WHOA DAKOTA

Born in Little Rock, AR to a state champion bull rider and a wild child mother, Ott was raised part time on a cattle farm, and part time in the city. The dichotomy of her upbringing is apparent in her sound. The songs range from rocket-soaring electro pop, to stripped down acoustic moments. The importance of roots and how they shape us is woven throughout her music and visuals. In the prelude to “Toe to Toe,” Ott listens to the story of how her Nanny, Hattie Jo, finally made the decision to leave her alcoholic husband, emphasizing that our patterns of remaining in toxic relationships can sometimes be learned, but so can the power we uncover when we make the difficult decision to leave them behind. A touching moment of empowerment on the album comes on “The Blue Light - Reprise” in which all of Ott’s favorite women recite a note her aunt wrote to her late grandmother, Nanny (whom Ott shares a special bond with). “It gets to the point where you can’t distinguish who’s saying what because this part for me represents the strength available in sisterhood. No matter what our story is and we’re coming from, we’re always stronger together. Sisterhood is going to save us. On an individual and a global level.