I've put a great deal of thought into what I want to say with this web site. On one hand it's of course an advertisement, though I would like to use it as an avenue to express thoughts, views, fears, whatever needs to be said. I have a difficult time displaying certain aspects of myself. Posting my picture makes me feel self conscious and arrogant. Though vanity would make me post a picture that looks good. It would be a lie for me to say I don't want people to find me attractive or enjoy my music. I to am looking for approval and acceptance as most performers are. That doesn't mean I write songs with approval in mind. I write because I have to write. It's my therapy, my way of stating the truth as I see it. Truth is something I've been somewhat consumed with for some time now. To speak the truth or better yet be true. True to myself and the beautiful world that surrounds us. This doesn't mean that I'm all true. I'm just a man that thinks about his existence and the effects that it has on the world. I'm a person that wrestles with shallow versus depth, I usually come to the conclusion that depth is a much more powerful way of living. Sex is wonderful for a fix while making love brings tears to my eyes. I will try to be honest in what I do and say. I'm not afraid to be outspoken or state the way I feel. I am not afraid to fight for what I believe. I am not afraid to cry, and I am not afraid to die. Yet I'm scared of all these things. Scared that I will fail.

To fail myself would be to burn my life away, to give in to self-destruction. I definitely have the ability and often times the desire to smoke, drink or snort my life into oblivion. This would be to fail.

To fail my community would be to walk past a man that's fallen and has no place to turn. Or a woman that has no place to go but to a husband that beats her.

To fail my world would be to close my eyes, plug my ears, sew my lips shut. As my life continues I recognize more and more the true injustices in the world.

Being born by two hippies in a northern California town called Fair Fax gave me an early start in ultra liberal views. With age my views have definitely changed. I was raised dominantly by a single mother who devoted every thing to me. Money was never abundant for us and my father gave me an early hatred for wealth and of course the wealthy. I don't say this in blame but to understand for like most human beings I hated what I couldn't have. And the second twist to this human reaction is to want so badly what I hated. I do have a great deal of frustration concerning class differences in this world though all to often the victim card clouds the answer. In the end nothing quenches anger like hypocrisy for while I've stood watching the elite with envy, angry at my own lack of success. I've also stood within the circle bumping elbows with the upper echelons of America, only to find it's a very shallow pen. Though within these shallow waters live some amazing beings, as within the ghetto live some amazing women, as within middle class suburbia live some amazing men, as upon these streets live some absolutely amazing people. People with stories of love and pain, people that feel the same as you and I. People of truth, cause, and inspiration.

What do I look to do, I look to change the world…change the world threw discussion, passion, hate, inspiration, anger, fury, compassion and of course love. For who can sleep in a world that allows a young Islamic man or woman to take their life and as many victims as they can find, all in the name of God. For who can watch as two political parties supposedly fighting for the same country pick at each other's scabs hoping to draw blood, for there's nothing like a bloodthirsty mob to take the other side down. To those born with less, less money, less strength, less love…take the high road. Weather you're in America or any other beautiful country that inhabits this world. Fight for what you believe, fight for what you hold as truth, fight for love. What I look for in a world is action, is the movement by people to affect their world in a positive way. A wealthy tycoon reaching out to a homeless man, not to give him food or money but a little time, a little warmth, a little conversation. For they both may be surprised at what they learn. I look to a world were you help somebody who needs help just because it makes you feel good. I look to a world where a woman can walk down the street without the fear of rape in her mind. Knowing people will help when needed, knowing a crowd won't gather to cheer the sickness on but do everything in their power to stop it. Why? Because they care, Above and beyond all else they care.

At this point I can say with absolute honesty that there is nothing I care more about than this world and its inhabitants. I guess what it comes down to is I care about you, the person reading this statement. I cared about you before you knew who I was. Now that you know a little bit about me I want to thank you for your time.

Love and respect,
Otis Mannick