Monica Richards

ICE QUEEN: Monica Richards
BANDS: Faith & The Muse, Strange Boutique
ORIGIN: Washington D.C., USA
GENRE: Darkwave
ACCOMPLICES: William Faith
DISCOGRAPHY: F&TM: "Elyria" (1994), "Annwyn, Beneath The Waves" (1996), "Evidence Of Heaven" (1999), "Vera Causa" (2001), "The Burning Season" (2003). SB: "The Loved One" (1991), "Charm" (1993), "The Kindest Worlds" (1994).
INFLUENCES: From Dark Alternative Rock and Electronica to World Music & Neo-Classical, to Jazz, Avant Garde and Folk.

IMHO: F&TM was the first Goth band I ever listened to. What appealed to me about them was the capability to combine fast pace rock-styled pieces, medieval songs played with ancient instruments and haunting dark melodies. Another bait that got me were their lyrics. I remember I fell in love with F&TM when I heard "Cantus" for the first time, the lyrics from which, sung in Old latin, go something like: "She is a savage and serpiform creature, flying over the aether on her wings, exhausting one and all, let him have her, let him possess her, in her embrace of love he will stay forever." Although this is just an example, which out of context can sound pretentious, all their albums are masterfully written by MR and her inspiraton and eloquence go beyond any literary borders of an ESL student. On another aspect, Monica Richards' voice is as appealing as her strong stage personality and presence. She has a limited range but she works it perfectly. Very unique and seductive. Her and William Faith (the other half of the band) complement each other viciously, very erotically. I saw them live at Rothko in NYC a couple of years ago in a small show for "The Burning Season" and flipped, or wigged, or whatever verb one would use to describe thorough enjoyment. Please do yourself a favor and discover their music. They do a fabulous, epic, megalomaniac, Gothic cover of Kate Bush's "Running up that hill."

Oh, and Strange Boutique is the D.C. local punk band that MR used to front before F&TM. Their stuff is totally recommendable and somehow you can see the F&TM genesis in them.

FAVOURITE SONGS: "Cantus", "Anwynn, Beneath the Waves", "Running up that hill" (Kate Bush cover), "Shattered in Aspect", "Patience Worth", "In The Amber Room", "The Silver Circle."
FAVOURITE ALBUMS: "Vera Causa", "Evidence of Heaven."

WHAT OTHERS SAY: From her own webpage..."Monica Richards is an uncompromising Artist in the broadest sense of the word. Vocalist, Lyricist, Composer, Painter, Illustrator, Graphic Designer, Author, Poet, Philosopher and Scholar, her talents are incredibly diverse, limited only by will and imagination. In all manifestations of her art, Monica seeks to express the ancient, the earthy and spiritual aspects of life that she finds largely absent from today's society; creating myth and legend for our times." Damn... This woman does it all.

"Monica Richards is the Original 'Riot' Grrrl and the Fairytale Queen all roled up into one unbelievably talented artist. She belongs in the Avante Garde of today's music, forever changing, evolving, true to herself." - J. Tomkins