The first time we realized that Otep is a simple anagram for “Poet” we were sort of bemused. Here was a nu-metal band with an emotionally extreme frontwoman who fancied herself a wordsmith. Then, we read some of Otep Shamaya’s lyrics and we realized, “Damn, this girl really can wrangle together an evocative phrase or two.” Over the years, this respect blossomed into admiration for the band and its turbulent style or art-laden rock. So, when we found out that Otep had a new record on the horizon, The_Ascension (out October 30), we took the opportunity to ask Shamaya to write a guest blog that expressed her obsession with poetry and the connection between finely honed words and bludgeoning rock. What follows is a beautifully poetic and revealing post about the power of well-crafted words.
Such sweet madness is this! The chemical wedding of poetry and song.
This is how the veil breaks. Once ink has been shed, once the quiet clicking of the keys begins, once the river of words devours my hungry head … I can slip softly into a dissident kingdom of my own design.
Here, the night sky is peppered with eyes that blink and twinkle where the stars should be. The moon is always high and radiates a kaleidoscope dye of crimson, gold, and opal blue. It rests in the eastern sky and, with the right kind of mind, can be reached in a single leap. To keep the cerebral rivers from running dry I coil up in the limbs of an ancient tree to practice the dark arts of my private poetry. And all across the land, pagan mystery schools ritualize the path of the Sacred Hand.
In the east are the seven hills of ancient Rome, where sin is painted on our skin in Minoan glyphic poems. To the north, the enchanted forest of Far Arden is home to the Satyrs, Cyclops, and Centaurs that conspire, craft and breed. In the west, great pyramids of ivory overlook an endless emerald sea, where the Sirens and Oracles weave and sing a web of prophecies. To the south, a jagged landscape of carbon and fire holds a sanctuary for me when conflict and confrontation are all that I desire. And each night I dream in surges of divergent reality.
Dawn shakes my dreaming head in a watercolor spread of light and color. Soon, the cobra sun bubbles and boils over an armada of billowy cloud cover. And I continue to write, to feast, to incite insight - in the ravenous embrace of spiritual intercourse - soaring to climax in supernova heights. Here, where word becomes flesh, the dance of language and art birth my continued existence. It is a religion of seduction to the highest degree. It is my drug, my first true love, and my favorite part …of me.
This is the narcotic of words.
For some, this might be a sugary confection too sweet for their mental palates. I make no apologies for my addiction to flowery, flowing language. Go read an instruction manual or a menu or a trade journal and leave this for those spiritual archaeologists who actually dig the pilgrimage of message in metaphor. For the remaining readers who hunger for motive, who seek an answer to why I’m a disciple of the marriage of music and poetry, I will do my best to go against my Scorpio nature and be, for a time, revealing.
In the simplest terms, poetry is an escape from logic. It expresses a state of mind through a cabaret of ideas that can exist absent of convention. In ancient times, poems were recited or chanted to a musical accompaniment - it was their method of passing on religion, history, and wisdom. This was the birth of song. It continued to evolve from oral tradition to being written down in meter to prose and free verse eventually returning to its origins as Performance Poetry. Some poets write for the eye, others for the ear. The Beat Poets were the first to popularize crossing over into recorded media to distribute their performed poetry. In fact, Allen Ginsberg, William S Burroughs, and Jack Kerouac were the first to open the gates of the bard for me.
When I was first introduced to their poetic mutiny, an immediate love affair consumed my soul. For me, they seemed to have but one purpose: to decimate the rigid, archaic rules suffocating the religion of poetry and self-expression. They remain pure outlaws of literature. The surge of energy and emotion that invaded me every time I read their work sustained me through many moons of self-discovery. And when I decided to give the spirit of music an offering, it was perfectly natural to marry the wilderness of poetry with the beasts of music. After all, one of my favorite songs, “The End” by The Doors, remains one of the most influential pieces of art in my life. This song was the first inclination of everything music and poetry could be.
I call our show a “ritual” because of the sacred nature it pulls from me. I am devoured by it. Our live performances are not a grouping of selected songs to be played nightly. No, our performances are a collective composition of our recorded music blended into a medley of performance poetry and soundscapes intended to communicate the emotion, message, and symbolism of the song it precedes. Many have likened our shows to a religious experience. I agree. A large part of the sanctified feelings I receive during performance is due to the poetry. In one performance, I can fight alongside the ancient Trojans, hunt with Gilgamesh, dance in trance with the Bacchae, conspire with Ginsberg and Kerouac, fight the good fight with Langston Hughes, explore a slow slide into self destruction with Sylvia Plath, party with Charles Bukowski, redefine consciousness with William Blake and Arthur Rimbaud, defy the dominant paradigm with Anne Sexton and destroy my senses with Charles Baudelaire. And now that we have resumed rehearsals for the upcoming tour with Hellyeah and Bloodsimple to promote our new album, The_Ascension, the veil is once again pulled back and I am thrust into the world between the seen and unseen.
This is my confession, my mania for words. Some folks suffer from sexual compulsions, and I suppose I can identify with them in many ways. The act of spiritually f—ing a screaming, pulsing mass of strangers in the dark is highly addictive. I do not pray for a remedy. I prey for more.
You want more, you got more. Here’s Otep’s video for “Blood Pigs”:
18711
September 28th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
OTEP deserves all the respect in the world. they are beyond amazing and intense. otep shamaya will forever be my heroine
and my favorite artist of all time.
sevas tra - art saves.
September 28th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Every ritual heals a portion of my soul thought lost. One could not ask for a more giving leader to take us down the path of self discovery.
I have been witness to the healing that is possible through the wedding of poetry and music. My eyes have witnessed a woman tear herself apart and be rebuilt again on stage.
Simply said “Otep rocks!”
-Lady Afrodyte
September 28th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
Otep has been a great influence to me and she is my idol. I dolize her not only because of the way she sings her songs and read her poetry, but also she is just pure. Once I started to listen to Otep, I automatically snapped and actually listened and understood what she was talking about. ART IS WAR~
Via
September 28th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
when i started listening to otep, her lyrics screamed out to my wanning ears, and my wounded heart, the words bonding with the music, and her amazing voice, rang out a connection between self and anger, fear and pain. everything she stands for everything she shoves into societies face, DEAL WITH IT! is her profound statement, she has inspired me to look at the pain and the blood that overwhelms my own soul.
September 28th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
I love opeth…to this day.
September 28th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
“The End” is one of my favorite songs too.
i love the poetry of Sylvia Plath also but i love Otep’s poetry more!!
cant wait to see you all on tour again, and hopefully i can meet and greet the band again!!
September 28th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
and her words have me addicted all over again
That is Otep’s effect: to reach your attention, compel you to think, force you to destroy personal obstacles. For that she uses words.
Her music(ians) a carefully selected instrument to bring about a powerful imagery in live performance. . . along with her posessive stage presence, her sentinels throw thunder & lightning at crowds pleading for more of their sweet infection.
I’ve seen a lot of shows in a few cities . . . there’s nothing like a ritual.
SEVAS TRA
September 28th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
When i firt heard Otep I was floored. I couldn’t belive someone had made music of such anger. The raw emotion was something I haddn’t heard in a long time(if ever). As time went on I realized i could relate to her in more ways then one.
Her brash “In your face” atttide is not so much the macho bravado so many other artists have, it’s fire, and it has a meaning. When she says, “Stand Up , Speak Out…STRIKE BACK!” I want to change the world.
September 28th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
Otep… is not an artist… Otep is way of life.. there is no one person who has listened to the mystical blend of poetry and music and has just said… yes it’s ok… If you listen to it… truly listen you it will stur something inside of you and destroy the world you know… and build something better.. a new view on life that’s better than the last she opens your eyes by showing you what it’s like to truly be one with yourself… You look into her soul threw her music and understand that this is not music… This is Life
September 28th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Listening to OTEP is so refreshing after all the cookie-cutter music clogging the airwaves. I love that they are heavy and deep, and … they just make me happy.
Thanks for giving them some coverage; I hope this new CD helps to get them all the attention they deserve.
September 28th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
Otep said -
…it was perfectly natural to marry the wilderness of poetry with the beasts of music…
The marriage has been successful Otep.
A dynamic rhythmic hardcore band like no other, fronted by the most powerful rageful unique female vocalist since Janis.
But with even more — Otep Shamaya you have the LYRICS too.
Matter of fact your lyrics are like slogans. You can write them on placards and march down the street with them!
And Jonestown Tea has made music history, considering what that song has achieved so far. SS4L.
September 29th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
i luv her too deah :] and her music
September 29th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
otep shamaya has a way of letting you know your not alone
September 29th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Ot3P’s music is great!
This band has been one of the most unique and
talented band I have ever seen. I love all of
there music, several of my favorites are, Jonestown Tea,
Sepsis, Warhead and My Confession.
This band has the most creative use of lyrics and
awesome instrumentals.
Sevas Tra
-Zero-
September 29th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
Its nice to see her getting some recognition. She’s been such an inspiration to me for so many years. I’m definately gonna be at the music store the night her album comes out.
September 29th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
Otep Shamaya is a true artist. She believes in what she say, lives what she says, and breathes belief into her dreams. She inspires me to want to be better.
September 29th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Otep is my favorite band by far. She is my hero and inspiration. They deserve as much respect as they can get. I have never heard another band with as much passion. I am glad that they have been recognized.
September 29th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Otep is one of the few great artists who can assemble a group of words and transform it into something so beautiful. She opens a realm of emotions & wisdom through ink reaching into our souls to possess what is hidden inside. Her words, her thoughts, her stories are beauty & rage we only hoped to express ourselves. She is simply put… remarkable. I have yet to come across an artist who can provoke such a range of feelings through three simple words “ART IS WAR”. Let it seduce you, it is the truth.
September 29th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
The power Otep has over her language and in her language still floors me, even five years after I was lucky enough to stumble upon this band’s/woman’s work. She’s at a level I aspire to have even just ONE of my works get to.
September 29th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
right on!! i’m glad headbangers ball actually took the time to acknowledge a good band! otep is such a strong woman, she gives me inspiration to live day to day. her poetry is flawless and fierce.
September 29th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
otep is the best band ever
September 30th, 2007 at 9:42 am
So tragically beautiful and inspiring….what simple words from my decaying mouth could ever describe the ache in my heart and the blood in veins pumping a sorrowful but happy response to Oteps wonderful works of art…
Love Forever and in death we will be together..
Kismet
September 30th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
I’ve seen Otep in concert, and it was one of the most
“mind-blowing” experiences i’ve ever felt in my life, and as soon as she comes back to ohio, I get the pleasure once again.
October 1st, 2007 at 11:51 am
OTEP is a beautiful escape from my mundane world of repetitive nonsense. I can identify with the poetry and love that comes from her mouth when she is lyrically f*cking the @%~.
October 2nd, 2007 at 1:43 pm
brilliant.
October 2nd, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Just had to say that Oteps words, the power behind them, displayed so graphically in the music that accompanies them, are a joy that too few truly understand and appreciate.
Their MUSIC CHANGED MY LIFE
October 2nd, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Otep is the s— mann !!!!
PeAcE
October 2nd, 2007 at 2:02 pm
ALL GREAT THINGS MUST FIRST WEAR A TERRIFYING AND MONSTEROUS MASK IN ORDER TO INSCRIBE THEMSELVES ON THE HEARTS OF HUMANITY
otep if u read this or not u helped me ur words ur mind ur music thank u for helping rize my fist up and look infront of me when i see u in shows i always wanted to say that but never have the chance
October 2nd, 2007 at 2:04 pm
theres nothing to say but OTEP is the s—..her words uphold the uglyness of the word and her poetry puts it to when people can relate to her that much more…OTEP IS POWER…
STAND UP,SPEAK OUT…STRIKE BACK!!!!!
October 2nd, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Otep just enforces my love of lyrical devastation and musical rebirth, this one freestyle dedicated to Otep…..
Blast away the shields, open the blind
to a world so divide, clusterf—ed and benign
this is the reality, like it or not it is yours mine his hers
devils in suits, liars and tools, victims HA, continue the cycle
let power slip, and weakness will flip tyrannical society on its cannibal oodity
October 2nd, 2007 at 4:49 pm
i now know your a scorpio. heh. i really love this. you are really metaphoric, your writings are like bizaare bible passages yet the ugly seems so validly put together, it makes it amazing howevr, you are much better than i can describe OT3P
October 2nd, 2007 at 6:30 pm
The pen truly is mightier than the sword. The best way to empower yourself is through knowledge and understanding.
October 2nd, 2007 at 7:30 pm
.. You’re words truly are Powerful! and it amazez me everytime i hear or read your lyrics… music is mindblowing and awesome.. and the words are relatable and full of passion and intelligence to those who really lsn and appreciate…
Ot3p you are the art and your f***ing Awesome…Keep rockin
StanD Up SpeaK ouT … StriKe BacK
October 3rd, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Homage, infinitely-dear spirit sibling-self! i only wonder, is there truly so much imbued in us, simply as Scorpios? or is this even more simply a perfectly-poignant device of divulgence? if “yes” to the former, i’ve not been giving full credit; direction/advice?
if not, or if you never read this, then simply: Thanks
namaste…
October 4th, 2007 at 9:03 am
I express the same feelings and the same passion.
October 4th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
all i can say is that u have the spirit that i wish i could be u express all the words that i feel
October 4th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
I love 0tep!!! She’s truly amazing. She has a beautiful voice. She has beautiful things to say. And personally, I think she is better than any female screamer out there. Keep rockin’ til your dead girl!!! Hail Otep hahahahaha
October 4th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
As I started reading this I was pulled in, I could not look away- had to finish and I was inrigued the whole time. I have never enjoyed reading something so much and Nothing has ever pulled me in like this has and I’m even more of a fan than I was before… Totally awesome .. And a scorpio just like me?! I know where this chicks comming from now even more… OTEP ROCKS!!!!!!
October 4th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Otep is the most amazing artist. She sets my soul on fire and it feels sooo good. She fuses deep thought and intelligence with damn good music. Her words speak to me on so many levels, and I thank her from the core of my being for sharing.
~My turbulent soul awaits the next live ritual!
October 4th, 2007 at 5:27 pm
Why is it Important to Win Awards? I was so confused by who Ever runs your “Official Myspace page” that ” they/you were sooooo upset by not winning a MTV or whatever it was Video Award?!
Me being Old School and growing up with real bands who definitely loved tour and make cash always saw the differnce between making cash and selling out (there is a difference) and would NEVER EVER, EVER, EVER talk to there FAN BASE about not only not winning but not being nominated for a “Award”.
We`ll what do I know, I only have spotted the Hottest bands for the last 20 years before they became anything.
(I`m that that annoying guy who says “O.M.G. have you heard so and so they are the next big thing)
October 4th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
Otep is brilliant, a true poet. I can’t wait for the new album. I know it’s going to be great. Keep up the good work
October 4th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
I just have to say, that was beautiful.Otep is the best, all should bow to her!
October 5th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
Otep, I have an unending respect for you. You’re like the president of the U.S to me in a way. You’re so real and outspoken, everything you write amazes me.
You are truly the best!!
October 10th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
Otep is a Goddess, an amazing, brilliant, beautiful Goddess. I will always love her and her kick-ass poetry
October 15th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
If you ever get the chance to see her live, go for it. She is awe inspiring. I love you, Otep!!
October 25th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
she’s hot n i like what i heard, but the video keeps starting n stoping it made it hard 2 enjoy. from what i was able 2 hear they r great
November 12th, 2007 at 10:00 am
Shamaya, you have changed my life when i first herd you i was a prep and i was trying to be like everyone else but now i dont care what anyone say’s you helped me find myself!!!!
So I thank you talk to you later!!!!!!!
January 5th, 2008 at 6:04 am
My god, I just love you to pieces.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:11 am
otep is no god. HAve you learned nothing. she is a woman, who uses just words, the sick tools of our destructive society. The pain of this past and present can be seen in the persuasion of decay in the words all of us portray, thus we will betray, every master we’ve known and all will see how powerful the human mind can be when free of confusion from the worlds condescending language of insanity. words are nothing but letters, and I realize my mistake, feel it not word it. so yes she is a hero of her time, but times change, and a revolution where words are no longer needed will soon take control. chaos. Its inside. ur opinion of a reckless egotistical MIND. whats in my mind is mine to define or defy. sxclxnsxmxsoul. why use someone elses words to describe what you feel. possesions, will we ever be free… no longer will the worlds words “save me”. sententia. poena. the beauty of life is YOURS to define not for others to devour with their own sick demise. So stand up and defy your masters with all the pain in their lies. Just close your eyes and see clearly all the obscenity of this world and the constant blame. Life is so limited with a weak core. Lead yourself to victory, and the world will be yours… ha, demonia do you feel me inside, you like my words, you devour them like heroine, your hedonism subsides and you walk away, as you open your eyes… hypocracies demise, and the sadist waits in the corners of your mind. DEFY.
April 1st, 2008 at 6:03 am
[...] Records.http://www.antimusic.com/news/08/march/20Shadows_Fall_on_North_America_This_April.shtml"Headbangers Blog" - Guest Blog: Otep ShamayaWhen we found out that otep had a new record on the horizon "The_Ascension", October 30, we [...]