The six-piece world music group MZAZA is about to touch down in New South Wales as part of its national tour of The Birth and Death of Stars, a program combining mythology and astronomy into an atmospheric blend of music and theatre.

Originally premiered at the Brisbane Festival in 2020, The Birth and Death of Stars is a creative collaboration between MZAZA’s French-Sephardic founding vocalist Pauline Maudy, director Benjamin Knapton, Finnish animator Laura Matikainen and designer Alison Ross.

A stage adaptation of the group’s album of the same name, the work threads together the group’s original works inspired by astronomers and philosophers throughout history.

MZAZA. Photo supplied

Ahead of a tour across NSW, Victoria and Queensland, Maudy speaks to Limelight about the inception of the band, developing The Birth and Death of Stars and exploring the human condition through music.

What is the story behind the formation of MZAZA?

Maudy: I started singing in Brisbane as someone who would just hop up and improvise with established musicians. When it got me my first festival gig offer in 2004, I had to put together a band. I wanted to find people who could play music inspired...