Mary Kelley
San Francisco singer-songwriter Mary Kelley writes music with a unique melodic sensibility and a resonant poetic voice. Mark met Mary in New York in 1989, and within a few weeks they were touring together as an acoustic duo in the U.K. opening for the Irish band Clannad. Mark lost touch with Mary after leaving New York, but when he moved to the Bay Area they reconnected. Their first project was the CD Harrogate (2007), salvaged from the tapes of their U.K. tour. They have since completed enough material to complete both an LP and a topical 3-song EP on climate change. Both records are scheduled for release this year on Zen Jam.
ZJ-002
ONE FOUR FIVE
Scheduled for digital-only release on May 4, 2026.
Former guitarist, singer and songwriter for The Contractions, Mary Kelley, returns with a studio album years in the making. Her songs are melodic, but with a driving intensity that carries forth her thoughtful, expressive poetry. In every track her voice is clear and dynamic, in stark contrast to the harder, faster, "eat-your-mike" days of the punk clubs. Kelley continued to perform solo after The Contractions, but she missed the collaboration and instrumentation that a group could provide. Previous recordings include her EP Greetings 5: Mary Kelley and her live album Harrogate, recorded in England with guitarist and producer Mark Abramson.
Track Listing Side A
Praying Hands
Sylvia Said
Here I Am
The First Time
Track Listing Side B
John Donne’s Song
Deep Sleep
I Wonder Why
War Is Over
Bonus Tracks (digital only)
The First Time(demo)
Vampire Song (live)
I Wonder Why (unedited)
Credits
All songs written by Mary Kelley, except “I Wonder Why,” by Mary Kelley and Mark Abramson, and “Sylvia Said,” by John Cale. Arrangements by Dave Lebolt. Produced by Mark Abramson
ZJ-003
AT THE END OF THE WORLD
Scheduled for digital-only release on July 9, 2026.
Mary Kelley’s At the End of the World is a collection of three songs inspired by climate change; a plea for help, a revenge fantasy, and a song of resignation and benevolence. "Gaia" is a tragedy. When Mary wrote it, she believed we needed to save our planet, to rescue it. "She weeps, she wails, her balance gone” Spoiler: There's nothing we can do. Don’t be a schmuck, try anyway. "At the End of the World" is a scene of chaos and revenge. A nod to Von Trier's Melancholia (2011) and a bow to Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights (c. 1500). Finally, an "Epilogue." From the Golden Age, past the Ancient; hand in hand, “Let's away.” The song is a play on Nebuchadnezzar's Dream, which is often attributed to Dante’s Inferno, Canto XIV. Dante's description was prettier. The Old Man of Crete, a Colossus, head to toe, gold to clay, that's us. Clay. Incapable of bearing its own weight. Wait! There's more! No, there isn't.
Track Listing
Gaia
At the End of the World
Epilogue
Credits
All songs written by Mary Kelley. Produced by Mark Abramson
Photos
Videos
The Contractions – Sturm und Drang
Chillhouse Media posted this video of Mary’s SF-based band The Contractions playing in 1989. The band consists of Mary Kelley on guitar and vocals, Debbie Hopkins on drums and vocals, and Kathy Peck on bass and vocals. This was shot only a few months before Mary and Mark met in New York.
Mary Kelley – I Wonder Why
This video from local producers Ear Candle documents the 2007 recording of the guitar and lead vocals for “I Wonder Why.” At the end of the video of the song, there are two edits of a long stretch of stage banter from Mary, while Mark struggled to get a guitar amp to work during a performance at San Francisco’s Undisclosed Location.