And Tears Fell was a melodic art-rock recording project founded in 1989 by Todd and Samantha Downing, initially carried on Stanford-based indie label Epithet Records (The Rise, Moonpools & Caterpillars, The Electra, Mute Angst Envy, Autumn Cathedral). Their first album, "Sidhe", was released in late 1989. A follow-up, "Circe", was released in 1990. Todd and Samantha relocated to Seattle in 1991, and a third effort, the EP entitled "Angry Odin", was completed in 1992. Children and careers sidetracked any performing desires, although Todd continued to release ambient electronic music under the names Starbug and Impetus. Unfortunately, Samantha died in 2005 from a rare cancer, but Todd is currently working on a tribute CD, "Requiem", with various Seattle musicians and vocalists, and has plans to move the band forward with new material.
1988 - first And Tears Fell recordings made, primarily ambient instrumentals.
1989 - Samantha formally joins project, becoming the primary vocalist. And Tears Fell signed to Epithet on the strength of some home-produced demos. Autumn finds the release of EP "Sidhe" (pronounced "shee"), and winter sees the full album released on cassette. Several fellow Epithet musicians (including Jeff Carlson of The Electra) sit in on sessions.
1990 - And Tears Fell moves to a new studio and begins recording "Circe" with new bassist/guitarist Christopher Palmer. Todd & Samantha married after "Circe" is released and the band leaves Epithet.
1991 - And Tears Fell relocates to Seattle at the beginning of the grunge era. Seattle's cultural influence is felt.
1992 - And Tears Fell releases a 4-song EP called "Angry Odin", full of comparatively heavy distorted guitar and lyrics full of social commentary and apocalyptic imagery.
1995 - "Demons" single recorded with Bath guitarist Luke Anderson and producer/keyboardist Barry Leitch.
2000 - 3 new tracks composed, band preps to go into the studio but can't find a producer they want to work with.
2002 - Samantha diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of unknown primary.
2005 - Samantha dies. Work begins on the "Requiem" CD, a collection of And Tears Fell material from their back catalog, re-recorded with musicians who knew and loved Samantha.
2007 - Impending "Requiem" CD release.
The band is no longer active and was primarily a recording project, not a performing one. However we did play the occasional acoustic set and enjoyed it immensely. I may start playing live sets again with the release of the Requiem CD.
A basic dreamy acoustic folk sensibility merged with a background in theater and musicals, an adolescence of 1980s alternative, a conceptual fetish for German expressionism and French avant garde, an attraction to classic fantasy/horror literature (Grimm, Byron, Shelley, Keats, Carroll), and a love for beautiful sounds with a darkened edge...
Musical influences: Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins, David Sylvian, Dick Dale, The Ventures, Chris Isaak, Clan of Xymox, early Sarah McLachlan, The Sundays, Love & Rockets, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Gary Numan, Jefferson Airplane
Ovation Celebrity acoustic 6-string, Korg X50, Roland Juno-D. On old material I used a Korg M1.