Infectious Unease

FAITH AND THE MUSE

Band Members:
William Faith: Instruments, Vocals
Monica Richards: Vocals,

Interviewer: Gordon Taylor of infectious Unease radio

Interviewee:
William Faith and Monica Richards

Bands Discography:
TITLE: "ANNWYN, BENEATH THE WAVES"
LABEL: NEUE ÄSTHETIK MULTIMEDIA
CATALOGUE #: NÄM0004
RELEASED: JUNE 1996

TITLE: "ELYRIA"
LABEL: NEUE ÄSTHETIK MULTIMEDIA
CATALOGUE #: NÄM0001
RELEASED: JUNE 1994

Compilations that the band has been on:
TITLE: V/A "A CAT SHAPED HOLE IN MY HEART”
LABEL: PROJEKT RECORDS
CATALOGUE #: PRO91
SONG: "IN DREAMS OF MINE" (EXCLUSIVE TRACK)
RELEASED: MAY 1999

TITLE: V/A "ELEGY"
Label: ELEGY
CATALOGUE #: BBR CD001
SONG: "CANTUS"
RELEASED: JANUARY 1999

TITLE: V/A "THE NATURE OF MOTHERDANCE"
Label: 4TH DIMENSION
CATALOGUE #: DIM01
SONG: "ALL LOVERS LOST" (VERSION)
RELEASED: JANUARY 1999

TITLE: V/A "BLACKOUT A.D. - BEYOND THE RUINS"
Label: NEUE ÄSTHETIK MULTIMEDIA
CATALOGUE #: NÄM0009
SONG: "CANTUS"
SONG: "SPARKS"
RELEASED: AUGUST 1998

TITLE: V/A "COMPE NOCTEM 1"
LABEL: BLEEDING EDGE MEDIA
CATALOGUE #: BEM001
SONG: "MUTED LAND"
RELEASED: AUGUST 1998

TITLE: V/A "ORKUS"
LABEL: ORKUS
CATALOGUE #: BEM001
SONG: "MUTED LAND"
RELEASED: AUGUST 1998

TITLE: V/A "THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS PAST” 7 “ SINGLE
LABEL: TESS RECORDS
CATALOGUE #: TESS ??
SONG: "A WINTER WASSAIL"
RELEASED: NOVEMBER 1997

TITLE: V/A "ARIA: A TESS RECORDS ANTHOLOGY"
Label: TESS RECORDS
CATALOGUE #: TESS 10 CD
SONG: "ALL LOVERS LOST"
SONG: "THE SILVER CIRCLE"
SONG: "DENN DIE TOTDEN REITEN SCHNELL" (EXCLUSIVE)
RELEASED: AUGUST 1997

TITLE: V/A "ZILLO CLUB HITS II"
Label: ZILLO
CATALOGUE #: Z91014-2
SONG: "ANNWYN, BENEATH THE WAVES"
RELEASED: APRIL 1997

TITLE: V/A "THE BLACK BOX COMPILATION"
Label: BLACK BOX RECORDS
CATALOGUE #: BBR CD001
SONG: "CANTUS"
RELEASED: APRIL 1997

TITLE: V/A "CALL ON THE DARK"
Label: NUCLEAR BLAST
CATALOGUE #: 27361 62332
SONG: "ANNWYN, BENEATH THE WAVES"
RELEASED: FEBRUARY 1997

TITLE: V/A "DARK PROGRESSIVE SOUNDSAMPLER"
LABEL: ZILLO
CATALOGUE #: Z91011-2
SONG: "MUTED LAND" (EXCLUSIVE TRACK)
RELEASED: MAY 1996

TITLE: V/A "TOUCHED BY THE HAND OF GOTH" VOLUME II
LABEL: SUB TERRANEAN
CATALOGUE #: DCD 087-38642
SONG: "ELYRIA"
RELEASED: APRIL 1996

TITLE: V/A "THE PASSION OF COVERS
(A TRIBUTE TO BAUHAUS)"
LABEL: CLEOPATRA RECORDS
CATALOGUE #: (CLEO96812)
SONG: "HOLLOW HILLS"
RELEASED: FEBRUARY 1996

TITLE: V/A "EXCELSIS (A DARK NOEL)"
LABEL: PROJEKT
CATALOGUE #: PRO62
SONG: "A WINTER WASSAIL"
RELEASED: OCTOBER 1995

TITLE: V/A "HEAVENLY VOICES III"
LABEL: HYPERIUM
CATALOGUE #: CD 3910118242
SONG: "ELYRIA"
RELEASED: JULY 1995

TITLE: V/A "TOUCHED BY THE HAND OF GOTH"
LABEL: SUB TERRANEAN
CATALOGUE #: DCD 086-38302
SONG: "MERCYGROUND"
RELEASED: MAY 1995

TITLE: V/A "WHEN THE SUN SETTLES DOWN II"
LABEL: FOUNDATION RECORDS
CATALOGUE #: FOUND 003
SONG: "SPARKS"
RELEASED: MARCH 1995

TITLE: V/A "THE DISEASE OF LADY MADELINE"
LABEL: ANUBIS RECORDINGS
CATALOGUE #: AN.CD.01
SONG: "SPARKS"
RELEASED: AUGUST 1994

Date:
May 25th, 1999

When did Faith And The Muse first begin and how did you all meet?

Monica: William and I met by chance in Fall, 1992; my band Strange Boutique was opening for Shadow Project, and from the moment we saw each other, a very strong connection was formed. We did not actually begin working together until Spring, 1993, when Strange Boutique came out to the West Coast to tour; on one of my days off, we spent some time alone and wrote "Heal" which made us recognize the possibilities... As both of us had long been involved in the four and five member band format, we felt that starting a project together would be very inspiring.

What is the meaning behind the bands name?

William: I came up with the name after we had written our first song, "Heal", together. It seemed obvious.

You all have interesting backgrounds that date back to the early eighties. You have been involved in many bands. What were those bands? When did you first take up music?

Monica: Music was a very early love of mine, and at the time I began to sing for bands, I was the only female in my scene to do so. I grew up right in the middle of the early 1980's DC hardcore scene, and my first singing experiences were in front of a male-dominated, teen-aged punk crowd who enjoyed throwing things at me and shouting for me to get off the stage!!! Suffice to say, I ended up broadening my horizons towards a more melodic and accepting genre. My thoughts and lyrics (and artwork) have always leaned toward a more somber and dark side, so I guess I was performing "gothic" styles of music before the term was actually defined... My most well-known previous band is Strange Boutique; we released three albums and had quite a loyal following, but I really wanted to become a larger part of the song-writing and performing process, so I believe it was really Fate which drew me to William...

William: I was born and raised in Los Angeles; I acquired an interest in music at an early age, and began playing drums when I was 4 years old; lacking any kind of discipline (due to my spastic nature as a child), my musical talents didn't find voice again until the age of 12, when I picked up a guitar. I started playing in bands, as a bassist, about a year later...that road is littered with a thousand nameless projects that went nowhere, and others that did... that I also wish had not! I played a fairly vast variety of music over those years, the primary focus of which were glam, punk and experimental stuff. In '89, I formed a band called Wreckage with vocalist Tony Lestat; soon after, I hooked-up with Bari-Bari, and found a new home with Mephisto Walz; two albums and a tour later, Rozz and Eva asked me to join Shadow Project - Rozz also asked me to contribute to the Christian Death stuff he was doing at this time; two albums and another tour later (during which I met Monica), Andi Sex-Gang asked me to join Sex Gang Children, which I did; we only did one show together before I decided that this wasn't really what I wanted to do anymore; following that, Mon ca moved to L.A., and F&TM became a mainstay for the both of us... and it's been paradise ever since.

What instruments do you all play are there any particular instruments you enjoy the most?

William: vocals, guitar, bass, drums & percussion, piano, harpsichord, organ, synthesizers, cello, viola, violin, hammered dulcimer, Appalachian dulcimer & mandolin, last time I checked.

When listening to your music I get the impression that you are inspired by Mythology, Love, Hope, Despair, history. Would this assumption be correct? Do books, movies, or plays, influence you?

Monica: You are very correct. It is all my way to cope with not living in a time where art and poetry were taken much more seriously. I'm very influenced by all types of the arts, and have written songs after reading stories, or watching movies. In Strange Boutique, I wrote songs after reading sonnets by John Donne, stories by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Hemmingway, or plays by Kurt Vonnegut... As a literature buff, I tend to read a vast array of writing, and am influenced often by how they touch me emotionally...

William: Yes, most certainly; we are influenced by all forms of art.

What creative process do you go through when composing your music?

Monica: Most of my song-writing starts with a vocal/lyrical melody, which is either picked out on the keyboard or sung to William. I find the latter part to be an amazing process, as he is the only musician I've ever worked with who can learn my melodies (usually on guitar) and then begin to write around them. I do play tenor and soprano recorders, and am able to read and write music, but I usually write a song more by feel rather than using
the more formal process.

William: It changes constantly; technique and inspiration are as varied as the music you hear on our albums.

You have produced several albums such as "Elyria" and "Annwyn Beneath The Waves" and have been on many compilations. What was the inspiration behind these albums? How long did they take to produce?

Monica: Elyria was a kind of liberation of all the types of music William and I had had pent up within us over the years of working in other projects and not really able to write music exactly the way we wanted to.... Elyria was about a month and a half of straight recording, each piece and part at a time. After the album was released, we found a rather large audience of people who enjoyed our music: its diversity and content. I'd have to say Annwyn came about in a different atmosphere; as we wrote and recorded the songs, we had a better sense of our freedom to do as we wished. Therefore, as I have studied Welsh Celtic mythology for years as well as comparisons in world-wide mythology, I really wanted to explore the entire pantheon musically and I have to say that the entire album's source of inspiration comes from this particular research... Annwyn was recorded over several months...

With the songs "Cantus" "Fade And Remain" "Arianhod" "Branwen Slayne" "Cernunnos" "The Sea Angler" "Rise And Forget", "Sparks", "All Lovers Lost" "The Unquiet Grave" "Iago's Demise" "Caesura" "The Trauma Coil" what was the inspiration behind these songs?

Monica: Many of the songs you listed are from Annwyn, and the inspiration behind them is the premise of seasonal mythology. Like the change of season, we wrote the songs to fit the various moods. "Cantus" is a roar of thunder, "Fade and Remain" a frustrated lament, "Arianrhod" is strength, and so on... Know that our songs try to voice a spectrum of human emotion...

I understand you are working on another Album. Will it be similar to other albums?

William: In keeping with tradition, we will keep with no traditions. It will sound like F&TM in as much as we are F&TM,and will be different by virtue all that has transpired between the recording of Annwyn and this one...

Monica: It is very influenced by the tragedies we've dealt with in the last year, certainly.

Are you involved in any side projects?

William: No time I'm afraid; Neue Ästhetik takes up every moment I'm not spending on F&TM.

Are you influence by any other bands and do you have any favorite bands that you like listening to?

Monica: Coming from the punk scene, my earliest heroes were bands like The Damned, The Cramps, Pylon, and the Adolescents, but I've also always listened to multi-cultural folk musics, as well as Baroque, Classical, and early Renaissance music.Currently, I enjoy all types of music, from Collide to Garbage to Wagner.

You have toured many places such Europe and America. What was your most enjoyable concert? While you were touring the different countries was there one particular country that you enjoyed the most?

Monica: I would have to speak about our show at the 1996 Zillo festival; it was strange but also very liberating to play in full daylight. We chose not to hide behind sunglasses and to wear quite a bit of color, which surprised our fans who had last seen us on the Crow Tour. We also brought Das Ich on stage for an unusual rendition of "Elyria." Bruno played an alternating melody and Stephan did spoken word while I sang... One magazine that interviewed us after the show told us that they had had many reservations about seeing us at an open air festival, and were completely delighted to see us carry it off so well... It was also a very hard gig for us, as we couldn't hear a thing on stage! I have a great time every where we go; I love seeing new towns and places.

William: Yes, I'd have to agree about Zillo; playing to 7,000 people in the bright light of day was unlike anything I'd ever done before... it was brilliant...literally...

You have the Blackout AD tour coming up soon what have you got planned for it? I also understand you will have other bands from label Neue Asthetik Multimedia which bands will they be?

Monica: We have Judith from New York, who have a wonderfully dark romantic sense about them, and Element will be opening the bill, who have a great nightlife, dance sound... We'll also be bringing Scary Lady Sarah, one of the biggest goth deejays in the U.S. to MC the evening.

Your concerts have been describe as being theatrical. Is there anything special incorporated within your performances?

Monica: Oh, of course, it's all important for us to be theatrical. There is a transformation that happens, due to the type of music it is. As our music is brings about a dream-like atmosphere, we do our best to bring about the entire thing in a bigger-than-life kind of way. I have always loved to dress up in a myriad of costumes, even in my punk days I dressed up in top-hats and the like, so the music and image go hand in hand here.

When you have a performance what goes through your mind when you are on that stage. What is it that you feel? What sort of emotions do you go through when the eyes of the audience are on you?

Monica: Usually I am immersed in the moment, and reliving the very life-force of the song as well as feeling the warmth and energy of the people in front of me. There are times though, usually when technical problems are happening, that I am worrying if everything sounds all right!

William: I never feel more alive than when I am onstage performing; it's every emotion I've ever had all at once; and the connection with the audience is divine -- truly a communion of souls. That emotional give and take is truly the stuff dreams are made of...

You have the song "In dreams Of Mine" on the compilation "A Cat Shaped Hole In My Heart" How did you get Involved with this project.

Monica: We've known Sam for years, and are great animal lovers. When he told us about it, we very much wanted to be involved.

William you have produced for such bands as "This Ascension" and "Autumn" what is it you enjoy about producing?

William: It's a different thrill from doing my own music. It's highly enjoyable to get involved with other artists and help them to create excellent sounding memorable albums; when you really fall into the groove of things and the whole studio is just bristling with creativity -- ideas from every corner -- it's all magic. At the end, when you listen to the finished product and watch the artists face... it's a wonderful feeling. I walk away with such a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction.

William you had been previously running Tess Records with Matt Ballesteros. In late 1996 you started Neue Ästhetik Multimedia. What is the concept behind the label? What sort things do you look for when signing an artist?

William: I came up with the concept for NÄM on the very day that I had made up my mind to leave Tess. The concept is, quite simply, centered around release art -- music, video, books, poetry, etc. -- based on a slightly darker aesthetic. Looking after the artist -- treating them with respect -- is another biggie around here. Unfortunately, signing any new artists is not possible at the moment, as our plate is quite full with the artists we have; however, we are always listening...

You were joined Christopher from Judith and Steven from Ichor. How did you all meet? What is their Involvement with Neue Asthetik Multimedia?

William: Christopher and I had known of each other for some years before we actually met. We met through email when we were scheduled to perform together at a festival in Switzerland; Judith wound-up playing, but we never did, due to some scheduling conflicts. Discussions carried on from there, and we discovered that we very much wanted to do the same thing; Steve I'd known through Ichor, who toured with us on Apparition in '96, and he had mentioned that he was thinking of doing something similar. We all got together and started NÄM in '98. We are equal partners, and do everything together.

Monica you have released an Illustrated book of tales and Poetry called "The Book Of Annwyn" When you were writing this book what was going through your mind. How long did it take to write? To those who have not seen your writing how would you describe it to them? What writers do you enjoy reading?

Monica: The book took three years to write. I began simply thinking of it as a book of tales to help explain the songs on Annwyn; then I began illustrating it, and writing more poetry, and it took a life of its own! I to when things become a bit too hectic... I myself love the Romantic poets, as well as Emily Dickinson and sonnets of the Rennaissance... I have always enjoyed peeling back the various levels and themes in a single piece of work, and I only hope I can achieve something like that in my own writings. I do have a website now for my poetry and artwork:
http://www.monicarichards.com

Monica are you planning on producing a spoken word CD. Are you doing any readings of your work?

Monica: I did one reading in Germany and realized it was not for me! I much more enjoy theater, not straight teaching, as it were. I don't plan to do it again... As far as a spoken word CD, well, I'm not in love with my speaking voice, so I think I'll just put the books out!

I understand you writing another book. What will it be about?

Monica: It's a whimsical ghost book, entitled "The Garden Booke of Ghosts"! This one will be handmade on very rustic paper.

Monica you are also artist. I have seen some of your work on the web. You use very strong colours and powerful images. What is the inspiration behind this? Do any artists inspire you? Where have you exhibited your work?

Monica: I love color in artwork, and my influences all seem to come from the Art Nouveau period: a return to classic themes and organic imagery. Klimt is one of my favorite artists... I have exhibited in Washington D.C. and though I've had offers here n Los Angeles, I don't feel I have enough pieces to do a proper show...

What are the future plans of Faith and the Muse?

Monica: Work, create, tour, record, and sleep hopefully!

Is there anything you would like to say to readers?

Monica: My last words are my credo: Always follow your dreams, no matter what the risk. We only have one life and we must live it to the fullest. Regret is the saddest word ever spoken.

William: Honour, Will, Passion, Strength - all are keys to the same.