Cross-cultural mix
Southern California’s Ozomatli blends Latin, hip-hop, rock genres
Like many others in Southern California, Ulises Bella is trying to find a way to keep cool.
The area has been in a heat wave. Luckily, Bella is gearing up to head to New Mexico for two shows.
“We absolutely love it out there,” he says in a recent phone interview. “We were out in Santa Fe earlier in the summer, and it was an amazing experience.”
Bella is a member of the Grammy Award-winning band Ozomatli.
He is joined in the band by Wil-Dog Abers, Raúl “El Bully” Pacheco, Justin “El Niño Porée, Asdru Sierra and Jiro Yamaguchi.
The band, which is celebrating its 23rd year in music, is known for playing primarily Latin, hip-hop and rock music.
Over the years, the band has also become known for advocating for farmworkers’ rights and immigration reform.
Bella says the band is in the studio working on new material.
“We’ve been in the studio to mix it up,” he says. “We’ve reunited with Chali 2na, and it’s been great writing sessions.”
Ozomatli is also known for always being on the road.
In fact, after the two shows in New Mexico this weekend, the band heads to Dublin and then the United Kingdom for shows.
“It can be difficult to want to write new music,” he says of balancing music and life. “When you get back from the road, the last thing you want to do is pick up and instrument. We all need to recharge our batteries, and we’re pretty good about it.”
Ozomatli will perform a free show at 6 tonight at Northern New Mexico College, 921 N. Paseo de Oñate, Española. It is part of a free community event sponsored by A New Normal.Life.
The band then travels south to Albuquerque to headline Albuquerque’s Westside Summerfest.
The free, family-friendly event features runs from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at Cottonwood Mall.
The event also features an artisan market, microbrew garden, food trucks and live entertainment.
According to city officials, there will also be children’s activities, including free face painting, an inflatable bounce house, slides and games and a 25-foot rock climbing wall.
Free parking is available at the Cibola High School parking lot, with free shuttles taking eventgoers from Cibola to the BJ’s parking lot throughout the event.
The event is free to the public. Pets are welcome on leashes, and it is a rain-orshine event.