History:
Born in 1979 in the East German town of Halle (Saale), Germany, Conny Ochs was playing guitar by age ten, and while still in high school, at age 15 began his musical journey as singer/guitar player for Halle based band In June, and later, until 2005 found himself a member of metal band Zombie Joe, with whom he released two full length CD's and various singles and e.p.'s. He encountered the music of Woody Guthrie, which had a profound effect on his musical direction and resulted in the orchestration of the off-shoot tribute project under the name: Z- Joe and the Dustbowlers, which was Zombie Joe's pop-metal take on the works of Woody Guthrie. The album: "A Woody Zombie Hootenany" (Safety Records, 2003), featured the band's original music, incorporating Guthrie's lyrics.(Later, the song "Grassy Grass Grass" from the album would be used for a video under the band name "The Baby Universal.")
During a trip across the United States, Conny found inspiration for the song "Boys And Girls" as well as the concept of a whole new band, one who Ochs has been performing/writing for, along with the other members of Zombie Joe who, in 2006 morphed into what today is Baby Universal.
Having also discovered artists like Townes Van Sant, and Chris Whitely (who Conny has referred to as "my hero"), who can both be cited as major influences to him. Conny has been writing and performing as a solo artist as well since 2008, the same year that saw Baby Universal's self released debut: "Ahoi, Dark Beauty."
By 2010,he had completed tours as a solo artist with the likes of Dead Western, Wino, and Darsombra.
By 2011, Conny had struck up a partnership with Wino (Obsessed/St. Vitus/Spirit Caravan), who he had met while the icon was on tour in Europe. Impressed by Ochs' work, the two began performing as a duo. 2011 would prove to be a breakthrough year for Conny Ochs, which saw the release of his first solo album: "Raw Love Songs" (first self released in 2010, and later re-issued in 2011 on Exile on Mainstream), Baby Universal's full length "Live" album (Kabumm), and two albums with Wino. The first, "Labour of Love" was released as part of the "Latitudes" series on the label of the same name and found the duo covering Chris Whitely, Joy Division, CSNY, and Townes Van Sant. Followed by "Heavy Kingdom" for Exile on Mainstream (EOM56), which resulted in tours of Europe as well as the U.S. by the duo in 2012.
In 2013 he participated in collaborations with Small Jackets, Alice Tambourine Lover (including a guest vocal on "Gypsy Mind" from their "Star Rovers" album), Lou Silvers, and Cor's singer Friedemann (offering vocals on "Vogel", from Friedemann's debut solo album "Uhr vs. Zeit"), released his second solo effort "Black Happy", which was met with critical acclaim, and BBU's third release "Slow Shelter" practically back to back (BOTH released in March of that year). This series of releases was followed by extensive touring, including European legs with Kristian Harding, and Cor's Friedemann (both touring for solo releases as well).
In 2014 BBU toured Japan, and Conny released "Suiciety", a 7" single, which was pressed for even more touring in support of "Black Happy." In 2015, he and Wino re-teamed for the release of their third album:"Freedom Conspiracy." Followed in 2016 by his third solo album (with producer Thommy Krawallow): "Future Fables", on which the arrangements incorporated the use of piano, drums, organ, bass, and electric guitar. Conny set about on two tours supporting it, which has kept him on the road throughout 2016. Later that year, the Art Exhibition "Orakel Rhobau" ran from November 2-28 at Coq d'Or in Olten/Switzerland. He also provided guest vocals on the Titus track "325 AD", and would continue touring for "Future Fables" with a string of Italian dates in the spring and summer of 2017. Bands: Days Of Grace, Cor, and Tricky Lobsters have seen new cover art by Conny on their latest releases.
2017-18 saw artworks for albums by Sicker Man, Friedmann, Mayhem With Mercy, Akkitiation, Kahler, Lorem Ipsardi, Cor, and others.
A new solo album is ready to drop February 2019, as well as an album with the band Ananda Mida due for release in January. Conny will also be playing drums on a project from Italy called SLEGO.
(includes material from Allmusic's Thom Jurek)
For shits & giggles only. No official representation is implied.
***This page is in no way run by or maintained by Conny Ochs, Baby Universal, or any related entities. Please refer to the "Links" section for contacts with any official representation,***
No comments:
Post a Comment