Exclusiva: Ozomatli Talks November Elections and ‘Respeto’

By Michael Lopez

Mark your calendars. Tomorrow the polls will officially be open, giving you the power to influence the laws and elected officials in your region. And despite some negative ads floating around, it is extremely important that you make your voice heard. Ozomatli’s definitely doing their part to hammer the message home, by partnering with the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) and issuing a new politically-charged single called “Respeto.”

Image : Getty Images

Speaking exclusively with Blogamole, Ozo guitarist Raul Pacheco explained his thoughts about election day and why getting to the polls is so important,

“The more you are involved, the more you do have an impact. Whether it’s by voting or whether it’s by shaping laws. You can contact your representative, you can get to know them on a first-name basis…We really want to inform people to get involved and show up at the polls!”

Fans of Ozomatli know they’ve been a very socially-conscious band from the start. Formed 15 years ago in Los Angeles (yes, they are celebrating their Quinces this year), Ozo’s rock/funk/jazz/hip-hop fusions have built them a worldwide following. But listen to their lyrics and you’ll find some very topical messages sprinkled into the mix.

For “Respeto”, a bilingual single available as a free download on their site, the guys mix bouncy drum beats, singalong vocals, and funky bass grooves with a very clear chorus; “Stand Up!” As in, stand up and be counted. Not coincidentally, the title of the song goes right in line with NCLR’s “Vote For Respect” campaign.

As Raul noted,

“We’ve done work with [the NCLR] for many years now. It’s a very good collaboration.” When describing the track, he said, “We did it to create momentum and to create a message. It’s about respecting yourself by participating.”

Obviously the message is getting heard loud and clear. President Obama joined them for a political rally at USC in California last week (which made for an awesome pic on their site) and, according to Raul, fan feedback has been incredible.

Let’s hope it translates into some overcrowded voting booths this coming Tuesday.

Do you know who you’ll be voting for on November 2? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags Agentes De Cambio, Elections, Música, NCLR, Obama, Ozomotli, Politics, Raul Pacheco, Respeto, Vote For Respect