KAVISHA MAZZELLA

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 silly! She enjoys crossing 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 multicultural 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 ,Tibetan Buddhist Masters and Advaita teachings. Kavisha leads a chanting singing group called Empty Sky once a month. 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 was the founder and choir conductor of Fremantle's Joys Of The Women Choir 1989-93 and Melbourne's vivacious Italian Women's choir " La Voce Della Luna"(The Voice Of the Moon)"from 1995-2013.Since the early 80s ,she has been learning Italian regional folksongs from cds, records, tapes and from the singing of Italian migrants in March 2014 Kavisha is releasing her CD Riturnella which has 13 songs of love and betrayal from 1400- 1900s.

Her CDs 'Mermaids in the Well' (1995), 'Fisherman's Daughter' (1998) 'Silver Hook Tango' (2003) 'Love and Sorrow' (2011) and 'Riturnella' (2014 are available through Mazzella 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. In 2008 Kavisha was awarded Multicultural Commission Excellence award. In 2011 Kavisha was awarded an Australia Day Honour for her contribution to music and serving the community.

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 Edinburgh Fringe, Cork Arts Festival, Australia Festival Dublin. Brunswick Music festival and Port Fairy.