Faith and the Muse

Infobox musical artist
Name = Faith and the Muse
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Origin = United States
Genre = Gothic rock, Dark wave
Years_active = 1994-Present
Label = Metropolis Records
Associated_acts = Shadow Project, Strange Boutique, Christian Death, Mephisto Walz, Anima Mundi
URL =
Current_members = William Faith and Monica Richards
Past_members =
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Faith and the Muse is an underground gothic/darkwave band composed of two musicians, Monica Richards and William Faith. They are well-regarded in the gothic music scene as innovators and icons. Their music encompasses many genres, from folk-style songs to darker compositions. Richards is the primary singer, although Faith sings one or two tracks on each album. The band is hard to place in any single genre. Their influences include dark alternative, gothic rock, Celtic, and other folk influences. Welsh and Irish mythology have often served as inspiration to many of the band's songs.

Biography

Monica Richards, a native of Washington, DC, is a musician/artist/poet/scholar. She met William Faith in 1993 when her band, Strange Boutique, opened for Shadow Project in Norfolk, VA. Before starting Faith and the Muse, both had had experience in the gothic rock and post-punk culture of the '80s. Richards had sung for the band Strange Boutique, while Faith had performed with gothic/death rock icons Shadow Project, Christian Death, Mephisto Walz, and Sex Gang Children. Faith and the Muse was started in 1993 with Richards and Faith exchanging tapes while Richards was still living on the east coast. Shortly thereafter she moved to Los Angeles where the duo is still based. [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:d9foxqqhldhe~T1 Faith and the Muse] , bio at Allmusic. Accessed on line December 4, 2007.] [ [http://www.metropolis-records.com/artists/?artist=faith Faith and the Muse] , bio at Metropolis Records. Accessed on line December 4, 2007.]

They recorded their debut album 'Elyria' in March 1994. Not content to sit on their laurels, the duo followed this up in 1995 with the concept album 'Annwyn, Beneath The Waves', a concept album based round Welsh mythology. The band would follow this up with an extensive touring schedule, playing with both with guest musicians as a full line-up and as an acoustic duo - the latter tour documented on the 'Vera Causa' album in 2001.

Their third album 'Evidence of Heaven', released in 1999, marked the end of the first creative phase of Faith and the Muse. They then modernised both their image and their overall sound, the result appearing on their 2003 album 'The Burning Season' - their first on Metropolis Records.

Over the last ten years, they have toured extensively in mainland America and central Europe, and performed at major alternative events such as the Convergence (goth festival) 13 (usa) and The Whitby Gothic Weekend X (England). Their live performances feature a full band with a rotating line-up of live musicians.

Outside of the band, Faith and Richards are permaculture designers who are actively working to retrofit their home into a practical example of a sustainable suburban homestead [Ars Terra website http://www.arsterra.org/aboutus.html] .

Discography

*"Elyria" (TESS Records) (1994)
*"Annwyn, Beneath the Waves" (TESS Records) (1996)
*"Live in Mainz (16.10.1997)" (1997)
*"Evidence of Heaven" (Neue Ästhetik Multimedia) (1999)
*"Vera Causa" (Metropolis Records) (2001)
*"The Burning Season" (Metropolis Records) (2003)

References

External links

* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:ve5m967ofepc~T0 Faith and the Muse] at Allmusic
* [http://www.metropolis-records.com/artists/?artist=faith Faith and the Muse] bio at Metropolis Records
* [http://www.mercyground.com The Official Website for Faith and The Muse]
* [http://www.monicarichards.com Monica Richards' site]