Mary Ocher, an avant-pop musician born in Russia and raised in Israel, has released a new album titled Weimar, drawing parallels between the cultural flourishing of pre-Nazi Germany and the current political climate. Speaking about her move to Berlin 19 years ago, Ocher noted that it initially felt like a revival of the Weimar period, but she now sees a troubling shift. 'Now in Germany, they try to deport EU citizens who participated in pro-Palestine protests. From where I am, it’s pretty scary,' she said.
Ocher, who refused to serve in the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and emigrated to Germany in 2007, has always integrated political themes into her music. Growing up in Tel Aviv, she was appalled by the intense nationalism around her. 'There was no accountability, no possibility to change anything,' she recalled. Her early band, Mary and the Baby Cheeses, blended acoustic instruments with theremin and household objects, immersing themselves in Berlin's experimental scene.
Her solo debut, War Songs, was released in 2011, and she has since produced seven studio albums accompanied by deeply researched essays. Her 2023 EP Power and Exclusion from Power explored post-Soviet inequality, while Approaching Singularity: Music for the End of Time considered post-humanism. Ocher's father once told her she would never play the piano, but Weimar is built around the instrument, featuring stark tracks like 'The Dance' and 'The Narrative'.
The album's AI-generated video, made by Paradox Paul, reflects Ocher's nuanced view of technology. 'I don’t use AI to make my own art... but I think it would be very irresponsible to say never use this technology,' she said. In the accompanying essay, Ocher discusses her 'moral duty' to address politics, particularly Israeli nationalism, despite criticism. 'Very often the German press will say, “Be quiet and make your music.” It’s very condescending,' she added.
