otoTroops is a rock band formed in 2022, that comprises five animal band members: Markus, Firsty Lasty, Cherry, Roy, and Lee. Their image might seem "sketchy," but the gravity of their story-oriented music speaks for itself. While their sound foundation is pop, the otoTroops incorporate a variety of genres into their music including R&B, rock, and hip hop. The otoTroops’ music expresses all that encompasses purpose, identity, and Yeshua-inspired oneness. 

Markus, a laid-back black panther, was the first one to receive the vision of one new band called the otoTroops. His relaxed demeanor and hippie surfer dude style belie years of experience and profound wisdom. Markus uses his wisdom, garnered from trials of betrayal and emptiness, to contemplate poignant admonitions for sharing with his bandmates, no matter what they may be experiencing.

Firsty Lasty belongs to a family of rats. Mr. and Mrs. Lasty have scores of offspring so upon Firsty’s arrival, they had long since run out of names for their most unique bat-child. Eventually, their place-holder name became his forever name. Firsty’s commanding stage presence conceals his innate timidity. This serves him well when he is rocking out onstage with the otoTroops band, sporting a hand-drawn otoTroops logo on a beat-up, hand-me-down t-shirt. His depiction of an angelfish was adopted as the icon of the otoTroops upon his opening up to Markus about his fascination with how fish are free of gravity and able to soar.

Cherry is a feisty fireball of a wolf.  From infancy, she was enrolled in only the most elite and rigorous of etiquette, academic, and musical programs. While she could conceptualize cadences and spot systems of music before she could ride a bike, Cherry felt her pluckiness had outgrown her den of day-to-day routines. Her aforementioned boldness and spunk is what led to Cherry becoming an otoTroop, demonstrating on a whim her musical prowess for Markus and Firsty in a coffee shop.

Roy is honest, loyal, and determined with a personality, and stature, bigger than all his bandmates. Despite being an elephant of overwhelming physical power, Roy is gentle as they come, striving to share joy and happiness with the world. Having learned the bass guitar in middle school, Roy was proficient at reading and playing music when Markus first interacted with him. However, his shofar-sounding trunk-call was what resonated with Markus. Being a sound symbolizing oneness, Roy was instantly an otoTroop. He is gregarious, goofy, and loves to make others feel at ease.

Growing up an orphan, Lee’s quick wit and savvy sarcasm had become her mode-of-survival. Lee expressed her booming pulse as a hatchling and naturally manifested her inner beat by banging things. Markus found himself strolling past the orphanage and, through a window, heard Lee pounding a steady and smashing beat: exactly what the otoTroops had been missing. Markus adopted Lee and she filled spot number 5 as the youngest and shortest otoTroop. Lee fights stereotypes with her tough-girl mannerisms and tomboy vibe. Lee is the rhythm that infuses the band. Don’t call her “cute,” she might bite your head off! 

Their first single “End”, released June 5, 2022, showcases Firsty. "End" is a Pop and R&B fusion track characterized by a funky bassline and ethereal vocals. Two more singles released in the summer of 2022: an upbeat celebratory pop-rock track, “The Everything Day”, and "Zenith" a slower and sagacious track with arpeggiated piano chords.

On October 5, 2022 otoTroops released their first studio album called "Metanoia", displaying varyied musical expressions unique to each band member’s personal story. It is a seven song album that includes their 2022 summer singles as well as a snappy tic-tock pop-rock song called "My Clock", a banging beat called "D'leeverd", a hauntingly beautiful ballad called "Lamento", and a fan favorite with an invigorate message, "Gonna Get Better."

Despite the fact that each otoTroops band member experiences life and makes art in wildly different ways, it works!