I can actually say that I am responsible for importing Indian tea now, so there you go! In a nutshell, this whole year has been complete madness, but in the most beautiful of ways. I’m continuing to spread the madness because I’m going to Australia now which is so exciting, but I’m thrilled the most about debuting two of my main tracks from the new album [Fight Like A Girl]. The most important track that I can’t wait to show you guys is Fight Like A Girl, though I think some people might be a little puzzled if they don’t know my book, because the record is an extension of that.”
After literally being admitted into a psychiatric ward in Los Angeles seven years ago due to a suicide attempt, Autumn claims she kept a scrapbook which was not unlike a diary of her experiences in the hospital – a period of her life that she describes as both terrifying as well as inspiring. But sometimes beautiful things eventuate form the most horrible of experiences, and in Autumn’s case, it was her autobiography – written in red crayon during her hospital stay and all.
“Even when it goes into the fantastical themes, like when it talks about time travelling – all of it, everything, it’s all completely true! Everything is written in the exact way that it happened to me while I was in the psych ward, and it’s not written as a recollection because sometimes memories can be deceiving. I was writing it as it was happening. The main point was because I felt that I would go even madder if I didn’t get all of these gruesome details out of me. It’s also been a wonderful thing because it’s made me realise that I’m far from the only person that’s ever been in a position like that, who’s been called crazy – whether or not that was the case. The basis of the book was to try and help other people with mental disorders, but more than anything, to encourage people to accept and be more compassionate towards people who do have some mental anguish instead of judging them. I’m referring to people with depression or bipolar disorder, this stuff is so common, and yet people can be so cruel and quick to write you off.”
According to Autumn, her upcoming album is something of a musical accompaniment to her autobiography. For this violin prodigy and lover of all things gothic, it’s a record that portrays life on the other side of the prison bars – all delivered in one swoop of stunningly beautiful vengeance.
“We bring all of that on the stage visually as well,” Autumn warns of the theatrical extravaganza that is set to be the live show. “The record is going to be the next chapter of this project that’s almost turned out to be a Broadway musical! It’s gone beyond just a concept album, it’s actually a musical now and I’m so looking forward to bringing the whole thing to life. I think some people might be a bit surprised if they can’t put it into context – like, I can just see the looks on their faces going, ‘What the hell is going on?’ as half-naked girls are running around, glitter gets thrown around, there’s blood and syringes…We’re just going to try to make it just as much fun for people to watch it as for the devotees who have already read the book.”
And it’s definitely like nothing you’ve seen before, Autumn reiterates, because when it comes to this Los Angeles-born starlet it’s all about individuality and turning the classical music world on its head in the process!
“It’s so sad to see classical music lower in the popularity stakes than jazz!” she laments. “But I do see why it’s the lowest-selling genre in the world – it’s made itself unappealing and completely uninteresting to people. A little bit of individuality injected into classical music doesn’t tarnish it or mock it in any way, the great composers were individuals themselves! I don’t think it’s something they would have frowned upon – I mean, when I was growing up I had unbelievably huge issues with the music teachers and the industry because god forbid I wear a dress without sleeves! I think that’s crazy. It’s been very difficult for myself in the past, with my personality and the way I look, when all I’ve ever wanted to do was just to make the genre a little more interesting, inject some life into it, and introduce a new audience, which is essentially for the greater good of classical music. The loveliest thing about my audience is that they hear and listen to my music with open ears and an open heart, and I know for a fact that when they listen to my music often they are turned onto the great composers from the past.”
