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From DallasVoice.com Music Lesbian metal maiden Otep Shamaya injects hard rock with esoteric angst
Thanks to queer Nu Metal screamer Otep Shamaya, however, that's changing. As the leader of her eponymously named band Otep, Shamaya has brought intellect to the forefront of her sinister compositions. At first blush, her lyrical references sexual abuse, violence and suicide are typical for the genre. However, obscure references to voodoo curses, ancient mysticism and biblical passages in the old Latin are rather unorthodox. In interviews, Shamaya proves even more literary-minded, drawing from influences as diverse as Sappho, Sun Tzu and Baudelaire. First formed in Los Angeles in 2000, the band quickly earned serious attention. In 2001, Sharon Osboure caught a gig by the unsigned foursome at a local club and asked them to play Ozzfest. A label deal soon followed. And with that came two full-length albums and legions of devoted fans. Earlier this year, the band paired with Eventful.com to create the fan-generated national tour a first in the Internet-music biz. As Otep readied to treat Dallas audiences to the show they demanded on their so-called Ascension tour, we tapped Otep for a brief e-mail chat touching shamanism, interactions with queer fans and the possibility of joining her own private fight club. In other words, typical Otep. You're a gay woman in a field dominated by straight guys. Has your sexuality ever led to problems or resistance? Not really. Everyone occasionally faces some level of ignorance or bigotry, but the fact that I'm Sapphic is rarely an issue. Who are some vocalists that made you decide you wanted to be a singer? Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison, Fiona Apple, PJ Harvey. Otep have become legendary for their blistering live shows. What do you bring to performances that other bands don't? I believe the primary function of art is to provoke. I really enjoy artists that feed you truth. Artists like [French playwright] Antonin Artaud believed it wasn't enough for the audiences to be passive observers that it was just as important for the performer to give them an experience. I also see our performances as tributes to the earliest tribal rituals. In ancient times, a shaman or a witch would explore the worlds of the unseen in order to find the answers to heal the tribe. These were the first astronauts, the first explorers seeking the answers in the inner universe. What's the feedback from your queer fans been like? Most thank me for being courageous enough to admit openly that I'm sapphic. Some thank me for giving them courage to come out. Others report how they've been shunned. And some tell me about the violence they've encountered. Living in Los Angeles I sometimes forget how difficult it can be for us in other parts of the country. That's why it's so important for our community to take care of each other. If not us, then who? What was the first concert you attended? Lollapalooza. Aside from being a singer, you've also performed on HBO's "Def Poetry" series. In your future, is there a possibility of a spoken word tour, a la Henry Rollins? I hope so. I just self-published a book of poetry called "Caught Screaming." A poetry tour would be a dream come true. Do you see your band as having a mission? Our mission is to inspire. If we have done that, we're succeeding. Name some artists you enjoy that might surprise Otep fans. Portishead, Mars Volta, Mazzy Starr, Mobb Deep, Alicia Keys, The White Stripes, The Velvet Underground. Marilyn Manson once said of you, "That girl scares me." What scares you? Not being creative. You're a singer, a poet, a painter and an illustrator. What non-artistic talents can you boast? Anything physical. I run three miles a day when I'm home. I love to work out. I love to compete. I used to box a little and I thought very seriously of doing that professionally. Ultimately, I just enjoy challenging myself in any endeavor whether studying quantum physics, reading about the Stoics, or entering a private fight club. I want to fail as much as I succeed so that I can evolve.
Otep plays Curtain Club, 2800 Main Street. Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. $10 advance, $12 day of show. 214-742-2336. This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition, October 20, 2006. © Copyright by DallasVoice.com |
