By Michael Aushenker
“We either get ‘Japanese war cry’ or ‘feng shui,’” drummer Gabby Pozon, 19, says of what people guess is the meaning behind the name of her band, RAMEKEGA, who travel from San Bernardino tonight to rock The Talking Stick in Venice.
What the name really has become is a mantra for this band of four sisters — headed by chief singer and lyricist Kelli Pozon, 24, and eldest sister Melissa, 26 — sticking together in the aftermath of a family tragedy.
RAMEKEGA emerged from a defining moment in 2007, when Marie Pozon, mother of the band members, died of a brain aneurism. While the older sisters had already begun noodling on writing music, their parent’s sudden death galvanized the girls to turn to the therapeutic properties of music for solace. The creative process quickly gained momentum when the Pozons decided to form a band.
RAMEKEGA hit the road later that year playing all-original material in shows through Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties, including stops at The Talking Stick and the Tenth and California open mic night in Santa Monica.
In 2008 they recorded their first album, “Me and My Shadow.”
The Chino Hills outfit released its second album, “Normalcy,” in 2010, which was also produced by their father, Rey Pozon, a skilled sound engineer.
“I’m the one who got roped in!” Rey said.
The band also recently added a fourth member — Rey’s youngest daughter, Kaira, who is only 10.
Kaira received a bass guitar on her eighth birthday in 2011 and “she picked it up really quickly,” Kelli said.
When RAMEKEGA last played the Talking Stick, Kaira impressed bassist John Cartright, who has performed with Harry Belafonte, with her playing. Martin Yardborough of Earth, Wind and Fire has also enjoyed the band.
The amount of new material these young ladies create together could easily fill another five albums. For now, they plan to settle for a dozen tracks when they re-enter the studio with Dad to record their as-of-yet untitled third release this spring. Lyrics of those new songs, Kelli said, will continue to address “love and dreams.” Rey added that his daughters play their songs in one take to try to capture their live sound.
Despite their age, the Pozon sisters seem disinterested in the Biebers, Cyruses and Gagas of the day. They’ve inherited Rey’s musical DNA — via his ‘70s record collection — and light up when talking about The Beatles, The Bee-Gees, ABBA, Pat Benatar and The Carpenters. Kelli also name-checks Gershwin and Porter. When pressed for contemporary music they enjoy, Norah Jones, Amy Winehouse and Plain White Tees pop up. RAMEKEGA may very well be the youngest musicians on record to gush over meeting Peter Frampton, which they did at a Guitar Center earlier this year.
Kelli chalks up their old-soul musical taste to how melodic the bands of the 1970s were.
“They were more innocent, more joyful. All they wanted to do is sing,” she said.
Much like RAMEKEGA themselves, it appears.
In addition to their mother’s passing and their band, the sisters have bonded during home-schooling, first under the direction of their parents, but now they home-school each other. They read Marvel and DC Comics but also enjoy Dickens, Dumas and especially Austen.
Although described by Kelli as an objective and sometimes tough critic, her father expressed pride in his family’s musical accomplishments.
Rey said he knew something serious was happening when strangers began connecting with RAMEKEGA’s original tunes. Last time the sisters performed at the Talking Stick, they were told to keep playing and the concert ran on until 2 a.m. On Jan. 9, The band will perform on the local Filipino television program “Kababayan Today.”
“When I see them up there, I know they’re my kids,” Rey said, “but they’re somebody else I don’t really know!”
Long supportive of their professional goals, he now wants his daughters to go forward without looking back.
“You can’t un-jump a cliff,” he said. “You’ve got to go for it.”
As for what exactly RAMEKEGA means, it’s an amalgam of initials from each girl’s name — originally created as their password to play the “Where In The World is Carmen Sandiego?” video game online. Once again, four sisters sticking together.
RAMEKEGA play from 7 to 11:45 p.m. (or longer) tonight at The Talking Stick, 1411 Lincoln Blvd., Ste. C, Venice. Call (310) 450-6052 or visit ramekega.com.
Michael(at)argonautnews.com
Are you guise the young Beatles of the 2010 decade??? (I mean–I’m a picky musician, and I loved hearing you play at the Plough.) (Where they “ram kegs” while getting ’em up the stairs to the bar.) Thanks for being you!
Uh, what does “home-schooling” mean? (In your case, I mean.)
All the best in 2014,
guy
P.S. A friend just called and invited me to go see a band tonight at a cafe (the Awaken Cafe) in dntn Oakland. The band’s called Janam. Ever heard of ’em? I hadn’t.
Anyway, hope you’re all enjoying life!
best, guy
Hello Guy,
RAMEKEGA originally stood for the first 2 letters of the original members of the band: RAchel (eldest), MElissa, KElli, and GAbrielle. When Rachel left the band due to family indifferences in 2007, the band decided to take the last letters of the youngest sister (kaiRA) in 2013. Kaira did not actually play “Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego” to have that password.
As for homeschool… We were all homeschooled by our mom until she passed away.
Gabrielle and Kaira were still young when that happened, but their dad and sisters would not have them go to a public school… And other personal reasons.
Sincerely,
Rachel Pozon
“When Rachel left ..” why do you write in the third person? Reads like you miss being in the band by giving a history of your part in it instead of answering the question about homeschooling. Being in a band with a regular school schedule totally blows!
Wow very touching story. Thank you for opening up yourselves.
Hi Guy!
We’re humbled that you do remember us from 2010!!! We wish you a great New Year 2014, and we hope you’ll continue with us on this amazing musical journey. And thank you, yes, we ARE enjoying life!
RAMEKEGA
P.S. “Home-schooling” for us means: Absolutely no excuse to not have done our homework. 🙂
RAMEKEGA is the best band ever!
Thank you so much Sarah-Jane!!! 🙂 We really appreciate your support. Hopefully we’ll get to see you at one of our shows soon!
I really admire the girls’ father. To go through so much and still be able to encourage his daughters to dream and to sing! Most people would close in on themselves instead of continue to give joy to others. You go girls – and don’t let no one, no how, stop you! There’s a whole lot of world out there waiting to hear you and your amazing songs! THE next big thing is Ramekega. Take the blinders off and remove the wax from your ears people, they’re here! Great read.
Very tuching story. I listened to their music and I think this band is going to be one of the greatest.