PureVolume

Los Angeles band Oslo comprised of songwriting trio Mattia Borrani (lead vocals, guitars), Kerry Wayne James (bass) and Gabrial McNair (guitars, backing vocals), has enjoyed much success independent of any label support. Their emotive and engaging live shows and self-titled, self-produced debut release (2005) garnered significant buzz and coverage from RollingStone, Billboard, Music Edge, LA Weekly and the Los Angeles Times, which named Oslo one of the top 10 bands to download in the Fall of 2006. Oslo recently wrapped recording of their forthcoming sophomore release The Rise and Fall of Love and Hate, which they co-produced with Grammy Nominated engineer/mixer Ryan Hewitt (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Mickey P (Beck, Peaches, The Eels) and Sam Fogarino (Drummer, Interpol).

The critical acclaim of both their live shows and their debut release underscores not only the band's onstage showmanship but the complexity and depth with which they compose music. Rich in texture, melody and fervor the Oslo sound conveys a layered listening experience that is as intricate as it is intelligent and evocative. "One of us will come up with a rough song structure and as a band we'll morph it into something that has a life of its own, something that we never, as an individual, would have created. That is one of the things I love about making music as a band." Borrani reflects, "it's very organic."

Though Oslo was founded in 2003, the band's history begins ten years earlier when Gabrial McNair, known for his work as touring and recording multi-instrumentalist for No Doubt as well as Green Day and Gwen Stefani, met Kerry Wayne James, backstage at a gig in San Francisco. Later, Kerry would meet songwriter and vocalist Mattia Borrani, through a mutual friend. All three would continue their individual endeavors until a series of serendipitous encounters in Los Angeles led the trio to reconnect and begin writing together. Shortly thereafter, they founded Oslo, recorded their debut release and beefed up their onstage set as a quintet with keyboardist Damon Ramirez and drummer Charlie Walker, both of whom play on the self-titled debut and The Rise and Fall of Love and Hate.

"Minutegun," off the band's debut release, quickly became a Los Angeles radio favorite while "The Stranger" was featured on CSI: NY in the Fall of 2006. After touring for most of 2005, Oslo began writing again, returning to the studio last summer to record their forthcoming sophomore album The Rise and Fall of Love and Hate. The album features guest appearances by Adrian Young, Melissa Auf Der Maur, Paz Lechantin and Ana Lechantin.

In the Fall of 2006, Texas natives Blue October, having caught Oslo earlier in the year playing the Texas RockFest during SXSW chose the band over 30 others to support their Fall tour in the US and Canada, further broadening the Oslo fanbase. Oslo, recently appeared on Indie 103.1's Check One...Two to preview new tracks from their upcoming release. "Oslo have the chops, tunes and aura to influence rather than be influenced. It's time for a liberating leap into originality's embrace," says LA Weekly's Paul Rogers.