By Randi Bjornstad

The Eugene-Springfield area seems to have an unending stream of talented people who pop up frequently with new accomplishments to share with the community, whether as writers, singers, dancers, composers, actors, musicians, painters, weavers, sculptors, or whatever else can be deemed artistry — there’s no intention here to leave any art form unmentioned.

So when Lisa Forkish announces that she has a new song album to release, and that she’s a born-and-raised Eugene person, no one should be surprised.

Her musical chops are many and varied, as described in the news release about the April 7 album debut event at the Eugene Art House, the movie theater formerly known as The Bijou:

Lisa Forkish is a queer singer-songwriter, teacher and artivist, whose vocal arranging and music directing work has been showcased alongside Kehlani, Ben Harper, Michael Franti and Pentatonix.

Raised in Eugene, Oregon, Lisa’s stint as director of her college a cappella group, Divisi, was the inspiration for the film “Pitch Perfect,” and she was previously named Portlandʻs “Songwriter of the Year.”

More recently, Lisa was the founder and director of five-time national champion high school a cappella group, Vocal Rush, which placed third on NBCʻs, “The Sing-Off.”

Lisa is an alum of numerous Eugene-based arts institutions including Oregon Bach Festival Youth Choral Academy, Girl Circus, Oregon Festival of American Music, Actors Cabaret, UO Divisi and South Eugene High School.

Forkish’s new album is her fifth studio album of original music, titled From the Ashes, described as “a breath and a prayer, infused with soul-stirring vocal harmonies and carefully crafted arrangements, (which) reminds us of our interconnectedness and sings into the seemingly lonely paradox of the human experience.”

The tracks on the album represent several musical genres and also feature many guest musicians, ranging from the progressive rock group Raze the Maze to jazz pianist Cava Menzies to nonbinary neo-soul singer/songwriter B. DeVeaux.

The album can be previewed or downloaded on Bandcamp as well as other music streaming sites.

Release party for Lisa Forkish’s, From the Ashes

When: 7 p.m. on Friday, April 7, 2023

Where: Eugene Art House, 492 E. 13th Ave., Eugene

Details: Album release show featuring live-looping, lush vocal harmonies, circle-singing, and guest vocalists and choirs

Advance tickets: $15, available at https://311028.formovietickets.com:2235/T.ASP?WCI=bt&Page=PickTickets&SHOWID=35269