OTEPby Steve Walker

LINKS:
otep.com
To Say Otep Shamaya is a busy woman is an understatement. Her band, Otep has toured on Ozzfest twice, building a huge following through the force of their live shows and word of mouth. The band’s debut album Sevas Tra, received both critical and commercial success. Music though is not the only thing that keeps Otep busy. When not performing, Otep fills her time by exploring other media such as political cartoons, poetry, and political commentary. I was able to talk to Otep while she is in the studio recording the follow up to the 2002 release Sevas Tra.

 

Steve Walker: First off, I’d like to say thank you for taking the time to do this interview. I know you are in the studio at the moment recording the follow up to Sevas Tra. How are the sessions going and has the process changed for you since Sevas Tra?

Otep Shamaya: We are in the final stages of the 2nd album…I am very proud of this record. I demanded evolution from myself and from the music we are creating. It has been one of the most beautiful experiences of my life, but also one of the most difficult to endure. It was like finding our way up out of a dark cavern…philosophically, it is easy to destroy the evil around you…it is much more difficult to find and attack the evil within. It felt like someone painted me with a pale shell of chaos and tragedy without me knowing, and it wasn’t until I began to scratch that I found the source of the itch.

SW: As an album, Sevas Tra covers several topics from politics to abuse. Personally, I could relate to most of what was said on the album. Will the new album cover similar topics or will you be touching on other topics as well and what will they be?

OS: The last year of my life has been very challenging, facing many obstacles, experiencing so much turmoil; not to mention, witnessing the decline of western democracy in the shadow of a new American empire. Emotionally it has been devastating, but, as all survivors do, I decided to fight back…to never give in…and it took some time before I finally realized that something very dark was living inside of me…and it wanted out. So this album explores all of that. The politics of vision, the hunger of invention, the desire for art to conquer all…and the death of the great self conspiracy.

SW: Your work touches on topics that are extremely personal. In your live performance you seem to go through an incredible emotional catharsis. Is it difficult to expose yourself in that way to complete strangers?

OS: Yes. After a performance, it can take an hour or so for the emotions to retreat. It’s important that I give every piece of me during a show…hold nothing back. The school of Artaud teaches to not only discuss the experience, but give the audience the experience itself. It’s kind of like giving birth from the soul…but soon after, I become a feast for my angry children…performance needs to be a sacrifice of self for the benefit of all, and in order for me to feel complete I need to live each song independently and give each it’s own unique voice. It’s a very sacred act for me…I need this to be holy so I can connect to my damaged soul…it hides…afraid of the punishment…but through performance, I can find it and let it rise through my songs.

SW: You also do work as a cartoonist/writer. What do you get from these other media that you do not get out of music, and who are some of the artists and writers that influence you?

OS: Illustrating is a much different endeavor than orating, writing, or performing…it’s a different vehicle of communication so it requires a blind trust from my mind to my fingers to the pen. I rarely know what I am going to draw or paint before I do it. A portion of my functioning mind shuts down…and in its slumber, another aspect of me takes over and builds these visions from the creative abyss. There have been many muses, but for the last 6 months, I have been inspired by the artist Hieronymus Bosch. In fact, sometimes I think our new album sounds as if I am being led through his painting titled “The Last Judgment”

SW: I’ve recently been involved in several conversations concerning Big Media and how relevant it really is. Recently the term “Taste Tribes” has been brought to my attention, i.e. people gravitating toward each other through common interests. My question is, what is your take on culture at the moment and what steps can be taken to change it?

OS: I think we are a scattered people, hoping and waiting for a revolution. We need something magickal to happen especially in the lost tribe, the counter culture. It has not yet realized who or what it is or how strong it could be. But oh, what if we suddenly…one day…we wake up?

SW: You’ve stated before that you follow the muse where it takes you. Where do you see that road eventually leading to?

OS: It’s best to remain sightless during these journeys, however I do hope to expand and challenge my skills as a writer and artist. I would love to write another screenplay, and have a book of poetry published. I would also like to focus my writing again on short stories, and further explore my powers of illustration; painting, sketching, etc.

SW: Are there plans in the works for a new tour in conjunction with the new record?

OS: Yes, we plan to do more touring this year than we’ve ever done…so beware America…the plague rages on.

SW: When I sit down to write or draw, I listen to a specific piece of music, or surround myself with artwork that fuels the emotions I am trying to convey. What gets the muse moving in you?

OS: I wish I knew. Perhaps I wouldn’t suffer so much trying to find it…or maybe that’s the fuel…I suffer in order to create…the price of my discipleship…hmmm…I guess it’s better if I don’t know.

SW: I’d like to express my sincerest appreciation for you taking the time to do this interview.

OS: Thank you Steve, this has been a pleasure.