What If?

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: DANIEL BOIX

Emilie Autumn Liddell (born in Los Angeles, California, on September 22, 1979), better known by her stage name Emilie Autumn, is an American singer-songwriter, poet, and violinist. Autumn draws influence for her music—the style of which she has alternatively labeled as “Victoriandustrial” and glam rock—from plays, novels, and history, particularly the Victorian era.

Performing with her all-female backing band The Bloody Crumpets, Autumn incorporates elements of classical music, cabaret, electronica, and glam rock with theatrics, burlesque, and “flamboyant” outfits. Outspoken about bipolar disorder and her experience in a modern-day psychiatric ward, she has written an autobiographical novel, 2010’s The Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls.

Progressing to writing her own music, she studied under various teachers and went to Indiana University, which she left over issues regarding the relationship between classical music and the appearance of the performer. Through her own independent label Traitor Records, Autumn debuted with her classical album On a Day: Music for Violin & Continuo, followed by the release in 2003 of her supernaturally themed album Enchant.

She appeared in singer Courtney Love’s backing band on her 2004 America’s Sweetheart tour and returned to Europe. She released the 2006 album Opheliac with the German label Trisol Music Group.

In 2007, she released Laced/Unlaced; the re-release of On a Day... appeared as Laced with songs on the electric violin as Unlaced. She later left Trisol

Growing up in Malibu, California, she began learning the violin at the age of four and left regular school five years later with the goal of becoming a world-class violinist; she practiced eight or nine hours a day and read a wide range of literature.

to join New York-based The End Records in 2009 and release Opheliac in the United States, where previously it had only been available as an import.

Currently she is on tour for her upcoming album titled Fight Like A Girl.

WHAT IF...?

Here you sit on your high-backed chair Wonder how the view is from there I wouldn’t know ‘cause I like to sit Upon the floor, yeah upon the floor If you like we could play a game Let’s pretend that we are the same But you will have to look much closer Than you do, closer than you do And I’m far too tired to stay here anymore And I don’t care what you think anyway ‘Cause I think you were wrong about me Yeah what if you were, what if you were And what if I’m a snowstorm burning What if I’m a world unturning What if I’m an ocean, far too shallow, much too deep What if I’m the kindest demon Something you may not believe in What if I’m a siren singing gentlemen to sleep I know you’ve got it figured out Tell me what I am all about And I just might learn a thing or two Hundred about you, maybe about you I’m the end of your telescope I don’t change just to suit your vision ‘Cause I am bound by a fraying rope Around my hands, tied around my hands And you close your eyes when I say I’m breaking free And put your hands over both your ears Because you cannot stand to believe I’m not

The perfect girl you thought Well what have I got to lose And what if I’m a weeping willow Laughing tears upon my pillow What if I’m a socialite who wants to be alone What if I’m a toothless leopard What if I’m a sheepless shepherd What if I’m an angel without wings to take me home You don’t know me Never will, never will I’m outside your picture frame And the glass is breaking now You can’t see me Never will, never will If you’re never gonna see What if I’m a crowded desert Too much pain with little pleasure What if I’m the nicest place you never want to go What if I don’t know who I am Will that keep us both from trying To find out and when you have Be sure to let me know What if I’m a snowstorm burning What if I’m a world unturning What if I’m an ocean, far too shallow, much too deep What if I’m the kindest demon Something you may not believe in What if I’m a siren singing gentlemen to sleep Sleep...

Sleep...

QUÉ SI...?

Aqui estás sentado, en tu silla de respaldo alto Me preguntó cómo es la vista desde ahí No podría saberlo porque me gusta sentarme en el suelo, sí, en el suelo.

Si quieres podríamos jugar un juego Finjamos que somos lo mismo Pero vas a tener que mirar mucho más cerca de lo que lo haces, más cerca de lo que lo haces Y estoy demasiado cansada para quedarme aquí Y de todas formas no me importa lo que piensas porque creo que estabas equivocado sobre mí Sí, y qué si fueras, y qué si fueras? ¿Y qué si soy una tormenta de nieve ardiendo? ¿Qué si soy un mundo desenvolviendose? ¿Qué si soy un océano, demasiado bajo, demasiado profundo? ¿Qué si soy el demonio más amable?

Algo en lo que tal vez no creas ¿Qué si soy una sirena cantando para que los caballeros se duerman?

Sé que ya lo descifraste Dime todo lo que soy Y quizás aprenda una o dos cosas Cientas acerca de ti, tal vez acerca de ti Soy el fin de tu telescopio No cambio sólo para ajustarme a tu visión porque estoy atada por una cuerda desgastada Alrededor de mis manos, atada alrededor de mis manos Y cierras los ojos cuando cuando digo que me estoy liberando Y te pones las manos en los oídos Porque no puedes soportar que yo no sea

la chica perfecta que pensabas Bueno, ¿qué tengo que perder? ¿Y qué si soy un sauce llorón riendo lágrimas sobre mi almohada? ¿Qué si soy una sociable que quiere estar sola? ¿Qué si soy un leopardo sin dientes? ¿Qué si soy un pastor sin ovejas? ¿Qué si soy un ángel sin alas para volar a casa?

No me conoces Nunca lo harás, nunca lo harás Estoy fuera del marco de tu imagen Y el vidrio se está rompiendo ahora No puedes verme Nunca lo harás, nunca lo harás Si nunca vas a ver... ¿Qué si soy un desierto hiperpoblado?

Demasiado dolor con un poco de placer. ¿Qué si soy el lugar más bonito al que nunca quisiste ir? ¿Qué si no sé quién soy? ¿Acaso eso va a detener nuestros intentos de descubrirlo? Y cuando lo tengas Asegúrate de hacérmelo saber. ¿Y qué si soy una tormenta de nieve quemándose? ¿Qué si soy un mundo desenvolviendose? ¿Qué si soy un océano, demasiado bajo, demasiado profundo? ¿Qué si soy el demonio más amable?

Algo en lo que tal vez no creas.. ¿Qué si soy una sirena cantando para que los caballeros se duerman?

Duerman...

Duerman...

“

Here you sit on your high-backed chair Wonder how the view is from there I wouldn’t know ‘cause I like to sit Upon the floor, yeah upon the floor

”

“

If you like we could play a game Let’s pretend that we are the same But you will have to look much closer Than you do, closer than you do

”

“

And I’m far too tired to stay here anymore And I don’t care what you think anyway ‘Cause I think you were wrong about me Yeah what if you were, what if you were

”

“

I know you’ve got it figured out Tell me what I am all about And I just might learn a thing or two Hundred about you, maybe about you

”

“

I don’t change just to suit your vision ‘Cause I am bound by a fraying rope Around my hands, tied around my hands

”

“

And you close your eyes when I say I’m breaking free And put your hands over both your ears Because you cannot stand to believe I’m not The perfect girl you thought Well what have I got to lose

”

“

And what if I’m a weeping willow Laughing tears upon my pillow What if I’m a socialite who wants to be alone What if I’m a toothless leopard What if I’m a sheepless shepherd

”

“

What if I’m an angel without wings to take me home You don’t know me Never will, never will I’m outside your picture frame And the glass is breaking now You can’t see me Never will, never will If you’re never gonna see

”

The End

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