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Band Provides Ticket To A 'Private Universe'

Otep will appear at Bourbon Street Nightclub in New Port Richey. From left, standing, members include guitarist Karma Cheema, drummer Brian Wolff and, seated, Otep Shamaya. Bass player eVil J is not pictured.

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BY CHERYL BENTLEY

The Suncoast News

Published: October 24, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - There is a message in the music, but it will be different for everyone.

"Art is supposed to motivate and inspire and provoke," singer Otep Shamaya said. "If we've done those things, we've done our job. You may hate us, but we've done our job."

Shamaya and her band, Otep, will headline at Bourbon Street on Monday, the eve of its vinyl release of "The Ascension."

Otep - composed of Shamaya, bassist eViL j, guitarist Karma Cheema and drummer Brian Wolff - is a hard rock band, though Shamaya prefers to think of it as a "fusion band" because of the many styles of music Otep incorporates.

"The Ascension" was first released last year and chosen by Billboard magazine as a hot pick. It reached No. 81 on the Billboard 200 chart and No. 6 on the Top Independent Albums list.

The songs come straight from experience. On "Communion," Shamaya sings: "I sold my soul so long ago, and now I'm alone here in the palace of madness and sadness and bone."

The album has no filler.

"We worked really hard to make sure every song was meaningful," she said.

The band signed with Capitol Records in 2000 after four appearances at a Los Angeles club. Then the band performed on the 2001 and 2002 Ozzfest tours.

Shamaya is active in various progressive causes, including the environmental movement, and animal and victims rights.

She spoke at the Democratic National Convention for Rock the Vote, which engages young people and registers them to vote. Shamaya has also appeared on HBO's Def Poetry Jam.

People who come to the show will experience a "spiritual intercourse," she said - "energy and exchange" between the band and its fans.

"I try to give the audience a glimpse into a very private universe," she said.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Hard rock band Otep performs.

WHEN: 8 p.m., Monday

WHERE: Bourbon Street, 4331 U.S.19, New Port Richey

TICKETS: $18 in advance, $22 at the door

INFORMATION: Go to www.clubbourbonstreet.com or call (727) 843-0686.

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