Aurelio Voltaire

Aurelio Voltaire
Voltaire at the Wave-Gotik-Treffen in 2016 in Leipzig, Germany
Voltaire at the Wave-Gotik-Treffen in 2016 in Leipzig, Germany
Background information
Birth nameAurelio Voltaire Hernández[1]
Also known asVoltaire
Born (1967-01-25) January 25, 1967 (age 57)
Havana, Cuba
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • composer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1998–present
Labels
Websitewww.voltaire.net

Aurelio Voltaire Hernández[2] (born January 25, 1967[3]), professionally known as Aurelio Voltaire or simply Voltaire, is a Cuban-American musician, singer, composer, author, and animator. Known for his gothic style of dress and music, Voltaire is considered a leading figure in the dark cabaret music genre.[4][5] He has released 13 studio albums,[4] including Riding a Black Unicorn Down the Side of an Erupting Volcano While Drinking from a Chalice Filled with the Laughter of Small Children (2011), BiTrektual (2012), and Raised by Bats (2014).[6] He has also created songs for the Cartoon Network animated series The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy (2001–2007).[4]

In 1997, Voltaire wrote and illustrated the six-issue Sirius Entertainment comic book series Chi-Chian, and created a Flash animated webseries of the same name for the Sci-Fi Channel website.[7] He also authored the graphic novel Oh My Goth! (2002),[7] and has written such books as What Is Goth? (2004) and Paint It Black: A Guide to Gothic Homemaking (2005). The latter book led to a YouTube webseries titled Gothic Homemaking, in which Voltaire shares information related to gothic homemaking and decor.[4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference name was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Voltaire – Biography – IMDb". The Internet Movie Database.
  3. ^ Hernández, Aurelio Voltaire. "Aurelio Voltaire | The official website of musician, author and Gothic personality, | Biography". NEWS.
  4. ^ a b c d Fitzpatrick, Molly (October 26, 2022). "It's a Goth Thing: Meet the Martha Stewart for Macabre Homemakers". The New York Times. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  5. ^ "David Bowie musicians and producer join Aurelio Voltaire for 'The Black Labyrinth' based on 1986 film 'Labyrinth'". Side-Line Magazine. December 19, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  6. ^ Kendrick, Monica (August 3, 2017). "Aurelio Voltaire gives gothic cabaret the jolt of over-the-top silliness we all knew it needed". Chicago Reader. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Ladouceur, Liisa (September–October 2001). "Chi-Chian: Cyber Cinderella of the 31st Century" (PDF). Rue Morgue. No. 23. p. 24. ISSN 1481-1103.