If you’ve ever attended the Otter prize-giving and felt an inexplicable urge to clap along as Psycho Killer blasts through the speakers, you’re not alone. What started as a practical solution to rowdy crowds has, over time, morphed into an Otter tradition that participants have fully embraced (some might even say, demanded).

A Song to Set the Scene

Rewind to the early days of Otter. Organizers needed a way to settle the crowd before prize-giving, something to signal: Okay, folks, quieten down, it’s time. Enter Psycho Killer. Originally chosen for its strong beat, the song had an unexpected side effect: runners loved it, and come year two, they expected it. 

“It wasn’t so much that we chose Psycho Killer as much as the participants did,” says Otter co-founder John Collins. “We played it once, and the response was huge. The next year, people were already asking for it. And from there, it just stuck.”

A Perfect Fit

What better song for a group of trail runners than one featuring the words run, run, run on repeat? And while the name might raise some eyebrows, the track has this undeniable energy that just fits. It’s edgy, offbeat, and has that nostalgic pull, kind of like the Otter itself.

“It also had the perfect beat for editing,” Collins recalls. “We could time the slideshow transitions to the rhythm of the song, and that made it even more powerful. But what really sealed it was the way people responded. It became something they looked forward to.”

“You’ve got to remember, the Otter attracts a lot of people in their late 30s, 40s, and beyond,” Collins notes. “For many of them, Psycho Killer is a song they’ve heard somewhere before, even if they haven’t thought about it in years. It resonates in a way that feels familiar, but fresh at the same time.”

The song has undeniably become part of the Otter’s soul. Next time Psycho Killer starts playing at Otter, embrace it. Clap along, and know that you’re part of something that was never deliberately planned, yet has grown into a legend all on its own.