Music industry veteran SERGIO OTAEGUI has managed to constantly find relevance across 16 years of work in opposite ends of the music industry. First making a splash in 2005 as the teenage frontman/songwriter for NY’s emo pop-punk wunderkinds, ALWAYS RUSHING BY, Otaegui gained his first taste of the success made possible by the internet’s reach. 
  After a busy two years he moved on to form THIEVES AND VILLAINS in 2007 and kicked off a 3 week stint on the annual Van’s Warped Tour that summer (setting a record never broken of being the newest band to participate in that large of a leg on the tour). This led to a deal with legendary independent label VICTORY RECORDS all before his 21st birthday, followed by 2 successful full-length albums released with appearances on MTV, FUSE, and global radio. After disbanding in late 2010, Otaegui re-emerged under his new alias, SERGIOISDEAD, and began producing rap & electronic music. At the forefront of the emerging “cloud-rap” genre taking over Soundcloud & Youtube, the producer began crafting cuts for LIL B, MAIN ATTRAKIONZ, PERRION, DAVINCI, & more. 
Receiving widespread exposure & critical acclaim from ROLLING STONE, THE FADER, & PITCHFORK, Otaegui released 5 instrumental mixtapes & countless remixes leading to his debut single “U (feat. merges)” which premiered via NYLON & debuted on Spotify’s “New Music Friday” leading to over 120,000 streams in 24 hours. The single reached #7 on Billboard’s Global Viral Chart & quickly amassed over 1 million streams. Following the success of his debut, SERGIOISDEAD signed to AVICII’s PRMD label via Warner Bros. Two singles followed garnering placements on top Spotify (“Hot New Dance)” & Apple Music (“New Music Daily”) playlists leading to over 100,000 first week streams. Remixes followed for fellow PRMD artists SYN COLE & TWO LANES, as well as work for American Idol finalist ZEALYN. Following the tragic passing of AVICII & PRMD’s sale to KOBALT MUSIC, Sergio returned his attention to rock with a one-off EP from 2005, his collaboration with ex-THE MORNING OF bassist Abir Hossain. 
What followed has been writing & production for a new generation of artists signed to Sony Music’s QUADIO RECORDS. Starting in 2020, SERGIOISDEAD found himself heavily involved in a more organic style of production that combined guitar with the subtle touches of homespun pop. This combination helped fuel emerging artist/actress/director TALIA to success on her debut EP “Headrush,” gaining critical acclaim and top placement on Apple & Amazon Music. Further production followed for fellow QUADIO artist, LA’s HANNAH HAUSMAN, putting a somber twist on her viral Tik Tok hit “Whole Foods Parking Lot.”  
As 2021 continues to unfold, SERGIOISDEAD has been in heavy collaboration with MNYS, finding himself once again a part of the emo/pop-punk scene, but for a new generation. The success of the Otaegui co-written/produced “IAFM” led to a deal with PURENOISE RECORDS (State Champs, Knocked Loose,The Story So Far). Now working further with MNYS along with continued production for Quadio Record’s new breed of signings, SERGIOISDEAD once again finds himself still around, still important, and all too grateful for it. 

sergiootaegui@gmail.com

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