Fire and honey. Lightning and gold. Fusing earthiness with the transcendent, Lisa Ferraro and Erika Luckett give birth to music born of the earth and destined for the heavens. Never mind that their combined voices blend so seamlessly we forget there are two of them or the multi-faceted guitar playing is so versatile that one instrument becomes a funk band or a trio of flamenco playing gypsies. These two extraordinarily talented artists are far more than the sum of their parts and the music they create offers a feast of Sonic Nourishment.
Before joining efforts, each musician spent years polishing her craft, gaining accolades and awards in her wake. As a child, Lisa heard vibrations emanating from flowers and trees, symphonies ringing from the garden. She sang what she heard and developed a five octave range that allowed her to interpret the music of the world. Her stunning range and vocal agility gave her the wherewithal to lead sizzling soul and pop bands with sweaty crowds dancing at the foot of the stage, and later melt audiences with soul stirring interpretations of jazz standards. Her voice and presence command attention and exude the sublime.
Erika was steeped in the pulse of the planet with her transcontinental upbringing. Born in Mexico and raised in Venezuela and Brazil, she listened to the dance of her surroundings: the sambas and rancheras swaying through the streets, the songs of frogs in the trees. Each element found translation into her guitar and voice. Her innovative guitar playing emerged from the desire to create an orchestra of sound from only six strings.
Their trajectories first intersected in 2006 while performing at a festival in the American heartland. Hearing the remarkable quality of their vocal blend, Lisa and Erika began to explore a musical collaboration. Within months, they teamed up with Sufi scholar and translator, Kabir Helminski, to create collection of songs inspired by the 13th century mystic poet, Rumi. A short time later they found themselves in the captivating richness of Istanbul, collaborating and recording with Turkish musicians. Their music ignited a surge of invitations which led to performances in Melbourne, Australia and across the US and Canada. Their most recent release, AWE, features new compositions as well as fresh renditions of contemporary classics like “California Dreaming” from the Mamas and the Papas to Hall and Oates’ “Sara Smile.”
Together, these two artists (dubbed “The Ambassadors of Kindness”) ignite and uplift audiences around the globe. Those who have had the opportunity to hear them in concert comment on the effect: “I was so inspired and moved by the 'experience' of the music - the way they are so in it, feeling each and every note, so much passion expressed, so satisfying to witness how they tap into the source of creation and channel it through with such power and grace. Their combined voices and energies create a force field of angelic light.”
Whether “angelic light” or simply a powerful bolt of goodness, their stunning level of artistry, passion, and intelligence come together to create a transformative musical experience. It’s more than just entertainment. Their music transcends genre and offers what hearts are yearning to hear. Call it “Sonic Nourishment” or “New Music for a New Millenium.” It’s simply extraordinary music for extraordinary times.