- Home
- Bio
-
Essays
- Approaching Singularity Essay
- Power and Exclusion from Power essay
- The West Against The People essay
BIO
Born in the wake of George Orwell's dystopian masterpiece, 1984, in the capital of the world's largest country, upon which the novel was modelled, Mary Ocher emerges as a powerhouse artist of Jewish/Ukrainian heritage. At the tender age of 4, fate brought her to Tel Aviv during the turbulent Gulf War, where she absorbed the raw currents of xenophobia and nationalism, leaving a distinct mark on her creative output – a persistent pursuit of challenging authority and deconstructing the myth of nationhood.
At the age of 20, Mary commenced a transformative odyssey in the adopted city of Berlin, a city known for its cultural crucible and its welcoming of outsiders from all walks of life.
Shortly after she embarked on a whirlwind global tour, gracing stages in 40 countries, leaving audiences spellbound with her genre-defying soundscapes. Collaborating with luminaries like H.J. Irmler of Krautrock pioneers Faust, Canadian psych-guru King Khan, avant garde-legends Die Tödliche Doris, Julia Kent and Felix Kubin, Barry Burns (Mogwai), Red Axes, composer Roberto Cacciapaglia, Chicks on Speed and more, Mary's sonic universe knows no bounds.
With a repertoire ranging from traditional folk to raw '60s garage, from ambient soundscapes with ethereal vocals to experimental pop infused with African and South American rhythms, Mary Ocher orchestrates a sonic tapestry like no other.
Over the past decade, she's unleashed five studio albums on six labels, along with a double anthology of raw home recordings, two captivating EPs, and two spellbinding collections of remixes. Each new release is a testament to her fearless exploration of musical frontiers.
But Mary Ocher is more than just a sonic explorer; she's a force of nature in a world grappling with authoritarianism, future technology, and politics. Her relentless dedication to creating passionate, uncompromising art serves as a rallying cry for those who yearn to push against the current, challenging the status quo with every note and lyric.
In the face of a global pandemic, Mary's artistic spirit remained indomitable. She was personally invited by the visionary Animal Collective to grace the stage at the esteemed Le Guess Who? Festival.
Amidst it all, she released an autobiographical comic book, a Ukraine charity EP dedicated to rebuilding shattered homes, curated a three-day festival, and compiled an album in support of girls' education in Afghanistan featuring artists Gudrun Gut, Xiu Xiu, Ana da Silva and others.
As we step into the future, Mary Ocher stands at the forefront of a sonic revolution, with three exhilarating releases poised to redefine the musical landscape in 2023-2024.
Her work remains as enchanting as it is polarizing, sparking conversations on authority, identity, and conflict. In a world yearning for change, Mary Ocher is the artist we've been waiting for – a fearless trailblazer in sound, a fierce challenger of authority, and an unapologetic visionary pushing the boundaries of music and meaning.
Image by Boris Eldagsen