Oceana Mahlmann (born 23 January 1982 in Wedel, near Hamburg) is a German singer, dancer, actress and choreographer of mixed German and Afro-Martiniquais descent. Her music weaves soul, reggae, hip-hop, funk and dance-pop into a sound that is both deeply personal and universally infectious. Her given name "Oceana" was inspired by her lifelong love of the sea.
Raised by her mother — a German haute couture fashion designer — and her father, a DJ from Martinique, Oceana grew up surrounded by creativity and music. As a child she performed on stage alongside funk legend Maceo Parker, a close family friend. In her teens she became a professional dancer and choreographer, performing the lead role of Aida in the Elton John and Tim Rice musical, as well as serving as vocal soloist in the stage production of Dirty Dancing. In 2006 she worked as choreographer for the acclaimed German band Seeed.
Her solo career launched in earnest in 2008 when she signed to Warner. Her debut album Love Supply (2009) spawned the breakout single "Cry Cry", which topped the charts in Poland and Hungary and became a major hit across Eastern Europe. Her second album My House (2012) brought her global recognition when the lead single "Endless Summer" was chosen as the official anthem of UEFA Euro 2012 — one of the most-watched sporting events in Europe, held in Poland and Ukraine. The track accumulated over 124 million views on YouTube. She has also released albums and singles on Ministry of Sound and Embassy of Music, and has supported Lionel Richie on tour.
Beyond music, Oceana has appeared on Polish Dancing with the Stars (2010), hosted the ARTE Lounge TV show on the pan-European Arte channel, and maintained a devoted fanbase across Europe and beyond. She remains one of the most distinctive voices to emerge from the German music scene.
