Having released her debut commercial album with ABC Classics, Alesa Lajana is a guitarist, singer & composer of remarkable talent. She blends intricate guitar skills with soaring vocals, enchanting audiences with her original world music inspired compositions & the traditional music of Scotland & Ireland.  She has performed both in Germany and at many festivals around Australia including the Woodford, National, Yungaburra and Port Fairy Folk Festivals. Alesa has composed music for short films such as “Aeroplane Dreaming” directed by Tristan Pemberton, and has appeared in concerts with Scottish guitar virtuoso Tony McManus, Jeff Lang and ABC Radio National Presenter Lucky Oceans to name but a few.

 Alesa grew up in Southern Queensland Australia and from an early age, she showed promise in Visual Art, Dance and Music. At 16 she took up guitar, inspired by some of the outstanding performers she had witnessed at Folk Music Festivals in Australia.  She later went on to study classical guitar with Antony Field at the Victorian College of Art.

 Alesa has been influenced by a wide range of musical genres, ranging from Bob Dylan to Augustin Barrios. Her enthusiasm for music was sparked after listening to folk artists such as Bela Fleck, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lang, Lunasa, Tony McManus and Ani Difranco. This led her to explore the traditional music of Scotland, Ireland, Eastern Europe and Spain, as well as Jazz and Bluegrass. She has a deep love of both Western and Indian Classical music. Her greatest inspirations to date are artists such as John McLaughlin, L. Shankar, Dusan Bogdanovich, John Coltrane, Mark O’Conner, Edgar Meyer and Yo Yo Ma. Today, Alesa enjoys playing in a wide range of concert scenarios both in Australia and overseas.  She works extensively in the arts industry not just as a performing artist, but is also the manager of the infamous Shenzo’s Electric Stunt Orchestra, as well as performing with violin virtuoso Shenton Gregory.

“Tabla! Lap Steel! It's the soundtrack to your next session of transcendental meditation. Sounds superb.”  - Dom Alessio, triple j

“Alesa Lajana hits all the right notes on Celtic Gypsy. Economic arrangements, unusual musical choices and virtuosic play make this a real keeper. Be prepared to give Celtic Gypsy your full attention. It demands it.” Wildy’s World

"A remarkable talent and a delightful voice"  - SBS Worldview

"She plays with authority, musicality, and also an unrushed quality that usually takes players years to come by - maturity in other words. She's one very impressive musician, and I look greatly forward to hearing more from her through what will doubtless be a long and successful career."  - Jeff Lang

“She creates a complex and textured piece of music with her intricate finger style. “  - www.duggup.com

"Alesa has managed to absorb and respond to various influences and turn them into something truly original and creative. Her playing of celtic music on dobro, for example, is unique. It's great to see creativity drive technique into new areas - and this is at the heart of Alesa's playing." – Tony McManus