Ozomatli vs. KCRW Soundclash

Soundclash: Ozomatli

Ozomatli vs. KCRW Soundclash Remix Project
Grammy-winning Latin ensemble Ozomatli are one of Los Angeles’ proudest musical exports, serving as Cultural Ambassadors – both literally and figuratively – for the city’s melting pot of musical influences. KCRW Music Director Jason Bentley, Anthony Valadez, Aaron Byrd, Anne Litt, and Tom Schnabel remix songs from the collective’s fifth studio release “Fire Away” as part of a unique creative collaboration between KCRW and Mercer Street / Downtown Records.

Streaming Tracks

Preview the Remix & Album

Tracks from Ozomatli vs KCRW: Soundclash

1. Love Comes Down (Anne Litt remix)
2. 45 (Tom Schnabel remix)
3. Love Comes Down (Anthony Valadez remix)
4. Are You Ready (it’sAByrd’s Bundao remix)
5. Malagasy Shock (Jason Bentley remix)

This is the second installment of the Soundclash series, where KCRW DJs take a turn  remixing a favorite, socially conscious artist. Femi Kuti vs. KCRW was released in 2009.

CELEBRATE THE DIFFERENCE

Ozomatli is a band that means so many different things to so many different people. To some, they are the voice of the voiceless. To others, they are the best live band in the world, blending a myriad of genres for one purpose – to make people dance.  Never have I heard a band capture the aesthetic of Los Angeles the way Ozomatli has. Like KCRW, they are a quintessential Los Angeles cultural institution.

As a young Latino who grew up in LA during the 80’s, I tend to reflect back on the concrete elements that make this city what it is.  We had Magic, Kareem and the Showtime Lakers uniting LA’s diverse population. We also had Chevy Impala’s cruising down South Gate and the long lines at Pink’s Hot Dogs on a hot summer day as the Hollywood signed beamed from miles away.    

As the 80’s babies of LA began to grow, we reconnected with the spirit of activism, developing a deep connection to current and past leaders such as Cesar Chavez, who campaigned for the rights of immigrants and farm workers. I discovered Ozomatli while taking classes in the Chicano Studies Department at Cal State Northridge and their music quickly became the soundtrack for a new a generation of leaders and, more importantly, music lovers. 

Ozomatli - then a 10-piece band - played to a small crowd of students during a noontime concert and I was instantly impressed and appreciative of their diversity. They had a complete horn section, turntables, an emcee with a mic rocking the crowd while also offering a taste of cumbia, salsa, hip hop, and soul.  It was unlike anything I had ever seen before.  But what really made this band stand out was their message of unity, equality and justice. 

To know Ozomatli is to understand the band’s foundation. In 1995, the members formed as a jam band to perform at The Peace & Justice Center of Los Angeles in support of picketers during a strike. The band dropped their debut self-titled album in 1998. Although there were member changes, the core group remained strong and the “OZO” brand became a common street fixture appearing as stickers, shirts and stencils all over Los Angeles.

The band also received much deserved critical acclaim when their album “Embrace the Chaos” won a Grammy for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album in 2002, catapulting LA’s revolutionary party rockers into a prestigious category of musicianship. The band continued with more Grammy success after their 2005 release of “Street Signs.” Ozomatli then developed a new and unique title only shared by a few -- Cultural Ambassadors as granted by the U.S State Department.  This new opportunity allowed the band to perform free concerts for the public in various countries such as Vietnam, India, Nepal, Jordan and Myanmar that helped bridge social barriers and build connections with people all over the world.  

On the verge of the release of their fifth studio album “Fire Away,” Ozomatli is as essential as they’ve ever been, showcasing one of the most exciting and progressive sounds in Latin music. KCRW was the first radio station to play their music and hosted their live performance debut in 1997. Don’t miss their appearance on Thursday, April 22 at 11:15am and make sure to be at the Hollywood Bowl when they perform as part of KCRW’s World Festival on Sunday, September 19.

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