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Lush Agave

Lush Agave is the project of classical vocalist and electronic musician Alisha Erao. Erao grew up in Florida studying classical voice and music technology at the University of Central Florida. Her interest in low-fidelity recording and early electronic music inspired her first experimentations with vocal samples and composition. Erao moved to New York City in 2008, forming the band Alligator Indian with Math Erao (Absolute Fantasy). The electronic pop duo released 3 albums with Bleeding Gold records. After relocating to Asheville, North Carolina in 2012, Erao co-founded a gallery/event space called Apothecary. It was in this environment that Lush Agave emerged from the idea to combine her passion for classical voice and its aesthetics with synthesizers and vocal sampling. Erao premiered her first piece “madame” here, which reimagines the aria “Un Bel Di Vedremo” from Puccini's Madame Butterly. The project continued to evolve in subsequent years, especially upon her brief return to Orlando where she recorded her debut EP, Songs for a Moon. Lush Agave became Erao’s attempt to bring the vulnerability and intensity of classical vocal genres into the zeitgeist. It is a means of merging her passion of technical practice with electronic and pop music, and to speak of her experience as a womxn in music. By sampling melodies, lyrics, or overall sentiments from her favorite arias and art songs, Lush agave evokes the aura of tragedy, beauty, and passion in the operatic tradition.