Otep

"Following in the footsteps of outspoken musicians from folk singer Woody Guthrie to Rage Against The Machine's Zach de la Rocha, Otep Shamaya has positioned herself as one of music's catalysts for social change." — Revolver Magazine

To truly make a difference, one must be different. From the very start, OTEP were always a band on a mission: to open minds, win hearts and to push music into places that it has never dared step before.

Led by vocalist, lyricist and shamanic figurehead Otep Shamaya, the Los Angeles crew exploded into the consciousness of rock and metal fans worldwide with their debut album Sevas Tra in 2002. With their leader’s scabrous, evocative poetry front and center, OTEP’s hybrid sound immediately stood apart from the crowd while showcasing a liberated artistic philosophy that has driven band and singer breathlessly forward. Incorporating everything from heavy metal and punk rock to experimental electronics and cutting edge hip-hop, OTEP’s sound resonated strongly with a great and ever-expanding number of converts.

Otep Shamaya's music is formed from the poetic marrow of creative intercourse. Art for art's sake. She was signed to Capitol Records in 2002 after only 5 shows, without a demo, and strictly on the power of her live performance. Since then, she has spoken at the Democratic National Convention on behalf of Rock the Vote, nominated by GLAAD for Outstanding Artist Award with Lady Gaga and Adam Lambert, won MTV's prestigious BEST VIDEO for Music with a message award. She has recorded 6 studio albums, 1 EP, and 1 live album, all original music, recorded several spoken word projects, expanded into the world of Voice Over for television, video games (THE LAST OF US), and major motion pictures (THE HOBBIT: The Battle Of The Five Armies), authored 3 books of original poetry, and continues to write and contribute to many other projects.