Aurelio Voltaire
Theatrical dark cabaret that pairs biting wit with acoustic gothic folk. It is the sound of a Victorian villain singing sea shanties in a haunted dive bar.
Theatrical dark cabaret that pairs biting wit with acoustic gothic folk. It is the sound of a Victorian villain singing sea shanties in a haunted dive bar.
Aurelio Voltaire occupies a unique space where the macabre meets the hilarious. His music feels like a private performance in a dusty, velvet-lined parlor, led by a charismatic rogue who is just as likely to sing about Star Trek as he is about ancient curses. The sound is anchored by his rich, resonant baritone and the organic scrape of acoustic guitars and violins, creating an atmosphere that is spooky yet deeply inviting.
What truly sets him apart is his ability to blend high-concept storytelling with a DIY punk spirit. He treats the gothic subculture with both reverence and a wink, deconstructing tropes through satirical lyrics and vaudevillian arrangements. Whether he is channeling the energy of a steampunk convention or the loneliness of a traditional darkwave artist, there is a consistent thread of theatricality and warmth that makes the darkness feel like home.
Newcomers should start with Almost Human to hear his quintessential blend of gothic folk and dark wit. For those who prefer his more whimsical, fandom-leaning side, BiTrektual offers a perfect entry point into his sci-fi parodies. It is music for people who find beauty in the shadows but refuse to take the gloom too seriously.
Aurelio Voltaire Hernández (born January 25, 1967), 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. He has released 13 studio albums, 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). He has also created songs for the Cartoon Network animated series The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy (2001–2007), and will star as the vampire Duke in The Vampair Series (2026). 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. He also authored the graphic novel Oh My Goth! (2002), 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.
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