In 2000, while studying cello, composition, and electronic music at UC Santa Cruz, Erica Mulkey chose the stage name Unwoman from Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. She had been writing songs since age 13, inspired by Tori Amos and Trent Reznor (hey, it was the 90s) but her first public releases on on mp3.com were wildly experimental. Then in 2005 she had an epiphany that she wanted to focus on writing Actual Songs. She currently works full-time as a cellist-singer-songwriter-producer and is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. In the Before Time Unwoman performed at steampunk conventions and major events all over the US. Her song The Heroine was featured in both Welcome to Night Vale's "Triptych" episode and the steampunk documentary Vintage Tomorrows. In 2015 she received the Steampunk Chronicle Reader's Choice Award for Best Solo Musician and Best Album with Circling. In Summer of 2023 Unwoman held her 19th successful kickstarter campaign for her ninth original album Desire Paths. She has also released seven full volumes of dramatic and imaginative cover songs. Every month, subscribers on her Patreon and Bandcamp get ~two brand new tracks. She continues to do all her own engineering and production, and relishes all stages of song creation. She has also collaborated with many excellent artists (see artist playlists for recorded collabs; Unwoman has also played cello live with Rasputina, Voltaire, Amanda Palmer, and many others.)