The Electronic Lover

The Electronic Lover is an audio opera created by San Francisco Bay Area composer Lisa Mezzacappa and New York writer Beth Lisick, released as a serial podcast since summer 2020. The story is set in chatrooms at the dawn of the Internet, in the moment when we first invited computers into the most intimate aspects of our lives. Season 1 follows a tech-curious cabal of young women, isolated and constrained in their own lives, who connect across vast distances to create a thrilling new virtual community.

The opera features nine dynamic lead vocalists (many of them brilliant composer/songwriters in their own right!) with backgrounds in jazz, ska, art pop, cabaret, opera and classical music; a mini choir specializing in abstract vocalizations; a versatile power trio of synth, drums and bass; and special guests including Del Sol Quartet (episode 6) and the Premier Ensemble of the San Francisco Girls Chorus (episode 9).

The series pilot, Episode 1, is a double episode, released August 2020. Episode 2 was released March 2021. Episodes 3 & 4 were released June 2021. Episodes 5 & 6 were released August 2022. Episodes 7-8 were released in November 2023. Episode 9 was released in May 2024. The entire season was released May 2024 on Innova Recordings.

Find out how to support the project HERE.

All episodes are available for download/purchase on Bandcamp, and for streaming via Apple Podcasts, Apple Music and Spotify.

Video versions of the episodes with animated libretto are available to stream on Vimeo.

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The Electronic Lover has received support from the Gerbode Foundation, the Phyllis C. Wattis Family Foundation, InterMusic SF, the Zellerbach Family Foundation Community Grants Program, the Live Music Revival Fund, Innova Records/American Composers Forum, and the City of Berkeley Civic Arts program. Episodes 8-9 were also supported through an artist residency at Some Serious Business, NM. Episodes 2-9 are co-produced by the Paul Dresher Ensemble/New Performance Traditions. The story is based on an article by Lindsy Van Gelder. Thanks to the archivists at the Computer History Museum for access to their treasures, and to John Coate for sharing his memories and reflections of his early days wrangling folks on the ‘net.