ABOUT HOUSE OF ZOLO
House of Zolo (HOZ) is an independent artist collective founded in 2019 in Toronto, Canada. House of Zolo was built by a small group of writers, performers, and editors who wanted to create more space and visibility for artists exploring speculative ideas and themes, particularly those working in the realms of literature, performance, and emerging technology. Emphasizing innovative storytelling, House of Zolo produces a diverse range of creative projects, including literary works, live performances, and Virtual Reality (VR) experiences.
House of Zolo is dedicated to promoting bold, forward-thinking ideas that explore possibilities of the future, and that push the boundaries of conventional artistic expression. The collective has gained recognition for producing high quality literary works, for transforming stories and poetry into immersive VR spaces, and for creating unique experiences that allow audiences to engage with original narratives in new and interactive ways. The collective is committed to offering fresh perspectives and provocative ideas that re-imagine the world and our place in it.
HOZ CREATIVE LEADS
ERIKA STEEVES
Erika Steeves (she/her) is a founding member of the House of Zolo. Erika’s work as a creative lead with the House of Zolo includes working in both traditional and emerging mediums—working with great fiction and creating artworks while embracing the dynamic possibilities of virtual spaces and online environments.
Erika is the founder of E.S. Editing, where she has worked as a professional book editor for over a decade. She has copy edited and proofread hundreds of projects for both traditional and independent authors and publishers in Canada and beyond. Her work spans academic publishing, nonfiction and thought leadership, and most recently, speculative fiction, with a special interest in short stories, novellas, and anthologies.
As Lead Editor of the Journal of Speculative Literature, she successfully oversaw the publication of four anthologies for House of Zolo. The highly praised and Amazon-bestselling Journal showcases a rich blend of poetry and short stories from some of the most talented writers in the world.
Erika worked as Co-Lead on VR Forward, contributing concept developmental and adaptation of poetry to VR installation spaces (produced by BBMC and House of Zolo). She is also an emerging mixed media artist exploring collage and blackout poetry.
JE SOLO
JE (Liz) Solo (she/her/they/them) is an acclaimed writer, multi-disciplinary performance and media artist, and musician, recognized for their pioneering work in music, machinima, hybrid-reality, the live stage, and networked performance art.
Based in Toronto, via the East Coast, JE’s practice merges traditional forms like theatre and writing with cutting-edge technologies like virtual reality and game environments. JE’s work defies convention, merging elements in ways that challenge both medium and message. Their work explores themes of identity, feminism, alienation, and nature, and they remain a vital voice in contemporary Canadian culture.
JE’s practice is deeply rooted in the merging of technology with storytelling. Through a multi-faceted lens, they explore the human condition and our evolving relationship with the digital landscape as well as with the natural world. Whether writing about near-future realities, composing for their musical ensembles, or creating performances for hybrid-reality stages, JE’s work connects people across mediums, platforms, and spaces.
JE has fronted and co-fronted numerous bands, (Lizband, The Sauce, The Black Bags, TrixXxie, Tallulah and The Man), and is also the author of the novel Phreak (2020) and the short story collection Nature, Human (2023), which are infused with their unique perspective as a queer, feminist, and environmentally conscious creator. Above all, JE Solo’s work speaks to the resilience and diversity of human experience, pushing boundaries while remaining true to their core values of inclusivity and justice.
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