WORDS EMILIE LOUIZIDES
LUSH is the bath and body care brand we all know and love for its multi-sensory products, admirable ethos, and distinct packaging, but did you know that along with your cult favourite products, the company also makes music? LUSH Is currently taking their newest '90s compilation album on tour; it's aptly called In The Bath, and was personally curated by LUSH Co-Founder Mark Constantine. London's stop of the listening party tour was held in LUSH's Soho store, and the event had everything you could imagine from hand massages and makeup application, to personalised perfume readings, a bathtub brimming with beverages, a Q&A with Mark Constantine and, a live performance from Peckham's own award-winning composer and multidisciplinary artist, Chisara Agor.
Saving the best for last, Chisara closed out the evening with a spellbinding performance, backed up by an incredible band. Aside from her rendition of Leonard Cohen's 'A Thousand Kisses Deep' featured on In The Bath, Chisara's performance art and visual work has been commissioned by Tate, BBC x ICA and the National Theatre. After being absolutely captivated by her set, I had some questions for Chisara.
Emilie Louizides: Chisara, your performance at LUSH’s release party was stunning! Tell us about your pre and post-show rituals. How do you prepare for a performance and how do you wind down after?
Chisara Agor: Thank you so much! I normally do my vocal warm ups at home, prepare my bag and what I'm wearing. As much as I'd love a calm pre-show ritual, that day was not the calmest, it involved me travelling in the middle of a storm to do an interview and then rushing back home to get ready! Not as glamorous as people may think, but the good thing is performing usually shakes me out of whatever funk I'm in. Winding down after a show usually means tea, some food, going over the show in my head and a hot shower.
EL: How did you feel when LUSH approached you about covering A Thousand Kisses Deep and what was the process like of making it your own while still honouring the original version?
CA: I was nervous to approach a song by someone so well known and at first it was difficult to find my own way in to the song. When I finally did find a way in by singing it over and over and experimenting with my amazing keys player Will Hobson, the rest of the arrangement and production flowed out from me. I think that is what is so great about A Thousand Kisses Deep, it is a song full of space and poetry almost asking you to take it on as your own.
EL: Your dream bathtub is in front of you. What music are you listening to and what LUSH products are you reaching for?
CA: I'm probably listening to a podcast like Living Myth by Michael Meade, I love learning about new stories and myths from before our time. I recently tried LUSH's Magik Massage bar with magnesium and cbd, as a performer and dancer it feels nice to pamper yourself and soothe any aches and pains after a bath!
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