Let's begin by you explaining Autumn Tears and what
it means to you.
ERIKA: Autumn Tears is the realization of a long
-standing dream of both Ted's and mine to create music
that illustrates what we feel inside our hearts. The
concept that flows through Acts I through III was
created from an allegorical story Ted wrote that was
inspired by events in his life. The music is a direct
reflection of our emotions, therefore it is very
personal to us. The band is a great benchmark to what
can be accomplished when you feel very strongly about
something and need to express it.
You are preparing to release "Act III: Winter and
the Broken Angel." What can we expect from this
release, and what makes this different than the
previous works?
ERIKA: "Winter and the Broken Angel" is a showcase for
our vast improvements both musically and vocally since
Act II. The musical structure of the songs is much
more highly developed, with the music hearkening more
towards symphonic classical compositions and
soundtrack work, rather than repetitive themes.
Vocally, both Jen and I challenged ourselves to create
the most complex work we've done to date. There are
more harmonies on this CD than the others. We're all
very proud of how it's turning out. We hope others
will feel the same!
Your previous MCD, Absolution, was incredibly
short, just over 12 minutes. Explain the reasoning
behind this? Don't you think that's a bit short for
even a MCD?
ERIKA: No, I don't think it's that short. I own my
share of short MCD's. We've heard nothing negative
about the length. In this day when there are CDs
marketed as full lengths that barely break 30 minutes,
'Absolution' doesn't seem too short to us. Anyway, to
lengthen it would have been to add filler. We had
those songs completed at the time and wanted to get a
release out so that people would know we were still
around! The time was right to release the material.
It's a quality over quantity issue.
Autumn Tears is composed of three members,
yourself, Ted and Jennifer. Enlighten us on the personality of your two
band mates and your perceptions of them please.
ERIKA: Ted's a great friend - I've known him for 11 years and his
personality is as bizarre as mine. Jen is super - she
fits right in. We all get along because we have
similar outlooks on life. We want to be our own
people, not who society wants us to be. That's a bond
between us.
I understand that the lyrics of the new release
shall carry on the ongoing concept story of the
previous. Could you summarize this story for us? I
also have read that the upcoming CD shall end the
story...
TED: The story actually reflects parallels of my own personal life. The
tale of the Dark Goddess Autumn and her desire to escape all the torment and
hatred she has endured comes to a close with Act 3. The story itself is
written in a very ambiguous manner and rather than summarize I prefer each
individual get from it what they may as each interpretation will be different.
Tell us about your proposed collaboration with
Peter and Ida from Arcana, I understand you plan to
form a project with them under the name "Pandora?" It
sounds like this could have great possibilities...
TED: At this point that project is on hold until after the completion of act
3, but we do plan on working with Peter for this new Project hopefully later
this year. No further details are available at this point.
Have you ever played live? Does this lie in the
future? Can your sound be faithfully reproduced live?
ERIKA: Well … we almost played live, at the coming
Milwaukee Metalfest. It would have been our first
show. Jen and I were completely for it, but Ted, being
the music guy, had misgivings about how to reproduce
the music faithfully in a live setting. We have songs
with upwards of 15-20 tracks of music. Between the
three of us we only have three keyboards and six
hands, and Ted and Jen are much more accomplished
pianists than I'll ever be. We would have ended up
playing the music off a CD and singing to it - fucking
karaoke. I don't think so. It's better we remain in
the good company of bands like Bathory, who had
successful careers without live shows.
To the philosophical point of our interview... 
What do you find worthwhile, inspiring perhaps, in
this world. And in contrast, the most negative aspects?
ERIKA: Creating something lasting and beautiful, which
touches people -- that's worth more than any paycheck
derived from day-to-day grunt work. And the creation
doesn't necessarily have to be a song or music - it
could be art, or a story or poem. To know that
something you've done that's come from your heart has
touched another person the same way that thing touched
you as you were making it - that's sublime. Not a lot
of people can say they've brought joy to someone
halfway across the world through their music.
On the negative aspect, I'm continuously amazed by the
new lows people around me are capable of sinking to
each day. I have a regular day job in a place which is
supposed to be dedicated to philanthropical interests
- the people who work there are, by and large, some of
the most selfish, petty, thieving individuals I've
ever had the displeasure of meeting. Watching these
losers stab each other in the back in secret and then
smile and kiss ass in the hallways is ultimately
disgusting. They're all so weak and cowardly.
Mankind's immaturity depresses me.
The laments of humankind are many. Life is
suffering, if it were not, it would be dull and not
worthwhile. What elements of life to you make life
worth living? Do you believe that the things worth
living for are also worth dying for?
ERIKA: Conquering obstacles to reach a goal is
infinitely satisfying to me. And this world seems
expressly designed to create obstacles to defy us in
reaching our dreams. Standing up for what you believe
in - being brave enough to look the ignorance of the
masses in the face and say, "I know I'm doing the
right thing," is a very important quality I try to
cultivate in my life. Strength. Honor. Good friends
are essential - and so is your loyalty to them. An
honorable friend is worth everything - there are a few
people in my life I would defend to the death, were it
necessary.
How do perceive death? Do you fathom oblivion or
does some part live on?
ERIKA: Death is life's last great adventure. I don't
fear death at all. I don't think we end when we die.
We become something else - what, I don't try to
presume, but it has to fit our inner beings better
than these fleshly mortal bodies we've been given. I
think it's arrogant to try to understand the
incomprehensible. I'll just live my life and look
forward to whatever surprise awaits me in death.
Sooner than later, our time here on earth shall
expire, envision what your last words might be if your
day came tomorrow. What might they be?
ERIKA: "I tried my best to be worthy of the people who
loved me." Or maybe - "Dammit, Ted, I TOLD you not to
push that red button!"
If you could go back in time, to any age of your
choosing, for one day, where and when would you go?
And what would you do for that brief visit? 
ERIKA: I would travel back to the time of the
dinosaurs, just to find out how right or wrong we all
are in our studies and assumptions about fossils. I
love the past and the mysteries it contains. I suppose
I would spend my day gawking and trying not to get
eaten, so that I might be able to return and report
what I saw!
Hypothetically, if you could know the answer to
any one question, what would the question be?
ERIKA: Will Act III ever be finished?
Your thoughts on the world and its future? Do you
foresee things getting better before worse? What is in
store for the future of mankind?
ERIKA: I'd love to say that we're all eventually going
to go extinct, but unless we manage to suddenly blow
up the entire planet on accident, with no forewarning,
man is going to stick around for a long time. We'll
continue with our wars and our bickering, we'll
develop just as many new diseases as cures, and we'll
moan "Why is this happening?" because we're all too
damn preoccupied with money, commercialism, and power
to really sit down and think about it. Most people
are so incredibly self-absorbed they can't see the
forest for the trees. They see their own little
microcosm of a world and never look beyond it, because
that would take strength and courage. I have my doubts
as to whether society will ever wake up and realize
that money is NOT the be all and end all in this
world. There will never be a utopian society like some
writers like to idealize, I'll assure you of that.
And back to the band... if you had to change the
name of Autumn Tears within the next minute or so,
what would be its new calling?
ERIKA: "Extreme Gratitude" - because the fans haven't
given up on us even though it's been nearly 4 years
between full-length CDs!
The last words are yours...
ERIKA: Thanks for the interview! Look for Act III this
summer (I absolutely PROMISE!). You won't be
disappointed! Good things come to those who wait in
silence…
