Otep Shamaya

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Los Angeles native Otep Shamaya is best known for being the vocalist of OTEP. Famous for her heavy screaming and rap/rock style of singing, she is also one of only a few well known female vocalists on the heavy metal scene using screams.

Otep is also well known for her poetry. She has been featured on such programs as HBO's Def Poetry. The first printed collection of poetry and illustrations by Otep Shamaya was made available to the public in November of 2006 on Lulu.com.

[edit] Tour Diaries

In 2006, Otep became quite assertive in connecting with her fans. During the Ascension tour in late 2006, Otep recorded and posted several videos entitled Tour Diaries on YouTube and Myspace, chronicling everything from her feelings after shows to even the tour bus breaking down and the Utah show cancellation as well.

[edit] Background

Aside from being notorious for her style of confessional writing, very little is known about Otep Shamaya. Matters such as her age, or where she was raised are all kept secret. To interviewers, she has given her age as "five lifetimes old." Other than the fact that she had a tumultuous and traumatic childhood riddled with abuse (both physical and emotional), and that she's an out lesbian, much of everything else is left to the imagination of her fans.