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OUR BLOG
Branding is a Two-Way Conversation
OTTOMOTTO is the place to catch up on our recent activities, insights and opinions from OTTO Brand Lab members, partners and clients, as well as the latest tunes we are spinning in our studios.
Futurist Insights on Augmented Reality
We sat down with Oya Demirli, our futurist extraordinaire, to find out how Augmented reality (AR) is changing advertising, social media, and how consumers interact with brands and their products. Oya drops some knowledge on how AR is disrupting the way we conduct...
Food1st: Feeding Frontline Workers During a Pandemic
As New Yorkers struggled during the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, a non-profit called Food1st was established to help feed emergency service workers.
A Campaign to Help the Homeless During the Pandemic
One dedicated nonprofit decided that a pandemic could not stop them from feeding the hungry.
Helping a Commercial Real Estate Company Respond to COVID-19
Helping SL Green develop a strategy for reopening their buildings after the COVID-19 outbreak.
Your Brain on Creativity
In this demanding marketplace, it is becoming increasingly difficult to get clients to take a creative risk.
Lessons I Learned from Chico
When remembering Chico, there is way too much to cover in this space but this will give you some sense of the man I am privileged to have known.
HEAVY ROTATION
Is your brand ready for the future?
Find out through our future-ready assessment workshop.
HEAVY ROTATION
Psych Charger
- Scream, Blacula, Scream
Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
- I Put a Spell on You
The Cramps
- I Was a Teenage Werewolf
Concrete Blonde
- Bloodletting
Vince Guaraldi Trio
- Great Pumpkin Waltz
The Cranberries
- Zombie
Ramones
- Pet Sematary
Nine Inch Nails
- Dead Souls
Eels
- Your Lucky Day In Hell
Sonic Youth
- Halloween
New York Dolls
- Frankenstein
Alice Cooper
- Feed My Frankenstein
Dirty Vegas
- Ghosts
Daniel Johnston
- Casper The Friendly Ghost
Classics IV
- Spooky
Siouxsie and the Banshees
- Halloween
The White Stripes
- Little Ghost
Ramones
- I Don’t Wanna Go Down to the Basement
Cat Power
- Werewolf
Los Amigos Invisibles
- Diablo
Luna
- Season of the Witch
HEAVY ROTATION
Vol. 19 | 09.2019
This autumn season our musical wool blanket has come from the 80s and early 90s.
NY
Out of the Shadow
Rogue Wave
- Every Moment
- Postage Stamp World
Pop Art
Transvision Vamp
- I Want Your Love
- Andy Warhol's Dead
Sex, America
Cheap Trick
- Everything Works if You Let It
- Gonna Raise Hell
Rattlesnakes
Lloyd Cole
- Perfect Skin
- Speedboat
Love Bomb
The Tubes
- Night People
- Say Hey
- Eyes
- Muscle Girls
- Theme from a Wooly Place
- For a Song
- Say Hey (Part 2)
- Feel It
- Night People (reprise)
CA
Catch for Us the Foxes
mewithoutyou
- Torches Together
- January 1979
Kodama
Alcest
- Darkness
- Oiseaux de proie
Rocky IV OST
- Burning Heart – Survivor
- No Easy Way Out – Robert Tepper
HEAVY ROTATION
Vol. 19 | 09.2019
This autumn season our musical wool blanket has come from the 80s and early 90s.
NY
Out of the Shadow
Rogue Wave
- Every Moment
- Postage Stamp World
Pop Art
Transvision Vamp
- I Want Your Love
- Andy Warhol’s Dead
Sex, America
Cheap Trick
- Everything Works if You Let It
- Gonna Raise Hell
Rattlesnakes
Lloyd Cole
- Perfect Skin
- Speedboat
Love Bomb
The Tubes
- Night People
- Say Hey
- Eyes
- Muscle Girls
- Theme from a Wooly Place
- For a Song
- Say Hey (Part 2)
- Feel It
- Night People (reprise)
CA
Catch for Us the Foxes
mewithoutyou
- Torches Together
- January 1979
Kodama
Alcest
- Darkness
- Oiseaux de proie
Rocky IV OST
- Burning Heart – Survivor
- No Easy Way Out – Robert Tepper
HEAVY ROTATION
Vol. 18 | 09.2019
As summer ends we are trying to keep our stamina up while we launch the new Jovia Brand. After 2 years in the making it truly rocks!
NY
Girlfriend
Matthew Sweet
- Divine Intervention
- I've Been Waiting
- Girlfriend
Rocket to Russia
Ramones
- Rockaway Beach
- Surfin' Bird
Blind Melon
Blind Melon
- No Rain
- Tones of Home
Young & Dangerous
THE STRUTS
- I Do It So Well
- Body Talks (ft. Kesha)
Let It Be
THE STRUTS
- I Will Dare
- Unsatisfied
CA
All Mirrors
Angel Olsen
- All Mirrors
- Lark
Birth of Violence
Chelsea Wolfe
- American Darkness
- Little Grave
Death Magic
Health
- Stonefist
- L.A. Looks
HEAVY ROTATION
Vol. 17 | 07.2019
NY
Guitar In The Space Age
Bill Frisell
- Messing With the Kid
- The Shortest Day
But You Caint Use My Phone
Erykah Badu
- Phone Down
- Hello
Beautiful Tomorrow
Blue Six
- Let's Do It Together
- Pure
White People
Handsome Boy Modeling School
- I've Been Thinking
- A Day in the Life
Brothers of Destruction
The Lemon Twigs
- Intro
- Why Didn't You Say That
- Night Song
CA
You Drive
You Drive
- Royal Blue
- New
Into the Water
Ritual Howls
- Scatter the Scars
- Nervous Hands
Heaven that Dwells Within
Wormwitch
- Dancing in the Ashes
- Vernal Womb
HEAVY ROTATION
Vol. 16 | 06.2019
In honor of OTTO Marriage Month—cheers!!!! to Lindsey and Saleena—we are featuring our team’s wedding songs:
Andrea
Annie's Song
John Denver
Andy
White Wedding
Billy Idol
Chris
You And I
Crystal Gayle and Eddie Rabbitt
Don C
Just the Two of Us
Grover Washington Jr. (Feat. Bill Witherse)
Don T
Love Bites
John Denver
Hope
By Your Side
Sade
Kevin
Rock Lobster
The B52's
Kimberly and David
Ceremony
Hideaway
Todd Rundgren
Dance
A Dream Goes on Forever
Todd Rundgren
Megan
So Long, Lonesome
Explosions in the Sky
Michael
Kiss
Tom Jones & the Art of Noise
Mike
First Dance
Sea of Love
Cat Power
Bridal Procession
There is a Light That Never Goes Out
The Smiths
Bridal Entrance
I Found a Reason
Cat Power
and we exited the aisle to
Black Thunder
Doomriders
Couldn't be just one song, right?
Ray
Time in a Bottle
Jim Croce
I'm a hopeless romantic.
Steve H
Can't Help Falling in Love
Elvis Presley
Steve P
Another One Bites the Dust
Queen
Tina
Miserlou
Dick Dale and his Del-Tones
Bonus
Bob's Wedding Compendium
True Companion
Marc Cohn
The Way You Look Tonight
Frank Sinatra, DUH
Buono Sera
Louis Prima
Here, There and Everywhere
The Beat-alls
Can't Take My Eyes Off You
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
Papa Loves Mambo
Perry Como (there's an ewww factor there right?)
Two Out of Three Ain't Bad
Meat Loaf (and 50% of marriages end in divorce)
Now if you'll excuse me I have to get some insulin
HEAVY ROTATION
Vol. 15 | 06.2019
Listen to this month's featured artists who inspire us. The summer weather has us feeling eclectic & gaga-esque.
NY
Negro Swan
Blood Orange
- Charcoal Baby
Free Town Sound
Blood Orange
- Augustine
Vanished Gardens
Charles Lloyd
- Defiant
- Angel (feat. Lucinda Williams)
Dirty Computer
Janelle Monae
- Pynk (feat. Grimes)
- Make Me Feel
Collagically Speaking
R+R=NOW
- Change of Tone
- Resting Warrior
Brainfeeder X
Various Artists
- Bug Thief - Iglooghost
- Order of the Golden Dawn - Daedelus
CA
Panorama
La Dispute
- Fulton Street |
- View From Our Bedroom Window
Danzig
Danzig
- Am I Demon
- Mother
You Won't Get What You Want
Daughters
- Satan in the Wait
- Daughter
HEAVY ROTATION
Vol. 14 | 03.2019
Currently these are the hot 8-tracks 2XL is cooking in The Lab @ 30 W 21st.
NY
Houses of the Holy
Led Zeppelin
- The Ocean
- The Song Remains the Same
Live at Max's Kansas City
The Velvet Underground
- Beginning to See the Light
- White Light White Heat
New York Dolls
New York Dolls
- Personality Crisis
- Trash
Horses
Patti Smith
- Free Money
- Kimberly
Leave Home
Ramones
- Carbona NotGlue
- Oh, Oh, I Love Her So
CA
West Coast Digital Rain Edition
Part Time Punks Session
Choir Boy
- Blood Moon
- Passive With Desire
Time Rider
Chromatics
- Time Rider
Kill for Love
Chromatics
- These Streets Will Never Look the Same
The Acrobat
Death of Lovers
- Orphans of the Smog
- Ursula In B Major
HEAVY ROTATION
This Land
Gary Clark Jr.
This Land [Explicit]
What About Us
I Got My Eyes on You (Locked & Loaded)
I Walk Alone
Feelin’ Like a Million
Gotta Get Into Something
Got to Get Up
Feed the Babies
Pearl Cadillac
When I’m Gone
The Guitar Man
Low Down Rolling Stone
The Governor
Don’t Wait Til Tomorrow
Dirty Dishes Blues
Highway 71 (Bonus Track)
Did Dat (Bonus Track)
HEAVY ROTATION
Vol. 12 | 12.2018
The gnomes at OTTO really get jazzed on giving. Below are five Christmas discs to go with five of the charities we faithfully support. If you are our client, sit back and chill knowing that we give on your behalf every year. If you are our friend here for the tuneage, take a moment and drop a dime on one of the links below:
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Vince Guaraldi
WBGO
We proudly support our constant source of inspiration and knowledge on the history, the present and the future of music. Arguably, the greatest jazz station in the world.
Jackson 5 Christmas Album
Jackson 5
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
An amazing organization that provides essential services. We have worked for these guys and can assure you that your donations really do make a difference in the lives of patient’s and their families. We are proud supporters of our luminous lead gnomette Lindsey who helped us Light the Night for Lous Loves.
Acoustic Christmas
Neil Diamond
Gowanus Canal Conservancy
Back in 2006 before the Michelin Star restaurants and Whole Foods, our own Andy Simons created the Conservancy which has served as the environmental steward for the neighborhood through leading grassroots volunteer projects; educating students on environmental issues; and working with agencies, elected officials, and the community to advocate for, build, and maintain innovative green infrastructure around the Gowanus Canal.
The Sinatra Christmas Album
Frank Sinatra
Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen
The largest emergency food program in New York state, serving more than 1,000 meals each weekday to hungry and homeless New Yorkers. We are proud to be supporters of Sara Pandolfi and the Farm to Tray events.
Kylie Christmas
Kylie Minogue
The Susan G. Komen 3-Day. 3 Days. 60 Miles. To End Breast Cancer
An amazing organization that provides essential services. We have worked for these guys and can assure you that your donations really do make a difference in the lives of patient’s and their families. We are proud supporters of our luminous lead gnomette Lindsey who helped us Light the Night for Lous Loves.
Stocking Stuffers
- Spinal Tap / Christmas With The Devil
- Joey Ramone / Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)
- The Youngsters / Christmas in Jail
- Johnny Guarnieri / Santa’s Secret
- The Staple Singers / Who Took the Merry Out of Christmas
- Isaac Hayes / Winter Snow
- Lightning Hopkins / Santa
- Jimmy Butler / Trim Your Tree
- Peter & The Test Tube Babies / I’m Getting Pissed for Christmas
- The 4-Skins / Merry Christmas Everybody
- Eric Cartman / Swiss Colony Beef Log
- The Raveonettes / Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
- Booker T & The MG’s / Winter Wonderland
- Debbie Dabney / I Want to Spend Christmas With Elvis
- NRBQ / Christmas Time is Here (Live)
- Todd Rundgren / One More Day
- Patti Smith / White Christmas
- Utopia / One World
HEAVY ROTATION
Vol. 666 | 10.2018
"So I realized I pretty much only listen to Halloween music, across many different genres. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s also not all chaos either." - Mike
Mike's Monstrous Mix, Featuring:
- Zeal and Ardor
- Carpenter Brut
- Chelsea Wolfe
- Nile
- Grave Pleasures
- Cradle of Filth
- Emily Jane White
- Iron Maiden
- Doomriders
- Old Gray
- Ihsahn
- Death of Lovers
- Ghost
- Slayer
- Pageninetynine
- Most Precious Blood
- Gehenna
- Loma Prieta
- Dark Funeral
- Metallica
THE Misfits Bonus Section
- Skulls
- Halloween
- Dig Up Her Bones
- Night of the Living Dead
- Vampira
- Ghouls Night Out
- Astro Zombies
- Horror Business
Megan's Extra Bonus Section
- Pet Semetary – The Ramones
- Psycho Killer – Talking Heads
- Area 52 – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
HEAVY ROTATION
Vol. 11 | 10.2018
Music is a constant source of inspiration for all of us at OTTO Brand Lab. Watch this space to hear what’s playing in our studios and put OTTO in your ears.
NY
Fine Art of Surfacing
Boomtown Rats
- I Don't Like Mondays
- Someone's Looking at You
Cymande
Cymande
- One More
- Bra
Banshee
Kendra Morris
- Concrete Waves
- Banshee
Eat the Elephant
A Perfect Circle
- The Doomed
- Feathers
Phaseshifter
Redd Kross
- Annie's Gone
- Shonen Knife
CA
Nearer My God
Foxing
- Grand Paradise
- Lich Prince
- Nearer My God
Stranger Fruit
Zeal & Ardor
- Gravedigger's Chant
- You Ain't Coming Back
- Built on Ashes
Bonus
The perfect soul and jazz mix to help you deal with those end of the summer blues.
Tracklist
- Lee Fields – Honey Dove (Soul Fire)-2002
- The Olympians – How Can I Love (Now That You’re Gone) (Truth & Soul)-2008
- Durand Jones & The Indications – Is It Any Wonder (Colemine)-2016
- Atlantis Jazz Ensemble – Pillars Of Hercules (Marlow)-2016
- Aloe Blacc – Good Things (Stones Throw)-2010
- The Iguanas – Pelican Bay (Yep Roc)-2008
- Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – Better Things (Daptone)-2010
- Slim Moore & The Mar-Kays – Riverside Drive (Marlow)-2011
- Seu Jorge & Alma – Everybody Loves The Sunshine (Now Again)-2010
- The Frightnrs – I’d Rather Go Blind (Daptone)-2015
- James Hunter Six – So They Say (Fantasy)-2013
- The Fabulous Three – Answer Me Softly (Psycho/Soul Fire)-2002
- Kamasi Washington – Kipling Theme (RCA)-2016
- Souljazz Orchestra – It’s Gonna Rain (Strut)-2015
- Charles Bradley & Menahan Street Band – The World Is Going Up In Flames (Dunham)-2011
- Sonny Knight & The Lakers – Oh Mary (Secret Stash)-2016
- Menahan Street Band – Going The Distance (Dunham)-2008
- Myron & E With The Soul Investigators – They Don’t Know (Timmion)-2013
- Mayer Hawthorne – Thin Moon (Stones Throw)-2011
HEAVY ROTATION
Vol. 10 | 08.2018
NY
The Story of Sonny Boy Slim
Gary Clark Jr.
- Our Love
- Cold Blooded
Both Directions At Once
John Coltrane
- Nature Boy
- Impressions - Take 3
Age of Understatement
The Last Shadow Puppets
- Standing Next to Me
- My Mistakes Were Made For You
Woodstock
Portugal. The Man
- Feel It Still
- So Young
Hello Summer
Pat Van Dyke
- Lotus
- Hello, Summer
CA
In honor of our San Francisco summer, here's some gloomy dark-wave, with just a sparkle of hopefulness to it. And an ultimate guilty pleasure.
Cherish the Light Years
Cold Cave
- The Great Pan is Dead
- Confetti
- Underworld USA
Born to Die
Lana Del Rey
- Born to Die
- Summertime Sadness
Summer Bonus
Feeding Tony’s Yacht Rock jones we are featuring a special streaming summer mix.
Naut-Cal:
A Funky Yacht Rock & AOR Mixtape by Shawn Lee of Young Gun Silver Fox for Wax Poetics
Featuring:
- You Win I lose- Hal Bradbury
- Pretend he’s me – Robert Byrne
- Somethings are better unsaid- Player
- The Sailors song- Pages
- House on the rock – Rob Mehl
- People gotta move – Gino Vanelli
- Whatcha gonna do- Pablo Cruise
- Nightfly- Donald Fagen
- Steal Away- Robbie Dupree
- Lihue- Nohelani Cypriano
- Much Higher- Gary Wright
- Jojo – Boz Scaggs
- Phantom of the footlights- The Larsen Feiten Band
- I wouldn’t want to be like you- The Alan Parsons Project
- You belong to me- The Doobie Brothers
- Alone too long- Hall & Oates
- Biggest part of me – Ambrosia
“whatever you wanna call it… It’s smooth as hell and makes me smile.”
-Shawn Lee
HEAVY ROTATION
NY
Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon
Devendra Banhart
- Lover
- Carmensita
Future Blues
Canned Heat
- Sugar Bee
- Let's Work Together
Penthouse
Luna
- 23 Minutes In Brussels
- Rhythm King
Garage Inc.
Metallica
- Turn The Page
- Die, Die My Darling
- Whiskey In The Jar
Currents
Tame Impala
- The Less I Know The Better
- Past Life
CA
Darkness Come Alive
Doomriders
- Heavy Lies The Crown
- Crooked Path
- Jealous God
Low Teens
Every Time I Die
- Map Change
- Fear And Trembling
We love our neighborhood block! Thanks to Abracadabra NYC for the rad space suit!
facebook.com/AbracadabraNYC/
instagram.com/abracadabranyc/
twitter.com/NYCABRACADABRA
HEAVY ROTATION
NY
Wildflower
The Avalanches
- Because I'm Me
- Frankie Sinatra
The Final Tour: The Bootleg Series
Miles Davis & John Coltrane
- So What - Live from Copenhagen
- On Green Dolphin Street - Live from Copenhagen
Maggot Brain
Funkadelic
- Can You Get to That
- Super Stupid
Timez Are Weird These Days
Theophilus London
- Last Name London
- Why Even Try
Boarding House Reach
Jack White
- Corporation
- Over and Over and Over
CA
Jupiter
Cave In
- Innuendo and Out the Other
- Big Riff
Until Your Heart Stops
Cave In
- Moral Eclipse
- Juggernaut
NO
Old Man Gloom
- Crescent
- To Carry The Flame
- The Forking Path
HEAVY ROTATION
NY
Colors
Beck
- Colors
- Up All Night
Jazzmatazz Vol. 1
Guru
- Lounging
- No Time To Play
Jesus of Cool
Nick Lowe
- I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass
- So It Goes
In Colour
Jamie xx
- Gosh
- Obvs
MASSEDUCTION
St. Vincent
- Hang On Me
- Los Ageless
CA
Rad (OST)
- Break The Ice - John Farnham
- Send Me An Angel - Real Life
- Thunder in Your Heart - John Farnham
Transformers The Movie
- The Touch - Stan Bush
- Nothin's Gonna Stand In Our Way - Spectre General
- Death of Optimus Prime - Vince DiCola
HEAVY ROTATION
NY
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Genesis
- Fly on a Windshield
- The Grand Parade of Lifeless Packaging
The Texas Bluesman
Lightnin' Hopkins
- Once Was a Gambler
- Watch My Fingers
Baby Please/ Just Walkin' in the Rain
The Prisonaires
- Baby Please
- Just Walkin' in the Rain
Half the City
St. Paul & The Broken Bones
- Call Me
- Like a Mighty River
Sir Nebula
Tauk
- Time's Up
- Where You Are
CA
Forced Witness
Alex Cameron
- Stranger's Kiss (feat. Angel Olson)
- Runnin' Outta Luck
- Candy May
The Dusk In Us
Converge
- A Single Tear
- Eye of the Quarrel
- Broken by Light
HEAVY ROTATION
NY
Christmas
FRANK Sinatra
- Mistletoe and Holly
- White Christmas
Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas
Ella Fitzgerald
- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmsa
- Sleigh Ride
Christmas Album
Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass
- Winter Wonderland
- My Favorite Things
A Winter Romance
Dean Martin
- Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!
- Winter Wonderland
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Vince Guaraldi Trio
- O Tannenbaum
- My Little Drum
- Christmas is Coming
Kylie Christmas
Kylie Minogue
- It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
- Every Day's Like Christmas
A Twisted Christmas
TWISTED SISTER
- White Christmas
- Silver Bells