Date Signed: October 2026
Label: DC-Jam Records
Band Members: Roland O’Cello, vocals; Juan Rodriguez, bass; Omar Gutierrez, drums; Robert Canales, guitar
Genre: Punk, Garage, Psych
Publicity: Mike Cubillos - Earshot Media, mike@earshotmedia.com
A&R: DC-Jam Records
Web: instagram.com/hypermindsband
Roland O’Cello is the face of Hyper Minds. The rising garage-punk act has been playing the Los Angeles area for the last two and a half years. Since they formed, their strategy has been simple: keep making noise. “We were just in the mode of grind, grind, grind,” says the vocalist.
On the back of two raucous EPs and a handful of singles, they booked a gig at Permanent Records Roadhouse in Cypress Park opening for Ultrabomb. The hardcore supergroup, signed to DC-Jam Records, apparently liked what they heard. O’Cello’s theory is that the power trio instructed the label’s president, Darron Hemann, to check them out.
Hemann did and emailed O’Cello. Before responding, the singer inspected the indie label’s website and was impressed by their roster. “The Adicts is a huge inspiration to us,” reveals the front man, adding that everyone in Hyper Minds grew up listening to the British punk rockers. Other notable acts with DC-Jam include T.S.O.L., Meat Puppets, and JFA.
The email discussion eventually triggered a Zoom call. The two chatted for hours while the others tracked parts for the group’s next release. “We had a great rapport from the get go,” notes the singer. “We have similar goals, and the stuff he said he could help with all made sense.”
Once a contract arrived, O’Cello asked his father to look it over, as his dad has examined many legal agreements during his time in the film industry. Everything passed muster. “The only thing I requested is that [Hemann] help me find a booking agent,” the singer adds.
The choice to sign with DC-Jam ultimately rested on O’Cello’s shoulders, but he nonetheless made sure everyone in the band was happy calling the label home. “Everybody gave me the thumb’s up,” he reports. “I definitely wanted the guys to feel comfortable with what we were doing.”
After the ink dried, O’Cello connected with Ultrabomb’s drummer, Derek O’Brien, who welcomed him into the DC-Jam family and assured him that he’d be taken care of. Affirms O’Cello, “Hearing that from an O.G. gave me peace of mind.”
Look for the DC-Jam debut from Hyper Minds, Perfect Chaos, out now.
