Joshua Keith Ostrander (born April 8, 1979), also known as Mondo Cozmo, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is now based in Los Angeles, California. His solo music has been described as "chorus-heavy folk-rock."
Biography and career Laguardia (2000–2005) Ostrander fronted the alt-rock band Laguardia from 2000 to 2005. It included Joshua Ostrander, Greg Lyons, Lee Bernstein and Michael Morpurgo and was signed to Universal Records and Republic Records released the album Welcome to the Middle in 2003 with "Holy Ghost" from the album released as a single. Ostrander's band, Laguardia, should not be confused with the famous Spanish Pop rock band La Guardia active 1983–1997 and relaunched in 2003.
Eastern Conference Champions (2005–2015) Ostrander later became the front man of Eastern Conference Champions (ECC), which he started with his friend and collaborator Greg Lyons from Laguardia and Vern Zaborowski from CKY. The band also included Melissa Dougherty. The band came about when Ostrander and Lyons signed with Geffen Records and released the EP called The Southampton Collection under the ECC moniker. Three studio albums followed: Ameritown in 2007, Santa Fe in 2009 and SPEAK-AHH in 2010, and a number of EPs as Eastern Conference Champions. ECC disbanded in August 2015.
Other collaborations Along with producing their own releases, Ostrander produced for such bands as Voxhaul Broadcast and worked on projects with such producers as Brendan O'Brien, Owen Morris, Brad Wood, Thom Panunzio, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Ostrander works out of his downtown LA studio called Santa Fe Studios.
Mondo Cozmo (2015–present) Ostrander began recording under the name Mondo Cozmo in 2016, and his single "Shine" hit No. 1 on Billboard's Adult Alternative Songs chart in January 2017.Mondo Cozmo's 'Shine' Crowns Adult Alternative Songs. Billboard, January 20, 2017. His name comes from a combination of his dog's name, Cozmo, and the 1969 John Waters comedy "Mondo Trasho." His debut album "Plastic Soul" was released on August 4, 2017.
Ostrander's debut headlining tour as Mondo Cozmo began on July 12, 2017 at the Exit/In in Nashville, Tennessee. The tour ran nineteen shows and concluded on October 28, 2017. The touring band was composed of Drew "The Kid" Beck on electric guitar, Chris Null on acoustic guitar and bass, James Gordon on synth and keys, and Andrew Tolman on drums. Mondo Cozmo continues to tour and opened for Vance Joy in summer 2018.
Discography Albums with Laguardia 2004: Welcome to the Middle, Universal Republic – Singer/Songwriter Co-Production
with Eastern Conference Champions 2005: The Southampton Collection, Geffen Records – Singer/Songwriter-Producer 2007: Ameritown, Interscope Records – Singer/Songwriter – Co-Production 2009: Santa Fe, RockHampton Records – Singer/Songwriter- Production 2010: Akustiks, RockHampton Records - Singer/Songwriter - Production 2010: SPEAK-AHH, RockHampton Records – Singer/Songwriter – Production 2015: Love in Wartime, RockHampton Records - Singer/Songwriter - Production
as Producer 2009: "Blaggers and Liars", KAV – 2009 – Producer/Engineer/Mixer 2009: "Fact, Fiction and Turquoise", Voxhaul Broadcast – Producer/Engineer/Mixer 2009: "Mios", Corband – Producer/Engineer/Mixer 2009: "Untitled", Two Years Before The Mast – Producer/Engineer/Mixer 2009: "Lay Alone" single, The Brothers Movement – Mixer 2010: "Untitled", KAV – 2010 – Producer/Engineer/Mixer 2017: "Plastic Soul", Republic Records - Producer 2020: “New Medicine”, Last Gang Records - Executive Producer 2022: "This Is For The Barbarians", Last Gang Records - Executive Producer 2024: "It's PRINCIPLE!", Last Gang Records - Executive producer
Singles as Mondo Cozmo Title Year Peak chart positions Album USAAA USAlt. USRock AUSDigi.CANRockUKSales"Hold On to Me"2016 — — — — — —Plastic Soul"Shine" 1 17 40 35 31 87"Automatic"2017 13 — — — 49 —"Plastic Soul" 29 — — — — —"Tonight Tonight"2018 28 — — — — —Your Motherfucker EP"Black Cadillac"2019 — — — — — — New Medicine"Come On" — — — — — —"Generator" — — — — — —"Upside Down"2020 31 — — — — —"Feel Good"2021 — — — — — — This Is for the Barbarians"Meant for Livin'"2022 — — — — — —"Electrify My Love" — — — — — — "Wild Horses"2024 — — — — — — It's PRINCIPLE! "Sweet Forever"2026 — — — — — 96 Sweet Forever "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
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