Artist Information
Biography
As a teenager growing up in Baltimore, MD, Monica Ott mentioned to her parents that she wanted a guitar for her 14th birthday. Not thinking that she would actually get it, she was pleasantly surprised to find a shiny new fire-engine-red Fender waiting for her. With her love of music and a desire to learn, she figured out how to play and eventually began writing her own songs throughout high-school and college. After graduating from Muhlenberg College in 2004 she moved to NYC to pursue her dream. After years of struggling she knew she needed an edge so Monica sought out one of NYC's top vocal coaches and found Tina Shafer (Vanessa Carlton, Avril Lavigne, Gabe Saporta (Cobra Starship)), who has helped Monica and her music evolve into a style that's fresh, new, and a little unrecognizable . Monica also became part of the NYC Songwriter's Circle and beat out thousands by receiving an honorable mention 3 years in a row in their annual songwriting contest. Her song "The Way We Used To Be" is featured on their compilation cd "The Best of-Volume 1." Monica recorded her debut album "Only Human" with some of NYC's best musicians such as Joe Bonadio (Marc Cohn, Martin Sexton), Marc Shulman (Richard Schindell, Jewel), and Jeff Allen (Roseanne Cash, Suzanne Vega) and top engineer Robert L. Smith (Glee, Rickie Lee Jones). Monica's storytelling on "Only Human" deals with real emotions that people may not always express but at one time or another have definitely felt. "Monica was always on her game during the sessions, the girl can PLAY!”, said mixer Robert Smith, "No studio trickery here. What you hear on the album is what you'll see live.” A true yogi at heart, Monica plays a weekly gig at Bamboomoves Yoga Studio in NJ and continues to capture the hearts of new fans with her haunting chants and beautiful acoustic arrangements.
Instrumentation
Joe Bonadio - Drums, & Percussion
Jeff Allen - Bass
Marc Shulman - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
Discography
Only Human-2009
Some Things Unknown EP-2007
Official Website
Links
Video
Photo Gallery
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Vintage Suitcases
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Gardens
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Beauty shot
Download print quality (high-res) version (Right Click -> Save As) -
Headshot
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On the grass
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Electric 2
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Electric 3
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Photo by Justin Price
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IMG_0342
Press
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The Guitar and Yoga-Centered Artist Monica Ott
Click on the link to read an amazing interview.
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NYC Artists Scene
Click here to read
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A Great Interview
Click on link to read
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Review of "Only Human"
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Review
Click here to read
Setlist
The Brave One
The Way We Used to Be
Only Human
Perfect Circle
If We Only Knew
It's No Wonder
What is Love Now
Forever
State of Confusion
World According to You
Sets are usually 30-45 mins
I've done covers by Bob Dylan (Can't Wait), Kanye West (Heartless), Lady Gaga (Poker Face), etc...
