Maria Uzor entered lockdown as one half of revered post-punk dance duo Sink Ya Teeth, and emerged the other side as an electronic solo artist with a renewed sense of purpose.

Always eclectic, Uzor merges elements from electro and trip-hop, or dub and proto-rave, to create a playful and uncompromising sound that nods to the sweaty basement yet has it’s heart in the cosmos.

Now with three self-released EPs under her belt, alongside last year’s full length debut, ‘Soft Cuts’ (released on Castles In Space), she has cemented herself as an intriguing artist with a vision of her own, and is gaining rave reviews and praise from the likes of AMY LAME, JAMZ SUPERNOVA, ELECTRONIC SOUND magazine and THE QUIETUS.

Growing up in Norfolk, from a young age she understood both the feelings of being an outsider, and of existing between dual cultures and identities. Her childhood home was always filled with the sounds of reggae, soca and high-life played by her Bajan mother and grandmother who raised her and her older sister, but teenage nihilism also drew her to the music of The Smiths and Nirvana. And then there was the pull of Bowie and PJ Harvey…

It’s precisely this experience though, of being the outsider, that has allowed Uzor the freedom to be an observer; to draw upon many influences without the need to fully commit to any. Eclecticism is how she makes sense of the world. It’s also how she has chosen to live; without limiting herself she allows her true self to emerge, without judgement, without trying to fit in. The way she moves on stage is testament to this. Why bother trying to fit in when we’re all beautifully individual anyway?

Uzor produces and mixes everything from her studio in her flat in Norwich. Her videos are self-directed and edited. She even taught herself to make clothes so she could construct the outfits that were in her head for the ‘Soft Cuts’ album cover, and the ‘Sometimes They Look At You’ and ‘Mighty Mighty’ videos. She designs all of her artwork too.

Her own releases aside, Uzor has collaborated with NYC funk-rockers CHK CHK CHK, Manchester-based legends A CERTAIN RATIO, ADRIAN FLANAGAN (of THE MOONLANDINGZ and ECCENTRONIC RESEARCH COUNCIL) on his ACID KLAUS project, BABA ALI, and MERA BHAI from FLAMINGODS. She has also provided remixes for ROZI PLAIN, THE UMLAUTS and HELEN GANYA amongst others, has opened for YOUNG FATHERS, BLACK MIDI, BENEFITS and NUHA RUBY RA, and has played festivals around the UK and Europe including THE GREAT ESCAPE, NOX ORAE, GRAUZONE, and SUPERNORMAL.

Maria Uzor’s current single ‘What U Need’ was released in July 2024. She’s currently working on a sophomore album, due for release in early 2025.

- *Maria Uzor gratefully acknowledges support from Norwich Arts Centre, PRS Foundation's 'The Open Fund' and Help Musicians.***