Electro pop duo MOTHERMARY see echoes of their artistry in A24’s film ‘Mother Mary’

While it is often common that art imitates life, A24's newest film adaptation of the concealed reality of being one of the world's biggest pop stars might have taken the word imitation way too literally.

The film

Directed by David Lowery, Mother Mary is a visceral and otherworldly psychodrama that explores the reality of fame, creativity, and the complicated relationship artists and the muses forge. The film follows Mother Mary, a world-renowned pop star played by none other than the amazing Anne Hathaway as she navigates her position in the spotlight while trying to rebuild bridges that had been burned long ago, sacrificed to the abyss for a taste of fame.

In true A24 fashion, the film goes way beyond just the surface level, wanting audiences to feel that Mother Mary, although fictional, is a real pop star who exists today, immersing them in the overall narrative of the plot. The film brands Mother Mary with her surreal and ethereal presence, as night after night fans worship her in hordes, as she commands the spotlight with ease.

Much like a real artist, Mother Mary's seven-track album Mother Mary: Greatest Hits was uploaded on Anne Hathaway's official Spotify profile on 17 April on the film's release date. Produced by musical heavyweights like Jack Antonoff, Charli xcx, and FKA twigs, the songs had an almost dreamlike quality to them, oozing with heavy electropop sensibilities. While Mother Mary has been said to draw inspiration from Taylor Swift, the persona bears a striking resemblance to the identity and artistry shared by the twin duo MOTHERMARY.

The duo

MOTHERMARY have been creating music under that name since they debuted with their track 'Barbie Girl' in 2019. Upon seeing the uncanny resemblance between the name of the film, its heavy correlation in terms of the protagonist's visual styling and the jarring similarities in the style of music, the sibling duo released a statement on social media in the form of a reel, calling out those behind the soundtrack, the filmmakers, and the production house.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by MOTHERMARY (@mothermarymusic)

The firm but lighthearted video was a way for MOTHERMARY to set the record straight as it is true that they were the original version.

They clarify the situation in the caption which states:

David Lowery says the “fake” pop star in MOTHER MARY was inspired by @taylorswift - can someone tell me what about this movie looks or sounds like Taylor Swift?

But it must be said - @charli_xcx and @fkatwigs we are huge fans. You are both so incredible and talented. We know yall are not responsible for what’s happening but we believe both of you would empathize with how it would feel.

For people who haven’t heard about the Mother Mary A24 controversy. We have been making indie music under the name MOTHERMARY since 2016. Signed to Italians Do It Better Label in 2020 famous for the Drive soundtrack.

We don’t claim ownership over the name “Mother Mary” by itself but we do have claim to that name associated with a musical group who makes electropop music and sells music, merch, and vinyl using that name. That’s called a trademark.

For those who are unfamiliar with trademark law. You must do due diligence before naming your product by first making sure it’s not so similar to someone else in the marketplace that it will harm the originator.

There is no way a billion-dollar company making a multimillion-dollar movie never googled MOTHERMARY MUSIC. They have a responsibility to do so. It’s not hard. Check it. We come up first. It shows a complete disregard for indie artists.

If this movie was called Madonna and was about a fake pop star do you think @madonna would just roll over and take it?

At the end of the day, it all boils down to artistic integrity, especially when basing a character off of an existing artist's brand without giving the necessary credit where credit is due.

The plot thickens even further as A24 has also begun selling merchandise relating to the film including a now sold-out tour tee and a vinyl pressing of the album Mother Mary: Greatest Hits.

The issue

As A24 is yet to issue a formal statement on the whole ordeal, fans of the duo have rushed to their support echoing their sentiment about the situation. MOTHERMARY state in their video that they bear no ill will and choose to see this as a high form of flattery instead. However, this issue brings up a new concern about the lack of regard for major industry players when it comes to spotlighting indie voices.

While they expect no monetary compensation, crediting indie artists for their talents or for inspiring a new piece of art is the least that the team behind the film and soundtrack could have done. Overshadowing an artist simply because their monthly listeners or artistic reach may not be as wide as a mainstream artist is inexcusable in 2026.

As conversations surrounding Mother Mary continue to unfold online, the situation shines a spotlight on the importance of originality and giving proper recognition to independent creators within the entertainment industry. While MOTHERMARY may have approached the matter with humour and grace, the controversy has sparked a wider discussion about how easily indie voices can be overlooked when larger industry players enter the picture.