Victory Records recording artist OTEP will be hitting the road in support of her upcoming release Smash The Control Machine for what promises to be one of the most sensory invasive tours of 2009. The tour will wrap up September 16th at LA’s Whiskey-A-Go-Go. The tour will include a stop at 2009’s Rock the Ink, a music and tattoo festival with projected attendance of 10,000, which OTEP has been chosen to headline. “We are incredibly excited to be able to share all of the new tracks with our fans,†comments Otep. “We just want to get out there and do what we do best: PLAY!†OTEP has named fellow Victory act DESTROPHY as direct support with Central Illinois metal heads 7 YEAR EXISTENCE rounding out the package. “We want to annihilate the senses at every show,†states OTEP. This trek marks OTEP’s first stateside appearance in 2009. The Los Angeles, CA native toured South America in January and has spent the last several months in self-induced “artistic solitary confinement†submersed in creating, writing, recording and perfecting her brand-new album. OTEP, however, was not a silent invalid. Her core fans were engaged in the process and journey via Twitter tweets, daily Facebook updates and her blog www.iamnotamonster.com.
Smash The Control Machine will be released August 18th on Victory Records. The artistically cathartic, socially riveting and revolutionary album was produced by Grammy-nominated Ulrich Wild (Pantera, Deftones, Breaking Benjamin). The vocal style of Otep Shamaya ranges from soothingly and romantically hypnotic to piercingly guttural, to anthem like proclamations that cohesively come together encapsulating her trademark, one of a kind delivery. OTEP engages and enlightens with her lyrics, which are sung and screamed over metallic riffs, hook-laden rhythms and even delicate piano. Smash The Control Machine is not just another hard rock album, it is an intelligent, mind expanding work of art.
Otep has also made a name for herself outside of music. Singer, activist, actress, writer and artist she has filmed segments for several top-rated TV shows, including HBO’s “DEF POETRY,” Bravo’s “DATE MY EX” and TLC’s hit show “L.A. Ink.” She was a guest speaker at the Democratic National Convention and worked extensively with Voter Registration. OTEP is one of the most searched celebrities on pop culture sites, such as Theinsider.com and Citizenceleb.com. Shamaya also finds time to be a vocal and committed activist for such causes as Climate Change via Carbon Rally.com, Equal Rights, Victims Rights, Hurricane Relief, the genocides in Darfur, Chad, and Myanmar, PETA, and RAINN. Otep Shamaya also created a social networking site (www.allshapesandsizes.org) to help reinforce new ideas to promote self-esteem and self-confidence.
To date, OTEP has sold over 500,000 records and continues to convert the masses to her militant mantra of art and activism on a daily basis.
Check out the movement at: www.MySpace.com/otep or www.otep.com
TOUR DATES AS FOLLOWS:
Wed 26 Aug Jacksonville NC @ Hooligans
Thu 27 Aug Fayetteville, NC @ Jesters
Mon 31 Aug Denver CO @ Marquee
Tue 01 Sep Colorado Springs CO @ Black Sheep
Thu 03 Sep San Jose CA @Voodoo Lounge
Sat 05 Sep Seattle WA @Ex Hall Bumbershoot FEST
Wed 16 Sep Los Angeles CA @ Whiskey