Ocelot are an alternative pop-rock band from Helsinki, Finland. The band draws inspiration from classic 60’s and 70’s pop rock and mixes it with the member’s own personal musical sensibilities. In the spring of 2019 Ocelot released their first EP called Mä voin ottaa sun ikävän pois (Soliti). Their second EP Unelmoi (Soliti) was released in February 2021. Their debut album Auringon puutarha (Soliti) arrived in November 2022.
Ocelot announce their second full length album release, Siskoni on noita – which arrives via Soliti on the 20th September 2024. Siskoni on noita (My sister is a witch) further enhances Ocelot’s unique worldview and minimalist sound textures but with a newfound confidence, a stronger sense of rhythm and melodicism. All this is achieved without ever sacrificing the essence of Ocelot’s inner postmodern aesthetic.
“Siskoni on noita is a collage of characters, looks and self-portraits. A world where visitors, travellers, princes, witches, exes, thieves in the night, forgotten first loves, estranged siblings, tourists and unknown bodies flow through memories, songs and dreams.
It is an embracing of the strange and an acceptance of the ordinary.
The rejection and shaping of other people’s gaze.
It is a whirlpool of stories of perpetual instability, uncertainty and love between people.
It is a mirror with a face looking back.”
Selected Press
“They have a late night lying on your bed feeling the summer breeze gently caressing your radio dial type of vibe about them. They have this pop malarkey well sussed no doubt about it; soulful melodious and beautiful.” Monolith Cocktail
”Unelmoi EP proves Ocelot to be a skilled and unique band. Its home-grown but visionary interpretation of the California softrock sound is reminiscent of contemporary American names like Whitney and Drugdealer” Kulttuuritoimitus
“Unelmoi is an imaginative journey into a summer landscape painting, within which there is time to dream.” Voima
“Meet Finland’s Polite Pop Experimentalists” a new interview via Minnis2Society
“Ocelot make wonderfully whimsical and strangely challenging pop music” Päivän Biisit
“…the release is a less than 20-minute dose of emotional roller coaster, bright pop and juicy curvy rhythm lines” Desibeli
Unelmoi EP featured via Niche Music‘s Discovery feature
“To put it bluntly, Ocelot are different. For some people the gap between normality and what they write is too big to bridge. For others it presents a challenge to be relished. I’m quite happy to count myself in the latter category.” Nordic Music Review
“Finnish outfit bring the same bright tones as Eels to this fresh and upbeat new offering” Mystic Sons
“I love the stand-up piano intro, the lala la las, the high pitched vocals and the delicious melody. It all builds to an fantastic climax and then…it’s gone!” SWIT
“The most interesting Finnish band of 2020 – Ocelot release a new ep” Rumba
