Ozma (band)
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Ozma was a rock band from Pasadena, California. The band's sound is mix of new wave-influenced "power pop" and rock with pleasant Casio-driven melodies and heavy guitar riffs. The complexity of Ozma's songs grew considerably during the band's nine-year history.
Ozma was formed in 1995 by high school friends Daniel Brummel (vocals/bass), Ryen Slegr (vocals/guitar), Patrick Edwards (drums), Jose Galvez (guitar) and Star Wick (keyboard/flute). After a few years of touring in California, they earned enough money to finance the recording of their first album, Rock and Roll Part Three. Rivers Cuomo, Weezer's lead singer, liked the band so much that he asked them to be the opening act for Weezer's 2001–2002 tour, before Ozma had a record label or booking agent. Thanks in part to the exposure they gained opening for Weezer, Ozma signed with Kung Fu Records in 2002 after independently selling 4,000 copies of Rock and Roll Part Three.
Ozma's second album, The Doubble Donkey Disc, was released on June 2002. Ozma experimented with the traditional Ukrainian balalaika and the flute to create a sound they called "Russian coldfusion.", This album had several songs—such as "Korobeiniki" (a cover of the Tetris theme) and "Flight of Yuri Gagarin"—with explicitly Russian themes. Ozma's third album, Spending Time On The Borderline, was released in 2003 which built on their sound considerably and seemed more mature.
To the lament of their fans, Ozma disbanded on July 23, 2004. In a message posted on the official Ozma website, Ryen Slegr cited that a series of personal problems "affected the creative and professional facets of the band to the extent that no one [felt] like continuing any longer."
Daniel Brummel moved to New York City to pursue a more Folk-heavy style. His new CD "Speak Easy", which will be independently released, is expected in early 2005. Ryen Slegr and Jose Galvez recently formed a new band called Yes Dear with ex-members of Arlo and Teenage Heroes.
External link
- ozmaonline.com (http://www.ozmaonline.com/)
- ozmafans.com (http://www.ozmafans.com/)
- Yes Dear - A new band with Ryen Slegr and Jose Galvez (both ex-ozma) (http://www.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=4092034)
- Yes Dear (official website) (http://www.yesdearmusic.com)
- Ozma on myspace.com (http://www.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=1285153)
- Daniel Brummel on myspace.com (http://www.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=2825992)
- Ozma Fans on Livejournal (http://www.livejournal.com/community/ozma_fans/)
- Daniel Brummel is now a member of the band Gone With The Ghosts (http://www.myspace.com/gonewiththeghosts/)