Get ready to hear some great music on Saturday, October 28, at the Herland Fall Retreat at Lake Eufaula (more details in next month’s Voice).
THIS IS MUSIC OUR WAY!! This is a new, same gender loving music for those tired of living in a “STRAIGHT JACKET”. Grab ya girl, go meet a girl, and get ready for some GIRL to GIRL love for the lesbian in you.
Ochi is a proud but often bored transplant residing in Colorado. She moved to Colorado at the age of 10 with her family when they relocated from Chicago to start a church in 1970. For Ochi growing up in the church meant more than just religious teaching. In fact because she was in the ministerial family she had to work in all areas of the church. The bottom line, a church is a business where she learned about accounting, business management, volunteer recruitment, dedication, sacrifice, entrepreneurship, advertising & marketing, community service, and entertainment. Each valuable lesson has served her well. Ochi left the church but not the lessons and skills she acquired along the way.
Ochi is an activist and trailblazer from the crown of her head to the soles of her feet. She briefly served on the board for NCBLG and the Gay and Lesbian Center of Colorado. Over the years she has begun several community organizations and clubs in Denver. Her goal has been to aid struggling businesses of color that were unable to access the needed financing that would create a more professional and marketable establishment. During the 80’s she also began a youth program that matched at risk youth with seniors in need of a helping hand. She has worked on several community programs dedicated to cleaning up distressed areas making a cleaner, safer environment for the elderly and youth. Since 1998, Ochi has been known throughout Denver and surrounding areas as a teacher, drummer, guardian of culture/history, and an “A #1″ volunteer. From cleaning carpets and painting at a shelter for battered women to rescuing injured animal and feeding the homeless, Ochi is there.
Her latest passion has been to create music her children can enjoy. “Let’s face it, music has gone downhill and that’s not just an opinion, it’s a fact. Lyrical crime is at an all time high. Wimmin are degraded, humiliated, and gang raped to a catchy beat. Those whose only interest is turning a profit assault our ears and subconscious on a daily basis. WHERE IS THE LOVE, PEOPLE!??!” Ochi has launched her very own, one woman campaign called, “TAKE BACK THE MUSIC!” Using humor, relevant topics and good music she hopes to spread her message of love, harmony, and peace. She is working to prove that profanity, vulgarity, homophobia and sexism aren’t necessary for music sales. Hold on to your bonnet. Her lyrics are sexy, even steamy but never vulgar. They are humorous but never obscene. Her wit is clever but never lame.
Ochi’s production company, Gatekeeper Productions, was borne out of frustration over limited access to the music industry. Formulated to meet the needs of same gender loving artist who refused to conform to be heard, Gatekeeper specializes in non-offensive, sexy music that reaffirms supports and validates wimmin who love wimmin. Its goal is to encourage, entertain, and enlighten all people and especially same gender loving people through music.
Ochi has shared in joyous performances with Irepo Afrikan Dancers & Drummers, Baba Joda, the Watoto Afrikan Dancers & Drummers, Carmelia Van Horn, Carmen Toure’, Moyo Nguvo, Jambalaya, Afia Walking Tree and many more. She has collaborated with: Heritage Dancers, Denver School of the Arts, the African American Leadership Institute, the Institute of Global Scholarship, the Denver Kwanzaa Committee, the Denver Black Arts Festival, Take Back the Night, the Denver Pan African Film Festival, and so many wonderful others.
The popular OKC band, IRIS, will perform their first acoustic concert ever at Herland’s Spring Retreat. Many of you know IRIS as a rockin’, hoppin’, high-energy band. They promise to still play lots of crowd-pleasing favorites—just at a few decibels lower than we normally hear them! 
