{
"title": "KCRW and Eternal Research Present Rite of the Oracle at The United Theater Featuring Zola Jesus, Fierra Ex Machina, and Nailah Hunter",
"modified_at": "2026-11-11 12:15:29",
"published_at": "2026-11-09 00:00:00",
"url": "https://news.hummingbirdmedia.com/kcrw-and-eternal-research-present-rite-of-the-oracle-at-the-united-theater-featuring-zola-jesus-fierra-ex-machina-and-nailah-hunter",
"short_url": "http://prez.ly/T6pe",
"culture": "en",
"language": "EN",
"subtitle": "Headliner Zola Jesus Returns to The United Theater",
"slug": "kcrw-and-eternal-research-present-rite-of-the-oracle-at-the-united-theater-featuring-zola-jesus-fierra-ex-machina-and-nailah-hunter",
"body": "
Zola Jesus Headlines in a Rare Solo Piano & Vocal Performance, Joined by the World Premiere of Fierra Ex Machina's Live-Scored Dance Work with Harpist Nailah Hunter Opening
LOS ANGELES, CA — November 9, 2026 — KCRW and Eternal Research present Rite of the Oracle on Saturday, December 5, 2026, at The United Theater on Broadway in Los Angeles. Headlined by darkwave and experimental electronic artist Zola Jesus in a rare, intimate solo performance on piano and vocals, the one-of-a-kind evening brings together experimental music, contemporary dance, film, and visual arts. Co-headliner Fierra Ex Machina will premiere Rite of the Oracle, a multidisciplinary live-scored performance and modern dance work, with Los Angeles composer and harpist Nailah Hunter opening the evening.
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Following four sold-out Rite of the Demon performances across Los Angeles, New York City (two shows), and San Francisco, Rite of the Oracle promises to be Eternal Research’s most dynamic live production to date. The program celebrates the powers of embodied vision and the connection of visionary women across time, weaving together voice, transmedia, and movement.
Headlining the evening, singer, songwriter, and producer Zola Jesus presents a rare, intimate solo set featuring piano orchestrations and vocals. Known for exploring the boundaries of human emotion and cinematic soundscapes, her performance places the relationship between melody, breath, and vocal phrasing at the forefront.
Zola Jesus last performed at The United Theater in 2019, sharing the bill with Ryuichi Sakamoto. Her return to the historic venue anchors an evening dedicated to the transcendent and unseen, embodying the spirit of women connecting through their artistic voices across time.
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World Premiere: Rite of the Oracle by Fierra Ex Machina
Co-headlining the evening is the world premiere of Rite of the Oracle, an immersive multidisciplinary collaboration created by musician and inventor Alexandra Fierra—founder of Eternal Research—and choreographer Lauren Auyeung. Imagining the mythic origin of the Oracle of Delphi, the work tells a story of ancient and modern prophetic women who meet across space and time.
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The Los Angeles ensemble Fierra Ex Machina will score the performance live, performing in direct dialogue with contemporary dancers, cinematic film, motion-reactive projections, and audio-reactive lighting. Driving the score is Eternal Research's flagship instrument, The Demon Box—which captures ambient electromagnetic signals and translates them into sound, drives modular synthesis, and enables control of multimedia—alongside custom electro-acoustic instruments, bringing otherwise unheard signals and unconventional materials into a shared musical language with the dancers and visual elements.
“Rite of the Oracle brings artistic exploration and bespoke musical instrument experimentation into a live conversation with dance, movement, and film,” says Alexandra Fierra. “With Zola Jesus and Nailah Hunter, we are bringing together visionary artists whose voices and musical worlds make that conversation vastly richer.”
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Atmospheric Opening Set by Nailah Hunter
Opening the evening is Los Angeles composer, vocalist, harpist, and multi-instrumentalist Nailah Hunter. Blending intricate harp arpeggios, lush ambient synthesis, and vocals, Hunter’s set establishes a contemplative foundation for the program, connecting her exploration of nature and atmosphere with the evening's theme of what can be felt and heard beyond the immediately visible.
For more information, follow Eternal Research for updates on upcoming performances and releases.
About Zola Jesus
Nika Roza Danilova, performing as Zola Jesus, is a singer, songwriter, and producer who pairs a classically trained voice with darkwave and industrial electronics across albums including Conatus, Okovi, and Arkhon. Her collaborative catalogue spans projects with David Lynch, Johnny Jewel, David Byrne, M83, Orbital, and JG Thirlwell (featuring the Mivos Quartet), alongside remixes for John Carpenter and live appearances with Ryuichi Sakamoto and serpentwithfeet. She returns to The United Theater on Broadway for Rite of the Oracle in a rare solo format.
About Nailah Hunter
Nailah Hunter is a Los Angeles-based composer, vocalist, harpist, and multi-instrumentalist whose music combines ambient textures, folk influences, and imagined worlds. A graduate of CalArts in vocal performance, Hunter developed a unique practice placing the harp alongside voice and electronic sound synthesis. Her releases include the EPs Spells and Quietude, as well as her 2024 debut full-length album, Lovegaze.
About Eternal Research
Eternal Research is a Brooklyn-born, Los Angeles-based creative technology studio dedicated to developing experimental audiovisual tools and multidisciplinary live performances. Their flagship instrument, The Demon Box, captures and transforms ambient electromagnetic signals into sound, opening new pathways for artistic exploration and sensory experience.
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