AUTONOMY

Autonobiography:



Autonomy was formed in the summer of 2001 by songwriter William "Ether" Lorentz (Avalon, Second Skin, Project Eleven) based on a desire to create intelligent, powerful and emotional music with a kickass stage show. The mission was to build a band that was the total package - melodic yet forceful, an organized presentation that wasn't too tied to structure, stylish and trippy, beastly and beautiful. In an age of canned beats and falsified artistry Autonomy would bring the focus back to songwriting, musicianship, and performance. This band would define success on it's own terms, answer only to itself, and do as much on it's own as possible - as the name implies.



To accomplish this Ether began writing material which attempted to strike a balance between accessible, satisfying riff structures and deeply poetic vocal melodies. He developed a trademark bass sound which that utilized a distorted 1978 Gibson Les Paul bass played as a rhythm guitar through a vintage Fender tube amplifier. He grew to enjoy contrasting that harsh, low, chunky crunch with more delicate melodies, messages, and instrumentation. That approach was just the beginning, and it evolved into a method of using severe contrasts against one another to create a sort of fragile balance in the process. To make this sound work, Ether knew it would take a band comprised of very talented and special musicians.



Autonomy sifted through lots of guitarists before finding Billy Graczyk, but once he joined the lineup he fit like a glove. Billy was 18 when he joined the band, and had no previous experience. The band put faith in his potential and he stepped up to deliver on it by attending MusicTech and becoming a star guitar student of the late Mike Elliot. He honed his craft and grew as a player in front of audiences across the midwest. His newfound literacy in music complimented his love for rock/metal guitar and he became a key component in Autonomy's sound.



On drums, Autonomy required a player who could do justice to the wildly swinging dynamics the band is known for while still capturing the more subtle nuances of the music. Longtime friend of the band Jendeen Forberg [All the Pretty Horses, the Wolverines Big Band] filled that role beautifully. She was already a famous local jazz drummer and founder of The Wolverines Big Band. She had also made a name for herself as a talented rock drummer while working with the Minneapolis-based transgendered glam-rock band All the Pretty Horses. Her veteran experience proved to be a huge asset to the group and her unbelievable talent brought exciting new dimensions to the material. People who have seen Jendeen play never forget her.



The band played clubs all over the Twin Cities metro area, and even into Wisconsin as they built a loyal grassroots following. In the spring of 2003, Autonomy brought a road-tested set to Back Alley Studios for the recording of their debut album. The group worked on the album for most of that year, and in December signed on with Under the Radar as they were about to release the final product. In keeping with the band's mission, they retained control of their material, kept the label out of the artistic process, and carefully defined the role they would play in the album's release. Autonomy's debut, self-titled album was released on January 1st, 2004 and is available through www.utrmusicgroup.com



Autonomy attracted immediate attention and critical acclaim with their debut single "Tear It All Down" which not only showcased the band's intensity, but their musical prowess. The follow-up single "We Have It All" displayed a more electronic, pop-friendly side to the band's driving sound. Both songs have been featured on modern rock and college radio stations all over, but the band is in a constant struggle to break through to bigger radio markets- a common challenge for independent bands.



Autonomy performs 'Scars' - 2005



Add to My Profile | More Videos