Kavisha Mazzella A.M.
ARIA award-winning singer-songwriter, composer, choir leader, theatre worker and teacher.
West meets East
Music unites us.
Kavisha draws on a rich multicultural heritage to create contemporary songs with haunting melody and lyrical depth. Her early influences include Sandy Denny, Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen. Her passion for Italian regional folk song opened a path to modal tones and ecstatic singing styles from Indian, Arabic, Southern Italian and gypsy-influenced traditions.
Singing in English and Italian, her songs take audiences on witty, joyful and poetic journeys. Whether solo or collaborating, Kavisha is known for a hauntingly beautiful voice capable of power and nuance, humour and spontaneity.
Milestones
A life in song and community.
Founded Le Gioie Delle Donne—Joys of the Women—an Italian women’s choir in Fremantle. The journey became Franco Di Chiera’s award-winning documentary “The Joys of the Women”.
Won the ARIA Award for Best Traditional/World Album for “Fisherman’s Daughter”, produced by Mick Thomas.
Received the Italia Nel Mondo Award for sharing Italian culture in Australia through community choirs.
Named Port Fairy Artist of the Year. “Silver Hook Tango” was nominated for an ARIA Award.
Appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for services to music and the community, and received the National Film and Sound Archive Award for “Love and Sorrow”.
Received the Folk Alliance Australia Lifetime Achievement Award.
The practice
Performer, composer, teacher.
Songwriter & recording artist
A catalogue spanning Mermaids in the Well, Fisherman’s Daughter, Silver Hook Tango, Love and Sorrow, Riturnella, The Fearless Note, Empty Sky and There Is a Field.
Choir leader
Collector and arranger of Italian popular and folk songs, founder of diaspora choirs and leader of vocal workshops and temporary festival choirs.
Theatre maker
Original music, musical direction and performance with Deckchair Theatre, Brunswick Women’s Theatre, Refuge Theatre and many collaborators.