Oakland post-punk group ÖTZI have released “Eight Cups” the third single from their sophomore album, Storm.
Storm will be released May 22nd on Artoffact Records.
Bassist/vocalist Akiko Sampson states:
“’Eight Cups’ is about learning to leave behind what isn’t fulfilling to you. It’s named after one of my favorite tarot cards, which illustrates both the disappointment you could feel and the strength you find when you choose to move forward and be true to yourself.”
Drummer/vocalist Gina Marie states:
“Sometimes life takes you somewhere that becomes a toxic place to grow, and it’s not always easy to see how you got there and where you are headed next. This song was written about finding a new path that will eventually lead you to a stronger, healthier and happier version of yourself.”
👉 See our recent feature “Top 10 Cities for Post-Punk Music, by Akiko Sampson and Gina Marie of Oakland’s ÖTZI”
On Storm, Ötzi pierces the heart with their dark and passionate style of post-punk. Brooding and aggressive sounds intertwine, via dual vocals, flanged-out guitar, austere bass and tense drumming. Anthemic hooks, worthy of ’80s new wave radio hits, are delivered by way of stripped-down production, the rawness of which makes the songs penetrate even deeper.
While nodding to the howls of Siouxsie and the Banshees, the anarcho-punk of Crass, and the laments of early The Cure, Ötzi lives very much in the present, if not the future.
“The darkness of our sound doesn’t come from existential dread or moroseness, it’s a reflection of the lives we’ve lived as femmes in an often hostile world,” says Sampson. “We express all this mourning and anger through our music, so playing is always cathartic for us. But afterwards, what we’re left with is a sense of hope and a vision for what can be. So in this album, we wanted to incorporate all of those dimensions. Because that’s what ‘Storm’ is about – huge, violent life changes that leave you transformed forever.”
Since their formation in 2014, Ötzi has toured the world with the likes of The Chameleons, Deerhoof, Modern English, and She Past Away. Sampson notes, “We look forward to being able to tour again, once it’s safe to. We miss being able to share our music and see our audiences. We feel honored that we get to share space with so many queer, femme and trans people in so many places, who all bring such a radical energy. We crave that energy, and we hope our music helps to create a world where our audience feels honored and powerful themselves.”
