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 (it was the 90s) but her first public releases on on mp3.com were wildly experimental. Then in 2005 shifted her focus to writing Actual Songs. She currently works full-time as a prolific cellist-singer-songwriter-producer supported largely by Patreon and Bandcamp subscribers and lives in Martinez, CA.

Unwoman has 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 film Vintage Tomorrows. In 2015 she received Steampunk Chronicle Reader's Choice Awards for Best Solo Musician and Best Album with Circling. She has collaborated with Halou/Stripmall Architecture, Klingon Pop Warrior, Eliza Rickman, Anthony Jones & Monica Richards, Vernian Process, Abney Park, Amanda Palmer, Rasputina, Voltaire, Nathaniel Johnstone, The Cog Is Dead, Jill Tracy, Paul Mercer, and many other acts.

Earlier this summer Unwoman held her 19th successful kickstarter campaign for her ninth original album Desire Paths.

Unwoman writes:
"I've really honed my production and songwriting skills in the last few years and have gotten extremely confident executing my unusual artistic visions. It has been SO SATISFYING to achieve, and I know not everyone will be on my wavelength, but those who are are going to LOVE this music. This album delves further into middle-aged woman / parent problems, mortality, liberty, pleasure. I speak with authenticity and go as hard as I can to write the songs I myself would appreciate hearing, and I feel like I finally have all the tools to produce the music I hear in my head such that other people hear something similar."

A listening party is slated for September 20 at 6pm Pacific; an in-person album release show will take place September 21 at 7pm at Spire the Church in Oakland.

Unwoman has also released seven full volumes of cover songs, dramatically remaking favorite songs of hers and special requests from fans in entirely her own style. She continues to do all her own engineering and production, and relishes all stages of song creation.