Bloody Mary is a globally acclaimed force in the electronic music scene, renowned for her muliple talents as a producer, live performer, DJ, and the visionary behind the influential Dame-Music label. With over a decade of experience, she has become synonymous with techno excellence. As a resident of the iconic Tresor Berlin, she has solidified her status as a staple in the global techno community. We’re excited to have her back in our magazine, where she shares insights on her latest release and other exciting developments in her life.
Hello Mary! How are you today? Where are you right now, and what are your plans?
Hello guys! I’m good and thanks for having me back in Keyi Magazine. I’m in Berlin this week, currently packing all the orders from my label for the record shops and customers as my new EP “Alternate States Of Reality” is out today on Dame-Music. I run the vinyl distribution of my label myself, so it’s a lot to take care of.
As a member of the Tresor family with a diverse range of releases, remixes with various artists, and experience in label ownership, what challenges have you faced, and what positive aspects have contributed to your growth?
Ever since the big impact of the arrival of digital music in our industry many years ago, we producers have been facing many problems. The reality is that we get less and less recognition for our work, and ‘labels’ request tracks without offering anything in return, putting pressure on us with short deadlines, for example, only to release tracks on their digital labels with not much effort… I get the feeling that the further we go in time, the less people in general care about the quality.
Without artists producing music, DJs wouldn’t have the tools required to perform on stage. And it’s getting scarier for the future, with the arrival of AI. In my opinion, the solution is to educate the new generation and to place value back on the music and the work of producers.
Also, a big concern for me is the amount of DJ promos which are given away for free these days. I think that us artists should pay a minimum per track to be able to download unreleased music sent by PR agencies. The money should find a way back to the producers. And with the amount of DJs nowadays who need unreleased music for their next live stream, podcast, radio show etc.. I’m sure we can find a way to do things differently. So let’s make a change.
Speaking of your Dame-Music label, what new talents have recently joined the family? And what are your upcoming plans for the label?
After my release this month, the forthcoming Dame-Music 051 is an EP by a new artist on the label called E-bony, which will come out at the end of November. This record has such a fresh sound while keeping the classic electroclash touch which I adore, and I’m always really excited to sign new talents on the label. There’s also a killer remix by The Hacker on this release.. So get ready for these bangers!
Following this in 2025, we will celebrate the 15 Years of Dame-Music! Lots of new music and releases are in the works, I can’t wait! It’s a big project that I’m working on at the moment, so more news and updates about this will follow in the coming months..
In your latest EP, you’ve delivered a blend of emotions, groove, and of course, acid. We just premiered the track Reality One, and there’s a clear synergy between the music and your personality. Can you tell us about the creative process behind it? Was there a specific moment or life experience that inspired the creation of this EP?
I called my EP “Alternate State Of Reality” as I wanted to give a different color to each track while using the same gear for the whole production process. I used a “less is more” approach to see how much I could squeeze out of each piece of gear, and this is what I came up with. Each track is another reality that has its own blend of emotions, and each of them can fit in a different part of the night on the dancefloor.
I wrote, produced and mixed the EP in my studio in Berlin last winter while I was working on my new live set. As usual, the EP was made with hardware only, I used my 909, 303 and my access virus synth for all the tracks, and then processed each channel in Ableton Live after recording. This way, I keep the raw sound from the gear while giving it a modern mixdown.
This EP features other artists as well—can you tell us more about the collaboration process and how it came together?
Last summer, I shared the stage at a festival with Slam and this is how our friendship started. Following this a few months later, I released an electro cut on their label Avoidant.
Regarding my record on Dame-Music, after I’d finished producing the 3 original tracks, I contacted Slam directly as I thought they would be a great addition to the package with a remix. I knew that they would add their own touch to one of my tracks, but at the same time, they would keep the 90’s influence that I bring in my productions. The remix is a dancefloor killer and I’m so proud of the final result and the package as a whole.
You recently toured Asia, and we’re curious to hear about your experiences and impressions of the continent. Did the trip inspire you, and are you maybe considering collaborating with any Asian artists in the future?
Having the opportunity to play on many different continents has always been very inspiring, and I continue to be very grateful for these experiences to this day.
This summer I had the chance to play in South Korea, China and Japan yet again, and it was so beautiful to re-experience these diverse cultures. I also had the chance to stay longer in Tokyo this time and visit some exhibitions and immerse myself more in the local culture. All the cities and countries that I visited have their own charm and I’m looking forward to my next tour in Asia next year.
I’ve collaborated with Japanese and Chinese artists on Dame-Music in the past and I’m always looking for new talents worldwide. Acid lovers, this call is for you!
What does the future look like for Bloody Mary?
I don’t know about the future, I’m living in the present.. I just hope for a better world for everyone.
Thanks for having me x
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