The folk traditions of the United Kingdom, Southern Europe, and Australia combine in the music of Melbourne, Australia-based singer-songwriter Kavisha Mazzella. A major star in Australia, Mazzella has received four awards from the Western Australian Music Industry Association. Her 1998 album, Fisherman's Daughter, was named "best folk/world music album" at the Aria Awards, Australia's equivalent to the Grammy awards. Her original compositions were featured in the short film Acquiring a Taste for Raffaela. Mazzella has been steadily increasing her international following. She performed as a guest with the Hothouse Flowers and Michelle Shocked. Following a successfully tour of Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Ireland, and Canada, she made her North American debut as a guest performer of the North American Folk Alliance in 1999. The daughter of an Irish, Scottish, and Burmese mother and an Italian father, Mazzella moved to Perth in the 1960s. Inspired by her ancestral musical roots and aboriginal influences, Mazzella has continued to explore a wide range of music. In 1981, she formed a trio, I Papaveri (The Poppies) to perform fourteenth and fifteenth century Italian songs. This group evolved into the Italian women's choir Le Gioie Della Donne (The Joys of Women) in 1990, and La Voce Della Luna (the voice of the Moon) in 1995. Equally proficient on guitar, mandolin, piano accordion, and harmonium,Mazzella gained her early experience singing in bars while attending Claremont Art College. Mazzella continues to balance her solo career with work in Australian musical theater. She composed and performed in the play Waterfront Women and received a Green award as the musical director of the 1997 play, Emma Celebrazione. In early 2000, Mazzella released her first live album, Canberra, Calgary, Cork. ~ Craig Harris