For Eurovision 2015, Armenia’s AMPTV has gone global. Genealogy — its Eurovision 2015 supergroup — consists of six singers from around the world. They may live in America, Ethiopia, Japan and beyond, but they all trace their roots back to Armenia. Mary-Jean O’Doherty, a coloratura soprano, brings operatic flourish and a very powerful set of lungs to the group. Our Georgia correspondent Rezo Mamsikashvili recently caught up with her to talk about her Armenian heritage, the Genealogy song “Face the Shadow” and Australia at Eurovision.
Hello Mary-Jean! Congratulations on being selected to take part in Genealogy. What was your reaction when AMPTV approached you?
I was thrilled and honoured to be selected as part of Armenia’s Genealogy. Coming to Armenia and learning about my heritage is w
hat appealed to me most.
Could you tell us a bit about your song ”Face the Shadow”?
“Face the Shadow” is all about our greater Armenian family and the heritage we all share. For me “Face the Shadow” has a universal message of love and forgiveness.
Your style of music is different from that of the other five in the group. Does this help the group?
Each of us in Genealogy has our own individual style and this is one of the strengths of our group. I think our composer Armen Martirosyan did an amazing job showcasing our unique talents.
In 2007 you won the ‘ABC Symphony Australia Young Performers Award’. It’s a huge honour. What was your reaction to the news?
This was one of the awards I won as a finalist of the Australian Singing Competition’s Mathy Award. As a finalist of the Australian Singing Competition, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to perform with the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra conducted by Maestro Richard Bonynge — such a huge honour.
What was your re
action when it was announced that Australia would participate in the Eurovision Song Contest?
I was so excited when I heard that Australia would be taking part in Eurovision and so chuffed that Guy Sebastian would be singing!
If Australia were in Eurovision again, would you like to compete for them?
I think singing in Eurovision is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
What does Eurovision mean for you?
Without Eurovision, I never would have had the opportunity to work with Armen Martirosyan, Inna Mkrtchyan and the talented international artists of Genealogy. I have not had the chance to sing with pop artists before – this is a great opportunity for me. Also, Eurovision has taken me on a journey of learning about my Armenian heritage.
You have already listened to the other songs of ESC 2015. Do you have any favourites?
This year has a lot of great songs. I’m liking Cyprus, Georgia, Iceland, France, Russia, Israel and of course Australia!
Do you have a special message for your fans and followers on wiwibloggs?
Thank you for your love and support!
Thank YOU Mary. And good luck in Vienna!
She’s incredibly talented, no question about that. But I think that her vocals sound weird in a pop song, and doesn’t mix that well with the other pop singers’ weaker voices. But still curious to see what they will deliver live.
Mary Jean is INCREDIBLE. I hope her vocals are showcased really well on-stage because I feel like they didn’t give her enough of a part in the music video…
Mary Jean have pawerful voice.Goooo ARMENIA
This girl has some powerful set of lungs.
I really like Mary Jean’s voice… She is one of my most favorites petals
of the armenian Geneaology flower along with Essai <3
( p.s. ~ by the way,since she is singer of the opera music genre….
In the tragedy with the plane that fell in France yesterday…2 of the lost victims were actually famous singers of opera…One of these was even Austrian and more tragically this lady was travelling with her husband and her baby on board…Just so heartbreaking.. )
And I love that she’s competing and not judging cuz her list of favorites this year is just blah!
i assume she is also half Irish descent judging from her name ..