“We’re throwing stones, though we live in glass houses. We talk shit like it’s a cross to bear. You’re only relevant ‘till you get older. Keep your friends close but your enemies closer.”
Been jamming a lot of Childish Gambino lately. Which honestly is never a bad thing at all. Something about him and his music speaks to me. Maybe because he’s a black nerd, who raps about white girls, not fitting in anywhere, not finding someone really worthwhile, having some swag and dealing with haters. It speaks to me because I honestly feel like that’s my life. Listening to his music makes me feel like there’s someone else who knew what I was going through. Like my experience isn’t unique and here’s someone who is around my age who was able to push through.
Now granted while there are similarities, our lives from there are quite different. Which is cool because what I feel is the core of his being might just be like mine. How that’s related to what this post is about is coming…right now.
I’ve been playing in Otenki since it began. I started this band with Fausto almost 8 years ago and for the most part I’ve loved every single second of it. We’ve toured this entire country, played huge shows with bands like 30 Seconds to Mars, The Used, My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, There For Tomorrow, Atreyu, Story of the Year and so many other bands. I’ve been featured in magazines I’ve been reading since I was a kid, featured on website I go to looking for new music, I’ve had kids from other countries email us and tell us we are their favorite band…this ride has been incredible. I am truly blessed.
This year we signed up for the Houston Press Music Awards. I thought it might be a good idea to kind of boost our morale. We had recently lost the Billboard Music Awards Battle of the Bands which was a tough loss to take but we were moving along. So I just posted a few things and the guys got behind it. We hit up our friends and our online fanbase who are quite good at getting us on things. So fortunately for us we got nominated across the board. Every category we went after we locked in for the nomination.
This was supposed to be fun but then people started running their mouths…and I saw sides of people I never thought I would. Over something that’s supposed to be a small way to locally recognize the achievements in the city. Let’s check the stats, Otenki has been featured in more magazine, music blogs than anyone else in the city. We’ve been nationally recognized by one of the largest authorities on the music industry. We are constantly working to expand so why shouldn’t we be on the ballot?
Is it because our singer has “scene” hair? Is it because our music appeals to a younger fan base and because of that we lack artistic merit? Is it because we have a fucking well produced album that was the result of months of writing and working with an AMAZING record producer? Is it because our singer writes on your wall asking you to take some time to listen or to vote and the sanctity of your facebook wall is something to take THAT seriously? Is it because YOU don’t have kids in other countries writing on your band’s page saying that they love you or started their own fan club for you?
We worked our asses off. We deserved it. Whether we win or not it doesn’t matter. I don’t care if you don’t like our music. I don’t care if you make fun of me. Just don’t insult my band mates or our fans. I draw the line there.
Now, these people have taken something that was to be fun and turned it to a petty passive aggressive bitch fest. I get worked up and want to fight but it’s definitely not worth getting thrown in jail. I will speak my mind.
I will gladly play the role of the villain.
