Charming Disaster

Brooklyn-based musical duo Charming Disaster was formed in 2012 by Ellia Bisker (of Sweet Soubrette and Funkrust Brass Band) and Jeff Morris (of Kotorino). Inspired by the gothic humor of Edward Gorey and Tim Burton, the noir storytelling of Raymond Chandler, the murder ballads of the Americana tradition, and the dramatic flair of the cabaret, they write songs that tell stories, using two voices to explore dark narratives and characters with a playful sensibility.

In their critically acclaimed albums Love, Crime & Other Trouble (2015) and Cautionary Tales (2017), Charming Disaster has explored themes like love, death, crime, myth and folklore, and the supernatural. In their theatrical live performances, they combine vocal harmonies and clever lyrics with ukulele, guitar, and virtuosic foot percussion, drawing listeners into an offbeat universe of paranormal romance, con artists, circus performers, and ancient mythology. They have toured around the United States, playing club venues, festivals, and cultural institutions; recent performances include Joe's Pub at The Public Theater in NYC, Brooklyn’s historic Green-Wood Cemetery, and the Poe Museum in Richmond, VA.

Their song “Ghost Story” was featured on the hit podcast Welcome to Night Vale and appears on Love, Crime & Other Trouble, described by New York Music Daily as “twistedly delicious…if you aren’t hooked on this by now, there’s no hope for you.” Charming Disaster’s latest album, Cautionary Tales, expands on the duo’s spooky, offbeat universe with songs about espionage, occult practices, supernatural creatures, and the end of the world as we know it, with references to cult fantasy novels and ancient lore from Greek and Norse mythology.