I met Josh Tillman aka Father John Misty in September at the Fleet Foxes Santa Barbara Bowl show. He’d been playing drums for them since 2008 and recently left the band in order to preach the gospel of his solo project full-time.
To be honest, I didn’t know his work outside the band. But we shared a nice good conversation after the show at a little dive bar in downtown that prompted me to dig a little deeper and I was astonished to discover he’d released seven albums since 2003.
Shortly after …

This was my second SXSW and you know that Sade song, “it’s never, as good as the first time….” Well, that definitely does not apply to SX. It was a fantastic experience the second time around and I cannot wait for next year! It’s difficult to extract 5 favorite moments, as there were so many, but, these definitely stand out:

1. Seeing Kimbra live.
I have been obsessed with the New Zealand songstress for over a year now. When I heard “Settle Down” last summer I nearly lost my mind. Watching …

It is a comfort to know that I can always rely on my friends Jamie Strong and Nate Nelson, founders of LA’s buzzing new label Innovative Leisure, to champion great music.
These are the same folks who shone the light on some of my favorite finds of 2011 — Hanni El Khatib and Nick Waterhouse — and continuing in the tradition of the ‘new oldies’ creative direction, the label has scored, yet again, with their latest signing Allah-Las.
I saw the LA-based band perform at the youngest addition to Venice live music …

From DJ Valida:
I have no idea how Bahamas’ album “Barchords” ended up in my inbox.
All I remember is that I was getting ready for my KCRW show a couple of weeks ago – which means sorting through a pile of physical CDs and also a digital folder on my desktop where I literally dump everything that accumulates via emails – and I stumbled across it.
I usually listen to three or four tracks by unknown artists before I decide if it’s something I want to play on-air, because I’ve erroneously passed …

By KCRW DJ Valida:
Once dubbed by the New York Times as “The Queen of Miami’s Rock and Roll scene,” Los Angeles can now boast that Rachel Goodrich is their own. She moved here just over a year ago from the East Coast.
When I heard Rachel was working on a new album a few months back, I was thrilled. I have been a fan for almost two years now, or pretty much since the first time I saw her play live, so any hint at upcoming new material from this “queen …

KCRW DJ and Bosnian native Valida shares her affection for Dino Merlin:
It’s no small feat to have a career spanning over 25 years, but Bosnia’s favorite pop crooner, Dino Merlin, has managed just that. From his early debut back in 1985 as a front man of Sarajevo’s indie-pop outfit, Merlin, Dino has captivated audiences from all walks of life and ethnic background with his powerful mix of pop, rock, and traditional Bosnian themes of unrequited love, longing and redemption.
I have been a fan since I was a little girl. It …

By DJ Valida -
One of the perks of being the DJ and Talent Coordinator for one of West Hollywood’s most intimate live music series, Desert Nights at the Standard in Hollywood, is being in a position to meet an incredible array of artists from all walks of life. Some are well-established, having 5+ records behind them, but some are in the early spring of their career…perhaps a little rough around the edges, but with a promise that something great will ensue, if they just stick with it.
And every once in …

Stream DJ Valida’s remix of LA band Saint Motel’s single here and read more about the story behind it below. And if you want even MORE, hear the original version of “Puzzle Pieces” and check out their live session on KCRW last year.
Download Valida’s Repuzzled Remix by clicking on the small down arrow at the right of the player.
Puzzle Pieces Validas Repuzzled Mix by KCRW
From KCRW DJ Valida:
I remember it all started with a very casual conversation. Saint Motel singer AJ Jackson and I were enjoying some mouth-watering cuisine …

By KCRW DJ Valida:
It’s been a few years since I graduated from UCLA’s department of World Arts And Cultures. During my time spent on campus, it was very common for me to walk the hallways of the Dance Building and peek through the doors of different dance studios and be exposed to many different types of music and dance traditions. On any given day, one could hear the sounds of Flamenco, Brazilian, West-African, Afro-Cuban, Hip-Hop and East Asian music resonating through the building. It’s one of the things I miss …

Foster the People by Williams + Hirakawa

KCRW DJ Valida loves adding her special touch to favorite tracks. She remixed local artist Jenny O earlier this year and has now gotten her hands on another LA band, Foster the People. You can stream her “Slip Out Mix” of “Houdini” and read more about how the remix came about below.
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
Download here
Foster’s album is out on May 23 and fans who pre-order on their site get four tracks instantly, including the original version of “Houdini” and the …