Kavisha Mazzella

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY...WEST meets East!

Kavisha Mazzella is  an ARIA award winning singer songwriter who does not believe in world music.It's just music!!! Music unites us and creating imaginary titles such as world music is devisive She is unafraid to cross musical boundaries and create community experiences in her shows.She first came to National attention with her appearance in the Franco Di Chiera documentary " Joys Of The Women" in 1993. Drawing on her rich Mediterranian heritage she creates contemporary songs with haunting melody and lyrical depth. While her early influences come from the singer songwriter tradition of the likes of Sandy Denny,Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen, over time due to her passion for italian regional folksong,she has absorbed influence from the East with its modal tones and ecstatic singing styles of  Indian,Arabic, Southern Italian and Gypsy influenced song and links these with western folk music influences.

Other influences that have made an impression on Kavisha's music are her interest in meditation and mysticism through the teachings of Osho ,Sufi and Tibetan Buddhist Masters. Warmth and humour spice her performance. Whether performing solo, writing for theatre or directing a choir Kavisha brings a joy of life and sensitivity into the music.Kavisha has been a guest vocal tutor at Victorian College Of The Arts,Swinburne,and is the founder and choir conductor of  Melbourne's vivacious Italian Women's choir " La Voce Della Luna"(The Voice Of the Moon)"She has been documenting italian  regional folksongs remembered by Italian migrants to Australia since 1988. It is from this  500 year old repetoire  that the choir La Voce Della Luna sings.

Her  cds "Mermaids in  the Well" (1995),Fisherman's Daughter(1998) "Silver Hook Tango "(2003) are available through Blackmarket Music in Australia. She is a winner of  various awards including  the 1998 ARIA for her album " Fisherman's Daughter", the Italia Nel Mondo Award in 2000 for her contribution to the sharing of Italian Culture in Australia through setting up of Italian Women's choirs and West Australia Music Industry awards for songwriting.In 2004 she was awarded PORT FAIRY ARTIST OF THE YEAR.

Since the late eighties Kavisha has  also been collecting Italian popular and folk songs remembered by  Italian migrants arranging them in Choral form to be sung and kept alive by the choirs 'Le Gioie Delle Donne (Joys of The Women)  in Fremantle West Australia  and"La Voce Della Luna" (Voice Of The Moon) in Melbourne Victoria.

Her shows have people singing along before they know it. Since 1990,She has performed extensively and also run songwriting and choral workshops at music festivals such as Maleny,Woodford Folk Festivals and International festivals such as  Edinburough Fringe,Cork Arts Festival,Australia Festival Dublin.Kavisha was also a co-writer with Katherine Thompson and Angela Chaplin of the play 'Mavis Goes To Timor" which won an AWGIE award in 2003.

Recently she  collaborated with author Arnold Zable In the 2 man show" Anytime The Wind Can Change' inspiring tales of  Australia's indigenous people,immigrants and refugees. Victorian Women's trust invited KAvisha to be a Watermark champion.Watermark is a community discussion about our most precious resource- water.

"Kavisha sings with the voice of a heartbroken angel"
Victoria Laurie, The Australian

Whether working solo or with others,Kavisha has carved a strong reputation as a performer, songmaker, composer ,theatre worker and teacher.playing guitar,mandolin,piano accordian , it is her hauntingly beautiful voice,capable of power and nuance ,humour and spontaneity on stage that makes no two shows alike.In her music the East meets West and tracks the journeys of many migrants in the world.

Singing in English and Italian, Kavisha's songs come from the heart and take you on a witty, joyful, poetic journey .She is currently based in Melbourne, Australia.

Brief Bandology

• In 1981 "I Papaveri" With Sanjiva Margio ,Giri Mazzella- Neopolitan And Southern Italian Street Songs Of The 14th To 20th Century
• 1987-1996 "Rich 'N'famous" With John Reed, Lee Buddle,Gary Burke.Peter Grayling,Rueben Kooperman
• 1989 "Le Gioie Delle Donne"(Joys Of The Women) An Italian Women's Choir From Fremantle
• 1993-1998 Fireflies (Original And Trad Material) Collaborations With Great Musicians Such As John Norton, Louis Mcmanus, Blair Greenburg, Dave Steel, Matthew Arnold, Justin Brady ,Ben Robertson , Archie Cuthbertson And Irini Vela
• 1995-present "La Voce Della Luna "(Voice Of The Moon) Italian Women's Choir In Melbourne With John Norton and Phil Carroll
• 1999-2004 Solo Shows With Various collaborating with Musicians ,Rosie Westbrook,Peter Vadiveloo,Luke O'Neil
• 2006-7 Collaboration with Jazzplayers GONE BANDA,Gianni Marinucci ,Howard Cairns,Ronnie Ferella
• 2004-present Kavisha Mazzella Trio with Irine vela and Peter Vadiveloo

Discography

• 2007" Yarra Luna" with La Voce Della Luna, Italian Folk Choir( Black Market Music Australia)
• 2006"Mare Profundo"with Melbourne Millenium Chorus (the Boite)
• 2005"Azadi"Songs of Liberation with Melbourne Millenium Chorus (the Boite)
• 2003" Silver Hook Tango" (Black Market Music Australia)
• 2002"Flight" Concert for Refugees with Melbourne Millenium Chorus (the Boite)
• with Melbourne Millenium Chorus (the Boite)
• 2001 "Luna"E.P.(Ind),Concert For East Timor with Melbourne Millenium Chorus (the Boite)
• 2000 "Canberra ,Cork , Calgary....Live"(Ind),
• 1999 Live At The Melbourne Concert Hall with Melboburne Millenium Chorus
• 1998 "Fisherman's Daughter" (Black Market Music)
• 1997"Three Shielas" With Judy Small,Bronwyn Calcutt(Crafty Maid),
• 1997 "Stepping Out" La Voce Della Luna Italian  women's Choir(Black Market Music)
• 1995 "Mermaids In The Well" (Black Market Music)
• 1993 "Joys Of The Women" (Abc) With Le Gioie Delle Donne Italian Women's Choir
• 1990 I Papaveri" Flowers in The Desert"
• 1991  Rich;n Famous " Best Song In The World"

Awards and Nominations

• Wamia (West Australia Music Industry Awards) 1990,-Song Writing
• 1992-Songwriting
• 1993-Outstanding Female Vocalist
• 1996 Greenroom Award For Musical Direction In Theatre For "Emma-Celebrazione!"
• 1998 Aria (Australia Recording Industry Award) Best Traditional/World Album For Fisherman's Daughter"
• 1999 Female Artist Of The Year @ Thredbo Global Music Awards.
• 2000 Italia Nel Mondo Award " From The Government Of Italy
• A 2001 Puc For Best Individual Artist In A Theatre Production For "Luna"
• 2002 Helpmann Award Nomination(Co-Written With Angela Chaplin & Kath Thompson) For Best New Australian Work For "Mavis Goes To Timor"
• 2003 A.F.I. Award Nomination For Best Score For "Rosa's Story"
• For "East Timor, Birth Of A Nation" By Stella Zanataro And Luigi D'aquisto"
• 2003 West Australian Premiers Literary Award Nomination For "Mavis Goes To Timor"
• 2003 Australian Writers Guild Award For Best New Australian Work For
• "Mavis Goes To Timor" Shared With Angela Chaplin,Katheryn Thompson.
• 2003 Aria Nomination For Best World Music Album"Silver Hook Tango"
• 2004 Port Fairy Artist Of The Year

Festival-Ology

• Kavisha Has Played The Major Folk Festivals In Australia Such As1991-2002 Woodford,
• 1992-2004 Port Fairy,
• 2001 Nannup,
• 2001,04 Fairbridge,
• 1993-2004 Brunswick Music Festival,
• 1991-2000 The National,
• 1996,2001 Sydney Accapella Festival,
• 1999 Cygnet,
• 1999-2002 Blue Mountains,
• 1999,2001 Thredbo World Music
• , 1987-1993 Toodjay,
• 1995 -1998 Victor Harbour
• And Overseas At 1998 Canada ,Calgary Folk Fest ,Canmore Folk Fest
• 1998 Italy, Aquila , Abbruzzi -City Of Moreland Artists Exchange
• 1998 Scotland, Speigal Tent ,Edinburugh Fringe
• 1999 Canada@Rogues Folk Club Vancouver ,Full Moon , Edmonton,Calgary Folk Club
• 1999 Ireland , Ballymaloe Music Weekend , Cork Arts Festival@The Lobby Cork city,
• 1999 , New Zealand, Whare Flats Folk Festival , North American Folk Alliance Alberqueque
• 2000 New Caledonia ,Femme Funk Festival ,Noumea.
• 2001 Kalaka/European Union Of Broadcasters Festival In Miscolc,Hungary,
• 2001 Australia Festival Dublin
• 2002 Brunswick Music Festival , Apollo Bay Music Festival, Woodford,
• The Famous Spiegal Tent Melbourne
• 2003 Ranges Folk Fest ,Womadelaide, Brunswick Music Festival.
• 2004 Chewton,Brunswick Music Festival,Port Fairy,National Folk Festival,Fairbridge,Rhythms Of The Outback Festival Kalgoorlie.,Famous Spiegeltent,Melbourne International Arts Festival.
• 2005 Nannup Music Festival W.A.,Troubadour Weekend Lancefield Victoria ,Two Fires Festival Braidwood N.S.W.,National Folk Festival Canberra Act,Wanaka Festival Of Colour New Zealand
• 2006 Fairbridge Festival,National Folk Festival Canberra,
• 2007 Brunswick Music Festival,Troubadour Weekend,Cygnet folk Festival,
• 2007 Melbourne Italian Festival,Port Fairy Winter Festival, Festival Of Voices Tasmania,
• 2007 Maleny Festival of Books and Writing,Northen Notes Writers Festival, Darebin Music Feast,Brunswick Festival, Woodford Folk Festival,National Folk Festival Canberra
• 2008 Brunswick Music Festival,Port Fairy,Fairbridge Festival
• 2009 Illawarra Festival, Brunswick Music festival,Quiet Music festival,Sydney Greek festival,MacKay Festival of Arts,Darebin Music Feast,Global Grooves festival MacKay,
• 2010  Naracoote Festival SA,Cygnet Folk Festival Tas, National Folk Festival Canberra