Oslo is an alternative/indie rock band born from the Los Angeles music scene in 2005, consisting of the songwriters Mattia Borrani on lead vocals, Kerry Wayne James on bass, and Gabrial McNair on guitars. Famously, McNair was a touring member of the band No Doubt. They later added keyboardist Damon Ramirez, and drummer Charlie Walker.
With their first album, Oslo made a splash in the music scene and got featured in LA Weekly, Rolling Stone, Billboard and the Los Angeles Times. Their song “Minute Gun” became a hit on LA’s Indie 103. The critics praised their live performances and their songs’ richness and intricacy. In 2007, they inked a publishing deal with Songs Music Publishing that led to their songs being used in movies and TV shows. They also shared the stage with bands like Blue October, Third Eye Blind, Motion City Soundtrack and many more.
In November 2007, they co-produced their second album, The Rise and Fall of Love and Hate, with Ryan Hewitt, and Grammy Nominated engineer/mixer, Mickey P and Sam Fogarino (the drummer from Interpol). Fogarino also drummed on “Things Fall Apart” and “A Darker Shade”. Adrian Young was the drummer on “Mistakes”. Other guest artists included Melissa Auf der Maur from Hole who sang backup vocals on “A Darker Shade”. Paz Lenchantin from Pixies (band) and her sister, cellist Ana Lenchantin, played violin and cello on “Crowded Room”. Their lead single “Slowdive” was played on SiriusXMU, college and specialty radio. “Rhyme Or Reason” was used in the season two finale of the CBS TV show The Unit. Several songs from “Rise and Fall” were also featured in movies and TV shows.
In 2011, they came out with their third album, “High Mountain Sessions Vol. 1”. It had several new tracks and bonus remixes by Sam Fogarino and Andy Monaghan (Andreas Lust) from Frightened Rabbit. Showtime’s popular series, “Shameless”, used their song “Riff Raff” in two episodes.
In December 2016, the band returned with a five song EP called “The Morning After.” They toured that release famously opening for Dreamcar, in San Francisco at the Great American Music Hall, and in Los Angeles at the Roxy Theatre.
What the Press has to Say
The Rise & Fall of Love and Hate is part shoegaze, part understated soft-loud dynamic, with a little Interpol and Oasis thrown in, but all dreamy rock through and through.