Nassir Nassirzadeh

Nassir Nassirzadeh

KCRW Staff/Host, Nassir Nassirzadeh

Nassir Nassirzadeh has always felt connected to the plight and flight of the underdog, whether it’s Rocky Balboa, the 1992-1993 Lakers, or musicians who are under the radar but deserve access to the wide audience that needs them. 

After graduating from USC, Nassir started his music career at KCRW as a volunteer, and later on staff as the assistant music librarian. He played a key role in the station's massive music library digitization project in 2007, storing over 60,000 titles and assisting his favorite DJ's with finding and organizing music for their various shows. It was through this project that he learned the magic of unearthing and sharing obscure musical treasures.

Nassir would eventually work closely with one of the station's legendary pioneers, Chris Douridas, serving as day-to-day general manager and lead talent booker for Chris' tastemaker School Night! showcase on both coasts, which included early performances from Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Hozier, and Sofi Tukker to name a few. Nassir also worked with Chris and independently as a music supervisor for film and television. Currently, Nassir is a music creative executive at Netflix, casting music talent for the studio's ambitious slate of animated films. 

Music has always helped define and enhance the greatest moments in Nassir's life. Nassir loves taking new music and blending it with something familiar. “It's like a scent that takes you to a place in the past so there's this nostalgic element to it, but also can continue to grow with you through new context and experiences."

KCRW has given Nassir endless driveway moments where time stands still because of what’s on the radio. The fleeting joy of music is too good to disconnect from. A line from one of his favorite songs says it all:


I lose some sales and my boss won't be happy
But I can't stop listening to the sound
Of two soft voices blended in perfection
From the reels of this record that I found


—Kings of Convenience, "Homesick"

Nassir looks forward to bringing you into your body and into the moment with music that is both old and new, known and unknown. Apologies in advance to your boss. 

Nassir Nassirzadeh on KCRW

Indie found sounds, nostalgic guilty pleasures, and introspective piano solos to help you feel deeply and move freely through life.

Nassir Nassirzadeh's playlist, April 14, 2024

Indie found sounds, nostalgic guilty pleasures, and introspective piano solos to help you feel deeply and move freely through life.

from Nassir Nassirzadeh

Indie found sounds, nostalgic guilty pleasures, and introspective piano solos to help you feel deeply and move freely through life.

Nassir Nassirzadeh's playlist, April 6, 2024

Indie found sounds, nostalgic guilty pleasures, and introspective piano solos to help you feel deeply and move freely through life.

from Nassir Nassirzadeh

Indie found sounds, nostalgic guilty pleasures, and introspective piano solos to help you feel deeply and move freely through life.

Nassir Nassirzadeh's playlist, March 30, 2024

Indie found sounds, nostalgic guilty pleasures, and introspective piano solos to help you feel deeply and move freely through life.

from Nassir Nassirzadeh

More from KCRW

Featuring selections that range from carefully curated music from around the world with unique gems and quality tracks that will satisfy the needs of even the most discerning music…

from Jason Kramer

Digitalism’s 2007 debut “Idealism” is getting the reissue treatment and we have the world premiere of previously unheard bonus track “Kontact”.

from FREAKS ONLY

Music to make you feel.

from Francesca Harding

A sonic trip through the past, present and future of roots music.

from Jeremy Sole

Dublin-based multi-instrumentalist Conor J O’Brien, best known for heading up Villagers , recently announced their sixth studio album, That Golden Time, dropping May 10.

from Today's Top Tune

Justice stops by between Coachella sets to enlighten us with their Guest DJ selects.

from Morning Becomes Eclectic

Unearthing new discoveries, remixes and rarities, b-sides and lost classics.

from Dan Wilcox

Young Fathers hit MBE in between Coachella weekends to share cuts from 2023’s “Heavy Heavy” including “Rice” and “Geronimo”.

from Morning Becomes Eclectic

An infectious harmony of varied sounds and melodies that bridge cultures and genres.

from José Galván