Singer in Lights Alive. www.soundcloud.com/lightsalive

John Zalewski is a sound designer and composer with a rich background in visual arts, deeply influenced by the late theater auteur Reza Abdoh's work in the 1990s.
His extensive portfolio includes Off-Broadway projects such as Everything You Touch and Mayakovsky and Stalin at Cherry Lane, as well as AZAK at Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre. Regionally, John has contributed to productions like Destiny of Desire at major theaters including Arena Stage, Goodman Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, South Coast Rep and Cincinnatti Playhouse in the Park and Hold These Truths across prominent venues like Pasadena Playhouse and American Conservatory Theater. His work spans other notable institutions like the Humana Festival, Boston Court Theatre, Portland Center Stage, Guthrie and Disney Hall, as well as international projects like Wilderness’ The Day Shall Declare It in London, which won a 2015 Ovation Award for it’s Los Angeles version. Most recently John designed and scored Son of Semele’s Crevasse at Victory Theater and American Mariachi with Latino Theater Company. John’s accolades include eight LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards, 26 nominations, four LA Drama Crit’s Circle Awards and several other prestigious honors, solidifying his reputation as a leading figure in performance sound design and composition.

A veteran of Leonard Cohen's bands, and the alt-roots Divine Horsemen in the LA post-punk scene, Julie Christensen has also sung with many other fine artists including Lou Reed, John Doe, Steve Wynn, and Van Dyke Parks.
Julie Christensen’s story is woven into decades of the fabric of underground and roots rock ’n’ roll. Julie tells her stories, conveying the beauty of suffering with a subtlety that has become her signature,  no matter what the genre they are sung in. "One of the truer singers you’ll ever hear — straight up, no mannerisms, perfect taste; recognize how she could sing with both Leonard Cohen and Chris D." LA WEEKLY

Julie  co-fronted post-punk rockers Divine Horsemen, and is a veteran of Leonard Cohen's bands and the documentary "Leonard Cohen-I'm Your Man".   “A Sad Clown,” is her seventh record; an acoustic yet gritty offering of her own music and a few gems by fellow East Nashville friends Tim Easton and Darrin Bradbury; and a stunning interpretation of Tom Waits’ Hold On that only Julie can deliver. “A Sad Clown” held the number one spot on Alternate Root, and is her second album with Stone Cupid  -  regulars Sergio Webb, Chris Tench, and Steve Latanation - and Jeff Turmes (Mavis Staples) returning on the bass. She also spent time as a jazz chanteuse, tours, has performed and recorded in the studio with Steve Wynn, Van Dyke Parks, John Doe, Exene Cervenka, Alejandro Escovedo.  In September 2018, Julie was inducted into the Iowa Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame in the “Women Who Rock” category, an honor she will share with 2015 inductee Wanda Jackson. Divine Horsemen are rebooting and  releasing a single July 10, 2020, and have an album in the can for release later in the year.
"Her swagger is true to her rebellious punk-rock roots, and refined through working with the likes of Cohen, Iggy Pop, Public Image Limited..." Christensen has worn coats of many different colors, and this one's red.” No Depression 

“With a background that includes gothic cowpunks Divine Horsemen and two tours as Leonard Cohen’s backing singer, Christensen has no problems bending musical boundaries. Here there’s East Nashville back porch country, tattooed barroom rock (Honey Let’s Go To Town): a lovely, Blue Valentine-esque ballad (Like Nothing Hurts), as well as a fine cover of Tom Waits’ Hold On. - Sylvie Simmons, MOJO

"Julie Christensen is a singer who paints the moon every time she gets near a microphone. Maybe that's because songs run through her veins, whether she writes them or chooses them. It's not hard to discover today who's up there on the tightrope risking their lives to stay in the music business, because for them there is no other way to live. This lady has been singing a long time, but on A SAD CLOWN Christensen sounds as new as tomorrow. Her heart is pounding, her ears are glowing and her voice remains a miracle. And she'll take you there too." - Bill Bentley, author/writer/A&R 

"You have wrought another thing of beauty and guts and all the good stuff of which you are made! Really wonderful— (A Sad Clown) the songs, the vocals, the band vibe. You are on a roll, my dear.”    Joe Woodard (Rolling Stone, LA Times)
 
“Julie Christensen is a Nordic Zephyr. Get her!” Van Dyke Parks

“Julie is gold. Solid. Gold.”  Chuck Prophet

"It was her ability to sing with conviction in a variety of approaches that made her extraordinary to me." Todd Rundgren

“Julie Christensen’s music is deep and wide and speaks of experience. Her voice has amazing range, her own songs are little gems and her choice in material is assured. Wherever she is taking you, you’ll want to go.”  Jeff Turmes (Mavis Staples Band)

Zero Libertad is a cinematic live performance, using music and videomapping. It's also a graphic novel available for purchase at shows. Zero is the spirit of the 3rd World, the spirit of rebellion and trauma. Sometimes, she appears as a woman. Zero Libertad was born to a Nicaraguan freedom fighter father, the legendary Commander Zero, and a CIA agent mother. After living in the mountains with her father's guerillas, she flew to Miami to procure more funds from her mother in order to aid her father's rebels. She was murdered in the attempt. Her body was thrown into a river for seven days. Death did not stop her; it only transformed her.

With the help of her ancestor spirits, Zero teamed up with mad musical and electronic whiz Z++ (a Louisiana native and Cajun Zen master),and El Ra (a guitar maniac from Mexico City. )Their sound is influenced by sources as varied as old school Miami bass, PJ Harvey, J Dilla, Saul Williams, Outkast, John Zorn, Pixies, Butthole Surfers, Rage Against the Machine, and Tomahawk. Zero Libertad is seething, intense, beat-driven, and reminds us that even the darkest experiences lead us to light if we are willing to transform.

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