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 eight dynamic lead vocalists (each a brilliant composer/songwriter 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.
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 are released August 26, 2020.
Episodes 7-9 will be released in spring and summer 2023. Find out how to support the creation of the remaining episodes in the series HERE.
All episodes are available for streaming and download via the most ubiquitous podcast outlets: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Deezer, the smart phone app Pocket Casts, and others.
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The Electronic Lover has received support from the Gerbode Foundation, the Phyllis C. Wattis Family Foundation, InterMusic SF, the Live Music Revival Fund, Innova Records/American Composers Forum, and the City of Berkeley Civic Arts program. Episodes 2-9 are co-produced by the Paul Dresher Ensemble/New PerformanceTraditions. 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.
The Electronic Lover 
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