The13th AÑO: 4 | NÚMERO 44
UNA R E VISTA IMA GINARIA
AUTUMN A BIG WIN FOR US
[ Interview with Autumn by BenjamĂn York. Photographs: Craig VanDerSchaegen, Trina Shealy Orton y Monica Siems McKay ]
A BIG WIN FOR US
When the guitars have delays and the sound of the band is adjusted, it is compressed in such a way that the voice sounds deep and sure, as long as the person in charge of the vocal has a nice saying and a characteristic voice, everything It leads to think about all the work that is behind each song. This is the case of Autumn, where the beauty of the songs surely hides a lot of preparation. He just released his third album, Chandelier, and we communicate with them to talk about their past, present and future. With you, Julie Plante, Jeff Leyda and Neil McKay ... Autumn ...
wider audience. I read in an interview that Jeff answered: “All 3 of us have had our moments where we think: I have GOT to get OUT of this band!". Are you still thinking that? Neil: I did leave in 2008 due to personal reasons and I wasn't happy about it. Since we started creating music again, it has not crossed my mind even once. They're stuck with me!
Jeff: All of our lives had some pretty major upsets between 2008 and 2010, and not having the band probably made that worse because it has been such a constant in our lives Hello and thank you for accepting this for so many years. After regrouping a handful interview. And to start with the questions of years later, it just seemed obvious that this I would like to know how the name of the was what was meant to be. Life made room band arises and when is Autumn born? for the band again; the kids are grown up and Neil: The name is quite simple. It's my favo- the jobs have turned into careers, but we've rite season so we went with it. The first incar- realized that the songs didn't stop coming, so nation of Autumn started in 1992 but Jeff and now it's time to play catch up and get them reI couldn't find the right singer until Julie really corded and released. gave life to what we were creating instrumentally in Jan of 1994. Before Chandelier they have two more albums. What changed in the way of comJeff: Autumn as a season has always re- posing from the first albums "The Hating presented many different things- the beautiful Tree" (1997) and "Return to Breath" (2001) colors as a last defiant act against what co- to this new album? mes next. It's a season of change, of decay, Julie: this may seem surprising, but I don’t and of reflection and appreciation when warm really feel that all that much has changed for days and light start to diminish. I'd like to think us in how we work together. Sometimes we that the music we produce can approach get into a good space with an idea and it just some of those concepts. Unfortunately, a lot seems to flow effortlessly, other times we can of other bands with the same name had a si- still find ourselves struggling to communicate milar idea! I think we should all tour together effectively. But we are probably more patient to really confuse people. with each other, and that makes the process easier all around. The band was born more than twenty years ago, and from that time to today, Jeff: I agree. After all these years, not much has changed in the music business. a lot has changed with writing other than What big changes do you see as positive? having the ability to instantly record and Julie: I think artists have more power to put idea on our phones anytime the moment their work out there independently. Technolo- strikes. gical advances and social media have made it so much easier to share one’s work with a They have been working with William
3
Faith since the early years. Can we say that he is a member of the band in the recording stage? Neil: We call William the unofficial fourth member of Autumn. He knows us and he knows our sound well.
later feel disappointed in. This album took a while for many reasons, some related to just being busy with family and work. But also, sometimes you just need to put something on a shelf for a bit and walk away from it, come back to it later with a fresh perspective. Even though the band had broken up for about 5 years, I always felt we weren’t finished making music together. Perhaps we needed that time and space apart.
Jeff: It's a delight working with William because he has so much experience in the music business that we can learn from, but he's also perfectly in tune with what we're trying to do, plus his personality fits in perfectly with all They have released The Fall as an advanof ours. What's not to love? ce single, how do you feel it was received by the public? How long did it take you to think about Neil: It seems to have been received well. this new album? How do you find them as That makes us happy. a band? Julie: I think we all know that if you try to forJeff: To see our name in the German alterce the creative process to keep moving, you native charts for that single was a very big run the risk of creating something that you surprise and delight for us. Hopefully the al-
bum will carry some of that same momentum.
Neil: Like a proud papa, though curious too Let's talk about Chandelier. Fourteen what others will think of it. songs, are they all written for this album? Julie: Several of the songs are ones we Jeff: I was just laughing about this with Julie started on years ago but abandoned at some the other day... Once you hear the final piepoint because they just didn’t seem like they ces all together, you think "whew, the work is were working out. Others are songs we have done. It has been a long job, but now we can been working on more specifically over the relax!" No, this is just the beginning of this past few years, and they chronicle the more journey. There's barely time to reflect on the recent events in my life. For me, I see each finished work and I still catch myself not reaalbum as telling a story. Once it became clear lizing that we have three albums out now, so to me in my writing what story I needed to tell, it is still in that surreal state for me. I haven't then it also became clear to me where there gotten my own copy of the album yet. were gaps that needed to be filled, and this did guide the songwriting of newer pieces to What expectations do you have for this a degree. third album? Julie: I just want a chance to tour and share What can you tell us about the sensa- this with as many people as possible. tions when you heard this whole album for the first time? Neil: In the end, I've always viewed music Julie: When it all came together at last and as medicine and I hope this album and our I truly realized it was done, I cried. Tears of music is good medicine for those that hear it. joy and relief and celebration for everything we went through to make this happen. TheJeff: Yeah, touring, especially the opporture were certainly times I doubted we would nity to go to other countries and play for peoever cross the finish line, so this was a big ple we've never been in front of before is whewin for us. re my hopes are.
5
They were playing with Clan of Xymox and Decoded Feedback. How were those concerts with these bands? Julie: I was very nervous leading up to them because it really has been so long since we have played big shows, but once we got up there and started playing each night it got a little easier. It is always a treat to spend time with new people on the road, so that was a bonus adventure.
Jeff: Those shows were amazing. The response we got from the audience was something I will cherish for years, and being able to perform on the same stage as a band I've loved for decades is humbling. What plans are there for this 2018? Julie: stay tuned, we are hoping to tour here back home and abroad. Thank you very much for allowing me this interview.
7
The13th U NA R EVISTA IMA GINA RIA