Emilie Autumn
A violinist and visionary who forged a dark, theatrical world of Victorian-inspired industrial fantasy rock.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American musician·Birthday: September 22·Generation X
Biography
Emilie Autumn is less a musician than the architect of a singular, baroque universe. Trained as a classical violinist, she rebelled against concert halls, channeling her virtuosity into a genre-defying blend of electronica, cabaret, and industrial rock she dubbed 'Victoriandustrial.' Her stage is a macabre tea party, populated by her all-female troupe, The Bloody Crumpets, where songs about asylum inmates and historical heroines are delivered with gothic glamour and biting wit. More than an album, her 2009 opus 'Opheliac' became a manifesto for outsiders, weaving her own struggles with mental health into a potent narrative of resilience. She is a cult icon who built a fiercely loyal following not just through music, but by creating a sanctuary for the strange and beautiful.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Emilie was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Emilie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Emilie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Released the concept album 'Opheliac,' a critically acclaimed work that became a cult classic and defined her musical aesthetic.
- Authored the autobiographical novel 'The Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls,' which expanded the narrative world of her music.
- Toured globally with her elaborate theatrical production, combining music, burlesque, and audience interaction.
- Gained recognition for her skilled violin playing within an alternative rock and industrial context.
Did You Know?
She began playing violin at the age of four and was considered a child prodigy.
She has performed as a session violinist for artists like Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins.
She is an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness and bipolar disorder acceptance.
Her fan base is collectively known as 'Plague Rats.'
“I'm not okay, and neither are you, and that's perfectly fine.”
