Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Amy Otay, a Ewing resident, is set to release her new CD, Angels Riding Shotgun, this month.
By Jessica Talarick
Parents may recognize Miss Amy as the musician who writes songs that make their kids bust a move. However, outside her family projects, Ewing resident Amy Otey has an Americana rock band suited for those well beyond elementary school.
Remove the exercise uniforms and Otey and Her Big Kids Band transform into Off the Map with Miss Amy, who are set to release their new album, Angels Riding Shotgun, in July.
Off the Map consists of Otey, her husband Alex Otey on keyboard, trumpet and flugelhorn, James Popik on electric guitar, Chris Clark on bass and cello and percussionist Ryan Ross.
The band used their new album as an opportunity to persue music that took a backseat when Otey’s kid-friendly fitness rock and roll records took off.
“It’s all the music we love and never had a chance to do,” Otey said. Angels Riding Shotgun features new songs, as well as music band members wrote 20 years ago.
Otey describes the 12-song record as a “testimony to the journey of life, death and rebirth.”
“Some songs are about people watching, staying grounded and the joy of shared love,” Otey said.
The band has already seen some success with their title track, Angels Riding Shotgun, which spent time on the International Country Music Air-Play Chart in April.
Angels Riding Shotgun’s country twang may come from Quad Studios, the Nashville recording studio where Off the Map tracked the album with Doc Holiday and his Legendary “A” Team. Country stars Johnny Cash, Lee Ann Womack and Keith Urban have also recorded at the studio.
Despite her focus on Off the Map, Otey has not completely put her fitness projects on the back burner. She is set to release her book, Keep Kids Fit: Classroom Activity Breaks, later this summer.
Activites outlined in the book meet the physical activity guidelines put forth by President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, for which Otey is an advocate.
Though Otey’s fitness rock is designed for children, she said the music writing process is similar to Off the Map.
“It’s a different audience but we still try to honor form and complexity,” Otey said.
She was inspired to start making music for children after her son Phillip was born thre e months and one day premature.
Otey said singing to Phillip in the NICU was one of the ways she connected to him. When Phillip got older, his mom started singing at playgroups, where she noticed kids were moving and groving to the music.
“There is such a real connection between health and music,” Otey said. She moved on from small playgroups to playing festivals, schools and librarys. She has recorded children’s albums and has been nominated for several Grammy Award; including one for being a featured artist on the compilation All About Bullies… Big and Small, which she won.
Balancing fitness rock gigs and Off the Map is part of the Oteys daily life. Otey said it is not uncommon for Alex and her to practice new music for both projects when Phillip, now 17, their younger son Patrick, 13, are around.
Her sons are also exploring their place in the family business. At a recent Off the Map show in Hopewell, Phillip and his band, ClarkWork, played some songs while his parents took a break.
With their children growing up, the Otey’s and their bandmates have found more time to dedicate to Off the Map, culminating in the new album and concerts booked in the area.
“Our hope is we’ll have the opportunity to tour a little more,” Otey said.
Until then, hometown fans can catch Off the Map at the Ewing Recreational Pool on July 18 and Weeden Park in Lawrenceville on Aug. 1.
An album release party for Angels Riding Shotgun is scheduled for 5 p.m. July 28 at Havana, 105 S. Main St., New Hope, Pa. The JB Kline Band of Lambertville is also set to play.
More information is online at offthemapband.com.
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