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Ozma Information
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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 Russian folk song made famous as one of the Tetris themes) 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 deteriorating relationships between band members which affected the "creative and professional facets of the band to the extent that no one [felt] like continuing..."
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 the Fall 2005. Ryen Slegr and Jose Galvez recently formed a new band called Yes Dear with ex-members of Arlo and Teen Heroes.
Irregardless
As of November 13, Daniel Brummel has announced that the new band Irregardless, featuring all the previous members of Ozma minus Patrick Edwards, will be playing at least one show as an opening band for The Wrens, and the set will include both old songs as well as new material which he and Ryan Slegr have worked on. No further information has been released about whether they will continue to record a new album.
On December 3rd, 2005 Ozma billed as Irregardless played the Troubadour in Hollywood, opening up for The Wrens. Although unofficial, several band members have since hinted that Ozma is back and have already started writing with plans to start playing regularly and possibly touring in the future.
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