Junkyard Empire

Junkyard Empire is a politically conscious alternative hip hop, rock and jazz band from St. Paul Minnesota that is signed to Media Roots Music.

Junkyard Empire Promo Shot - (from left to right) Dan Choma, Graham O'Brien, Christopher Robin Cox [Back], Brihanu, Bryan Berry [Front].
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Band history

Junkyard Empire was formed in the Fall of 2006 as an acid jazz/hip-hop collaboration between friends Brian Lozenski and Chris Robin Cox. The band’s current lineup of Brihanu, Christopher Robin Cox, Bryan Berry, Steve Hogan (joined just before Rebellion Politik to replace Dan Choma), and Graham Obrien was finalized shortly before the release of their second album, Rise of the Wretched. Mixed and mastered by Brian Susko at Dharma Sound Studios in Santa Monica, CA, it was here that Junkyard Empire came to the attention of Marc Nicolas who signed the band under the start up Media Roots Music. In the past two years that band has shared the stage Desdamona, Michael Larsen (R.I.P.), Carnage The Executioner, Blue King Brown, Broadcast Live, Boots Riley and the Coup, Los Nativos, Kill the Vultures, Toki Wright, and numerous others.
The band first came into real local and tepid national prominence with their infamous performance on the Minnesota State Capital during the Republican National Convention in 2008, when their show was interrupted by hundreds of riot cops attacking a group of bicyclists in the crowd. Tension raised to a fever pitch, nearly to point of rioting, all while the band improvised freely over the tune Wretched (from the album Rise of the Wretched), as rapper Brihanu chanted to the police "let them go." Parts of this performance were featured in the documentary Terrorizing Dissent.
The release of the Rebellion Politik EP in 2009, followed a hugely successful 10-day tour of Cuba, where they were invited by the Ministry of Culture. With some noticeable success on college radio, landing in the top 10 on well over a dozen college radio stations across the country, it is with great anticipation that their second release on MediaRoots Music, tentatively titled "Anti-American", comes out in the Spring of 2011.
NOTABLE QUOTES: "The thirty minutes and change of "Rebellion Politik" certainly aren't going to be for everyone. There's no comforting bling bling, no gyrations causing sexual salivation, no odes to conspicuous consumption to be found on this EP. Many of the truths here are hard and uncomfortable, but thanks to Brihanu's flow and the ability of his band to jam, a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down in what this critic would consider to be a delightful way." -Steve "Flash" Juon
"Junkyard Empire is an outstanding ensemble." -Noam Chomsky
"To ensure their survival and success, musicians in the US keep away from the contentious issue of politics. They are rewarded by the corporate-dominated media with excessive publicity and, as a consequence, higher sales. In such an atmosphere, bands like Junkyard Empire are unlikely to find any of their songs reaching the number one position on the charts. Nor do they hanker for that brand of popularity. They do want to reach people, but through different routes and for very different reasons. It is not indifference to public taste, but rather an examined intent to sensitize the public that guides the band." -independent journalist Dahr Jamail
"It’s like listening to Red Hot Chilli Peppers fronted by Kweli, with the rush of Rage Against The Machine when they still had something to say." - Okay Player

Discography

Oppression, Anger, Awareness, Organize, Mobilize, Reclaim Freedom (aka Reclaim Freedom) - January 3, 2008

This self-produced early brainchild of long time friends Christopher Robin Cox and Brihanu blended Hip-Hop, Jazz, and political lyrics. The album also featured Jaime Delzer on saxophone, Tony Blonigan on guitar, Ben Schaffer on bass, Casey O’Brien on bass, and Adam Katz on drums.

Rise of the Wretched - October 29, 2008

The first album recorded with the band’s current line up, Rise of the Wretched was recorded on July 8, 2008 at the McNally Smith College of Music by a group of audio engineering students as part of their final project. The album was then mastered at Dharma Sound Studios in Santa Monica by Producer Brian Susko. Bryan Berry and Dan Choma both joined the band a few months before the recording session, followed by Graham O’Brien when former drummer Adam Katz moved to Milwaukee.

The Rebellion Politik EP - Summer, 2009

This was Junkyard Empire’s first release as a signed band. Produced and mixed by Brian Susko, and mastered at Capital Records. The band received it's first major national press coverage with this release.

Junkyard Empire has a new release, tentatively titled Anti-American due out in the Spring of 2011.

Band members

Brihanu (aka Brian Lozenski) — Vocals

Originally from Philadelphia, PA, Brihanu finished his undergraduate studies at Cornell with a double major in Operations Research Engineering and Africana Studies. He went on to receive a Masters from the University of Pennsylvania in Education and will be enrolling as a Ph.D. student in Education at the University of Minnesota. Brihanu is currently a school teacher, a boys group mentor, and a chess coach.

Christopher Robin Cox — Trombone and Keyboards

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Chris studied jazz performance and trombone at the Manhattan School of Music and later received a degree in Political Science from Sonoma State University. Chris has toured extensively as a professional jazz musician, and has traveled much of the world on cruise ships, playing in the orchestra. He has recorded and/or played with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Grupo Niche, Stanley Jordan, the Acme Swing Company, and a long list of others. Currently, Chris spends his days working as a project manager/grass roots organizer for Grassroots Solutions, a company started by the campaign directors for the late Senator Paul Wellstone.

Bryan Berry — Guitar

Originally from North Dakota, Bryan has received 3 degrees from the University of Minnesota in Architecture, Mathematics, and Hearing Sciences. In his spare time Bryan is an avid vintage audio gear collector.

Steve Hogan — Bass

Steve also plays with a great indie rock band called Run Stop Explode. With his entrance into the band, the group started taking a major step toward a more rock-oriented sound, while simultaneously upping their jazz game as well.

Graham O’Brien — Drums

Originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, Graham received a degree from McNally Smith College of Music in Recording Engineering. He also completed 3 years in the Jazz Studies program at Columbia College in Chicago. Graham plays in a series of different hip-hop, rock, and jazz bands in the Twin Cities area. His compositions and production can be heard with the band Abzorbr. He currently works as a freelance drummer, composer and audio engineer.

Related Acts

Biomimic Productions – Brian Lozenski
Northern Cargo — Christopher Robin Cox
No Bird Sing — Graham O’Brien
Abzorbr — Graham O’Brien
Keston & Westdal – Graham O’Brien

All members have been featured musicians in the collective known as the Minneapolis Free Music Society, originally started by free jazz bassist/punk guitarist, and painter Jaime Paul Lamb.

Political Affiliations

Junkyard Empire performed at the "No Peace for War Makers Rally” during the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, which was featured in the movie Terrorizing Descent.
The band also worked closely with The League of Pissed Off Voters (aka League of Independent Voters) and Canvassed Neighborhoods in St Paul during the 2008 election. In addition, the group also supports the Anti War Committee, Food Not Bombs, and the Fair Trade Organization.

Articles

Okay Player review of Rebellion Politik [1] Steve "Flash" Juon's amazing review of Rebellion Politik
[2]
Rift Magazine EP Release Feature
Political Affairs Magazine
EP “Stocking Stuffer” review in TC Daily Planet
TC Daily Planet “Music Note”
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Insight News
Fight Back News