Rite of the Oracle is coming 12/5

video upload by Eternal Research

"KCRW & Eternal Research present Rite of the Oracle. This one of a kind event is headlined by renowned singer-songwriter Zola Jesus in a rare solo performance on piano and voice. Co-headliner, Fierra Ex Machina will premiere Rite of the Oracle, a story of ancient and modern visionary women who meet across space and time, told through immersive, multidisciplinary modern dance, and live scored by the ensemble with bespoke electro-acoustic instruments. The evening opens with a solo performance by the enchanting harpist, Nailah Hunter.

Renowned darkwave and experimental electronic artist Zola Jesus headlines the evening with an intimate fusion of solo piano orchestrations, haunting operatic vocals, and raw, cathartic energy. Known for exploring the boundaries of human emotion, dark textures, and cinematic soundscapes, her live performance anchors a night dedicated to the transcendent and unseen, and embodies the spirit of women connecting through their voices across time.

Fierra Ex Machina performs live alongside an immersive multidisciplinary dance piece created by musician Alexandra Fierra and choreographer Lauren Auyeung. A synesthetic retelling of ancient prophetic visions through live-scored music, movement, and film, Rite of the Oracle invites the audience into a visceral conversation with the unseen and unheard made vividly audible and visibl

e. Driving the sonic landscape is The Demon Box—Eternal Research’s flagship instrument, serving as the primary electronic catalyst by capturing ambient electromagnetic fields and translating this invisible energy into live audio and driving modular synthesis. Operating in dialogue with this central hardware is a suite of custom-built, handcrafted instruments—including the polyphonic Demon Harp, the melismatic Demon Viola, and the ghostly Demon Bells forged from repurposed artillery shells. Combined with motion-reactive live projection and audio-reactive lighting, the performance amplifies the timeless conversation between ear and instrument, the aether and ourselves.

Opening the ceremony is Los Angeles-based composer, vocalist, harpist, and multi-instrumentalist Nailah Hunter. Blending ethereal harp arpeggios, lush ambient synthesis, and mystical world-building, Hunter’s soothing yet uncanny compositions set an enchanting, contemplative foundation for the evening.

Following 4 sold out performances in Los Angeles, New York City (2x), and San Francisco, Rite of the Oracle is Eternal Research’s most dynamic show yet, melding impassioned voices with cutting-edge transmedia and instrumentation to offer the key to the Oracle of Delphi’s origin: the powers of embodied vision. Stay in touch with the latest Eternal Research events and instruments by following @eternalresearchmusic on Instagram or visiting eternalresearch.com."