CR 021: Jocelyn Mackenzie Explores Creativity in its Many Forms

The prolific musician, artist, and psychic medium discusses her songwriting process, her views of the afterlife, and her new musical, “RUTKA.”

Jocelyn Mackenzie, photo by Ester Segretto

It’s difficult to encapsulate all that Jocelyn Mackenzie has accomplished in just a few sentences. The Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary artist is constantly creating, leading to an ever-expanding list of achievements. A few highlights: Her former band, the folk-pop trio Pearl and the Beard, released six albums and had their work featured in various film and TV projects. Her debut solo EP, Unlovely, was referred to by Consequence of Sound as “a perfect slice of indie pop.” Iconic singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco included Mackenzie’s debut full-length solo album, PUSH, on a list of her favorite albums. She has written and performed music for ads by Citi and Rothy’s. As a fiber artist, she’s created knit and crochet commissions for the Jim Henson Company, the Tom Hanks film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, and numerous fashion brands. She is the founder of the Push Collective, a community of female and non-binary identifying musicians. And if t…