UnWoman
In 2000, while studying cello, composition, and electronic music at UC Santa Cruz, Erica Mulkey chose the stage name Unwoman from Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. She had been writing songs since age 13, inspired by Tori Amos and Trent Reznor (hey, it was the 90s) but her first public releases on on mp3.com were wildly experimental — then in 2005 she had an epiphany that she wanted to focus on writing Actual Songs. She currently works full-time as a cellist-singer-songwriter-producer and is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. In the Before Time Unwoman performed at steampunk conventions and major events all over the US. Her song “The Heroine” was featured in both Welcome to Night Vale’s “Triptych” episode and the steampunk documentary Vintage Tomorrows. In 2015 she received the Steampunk Chronicle Reader’s Choice Award for Best Solo Musician and Best Album with Circling.
She has also collaborated with Halou/Stripmall Architecture, Voltaire, Eliza Rickman, Anthony Jones & Monica Richards, Vernian Process, Abney Park, Amanda Palmer, Rasputina, Nathaniel Johnstone, The Cog Is Dead, Paul Mercer, and many other acts.
In Summer of 2023 Unwoman held her 19th successful kickstarter campaign for her ninth original album Desire Paths. She has also released nine full volumes of dramatic and imaginative cover songs. She continues to do all her own engineering and production, and relishes all stages of song creation.
Beginning in 2015 Unwoman’s newest songs, about two per month, have been available to patrons/subscribers as soon as they’re finished. On December 31 2024 Unwoman’s Patreon will end but the bandcamp subscription ($20/year) will remain.
You can also listen to all official releases on Spotify — Unwoman’s personal choices, vastly superior to The Algorithm’s picks, are over here.
The Masquerade DJs
For your dancing pleasure we have two amazing DJs with playlists that will fill you with “dance magic.”
Scary Lady Sarah passionately enjoys & promotes good, new, dark alternative music. Since 1988 she has been a nightclub DJ, also booking bands and producing club events. Her main event is NOCTURNA, an 18+ dark alternative dance night held once every 6 – 8 weeks in Chicago at the venerated establishment Metro, and is the longest running goth event in North America.
Zophiel has over 20 years’ experience as a DJ, particularly for Goth, hafla, and 80s-loving audiences. He has presented music for dances at such events as Convergence, Dragon Con, Unconvention, and COGS. His sets have been heard in Philadelphia, Detroit, and Las Vegas – to name just a few cities. A stage play in development makes mention of Zophiel’s practice of using every song in a set to tell a story, so even if you don’t dance there may be something in it for you.
Karaoke
Hosted by Catherine Whaley & Katrina Whaley
Whether you’re a seasoned singer or just here for the fun, this is your time to shine! Join us for karaoke with your steampunk friends!
If you have a performance act that you would like to have considered for the Exposition, please submit your details via our Performer Applicaiton Form.
