KCRW Music Announcement, Station Announcement

KCRW Reveals Best of 2022

KCRW Reveals Best of 2022

Santa Monica, CA (December 14, 2022) — KCRW has revealed its Best of 2022, the coveted list of the year’s best albums, songs, and artists. From experimental hip-hop to jazz electronica, post-Instagram post-punk to neo-discodelia, futurist salsa dura to pop renaissances, these are the sounds that defined KCRW’s year in music.  

Personal picks from each individual KCRW DJ, the Top Ten Today’s Top Tune(s), the most played songs, the first-ever Listener’s Choice, as well as the Best Reads from the team at Life Examined and Pantry Favorites from the team at Good Food are currently online at the Best of 2022 website.

KCRW’s Best 22 Albums of 2022

2022 marked the first full year of art born in the “after” — the progeny of time spent off schedules and outside of expectation, deep within ourselves and together in existential freefall. As we venture into whatever it is that comes next, chaos may not be going anywhere, but it does make for some damn fine company. These are the albums that defined our year.  

  1. Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (tied at number 1)
  2. Wet Leg – Wet Leg (tied at number 1)
  3. Toro y Moi – MAHAL
  4. Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul – Topical Dancer
  5. Automatic – Excess
  6. Danielle Ponder – Some Of Us Are Brave
  7. Say She She – Prism
  8. Robert Glasper – Black Radio III
  9. Panda Bear & Sonic Boom – Reset
  10. Spoon – Lucifer On The Sofa
  11. Thee Sacred Souls Thee Sacred Souls
  12. Stromae – Multitude
  13. Kikagaku Moyo – Kumoyo Island
  14. Beyoncé – RENAISSANCE
  15. Sudan Archives – Natural Brown Prom Queen
  16. Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – When the Lights Go
  17. The Comet Is Coming – Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam
  18. J.Rocc – A Wonderful Letter
  19. Silvana Estrada – Marchita
  20. Meridian Brothers – Meridian Brothers & El Grupo Renacimiento
  21. Bill Callahan – YTI⅃AƎЯ
  22. Nick Hakim – COMETA
  23. Leikeli47 – Shape Up


KCRW’s 2022 Breakthrough Artist – Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul

Belgian duo Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul have enjoyed the kind of year that most artists fantasize about. After a string of increasingly well-regarded singles, the duo dropped their full-length debut, “Topical Dancer,” in March 2022. First and foremost, it’s a banging electro-pop record: released on the boutique label of fellow producers/mentors Soulwax, it shares that duo’s uncanny knack for skating on the bleeding edge of minimalist avant-house. Tracks like “Ceci n’est pas un cliché” and “Blenda” bump along on sweat-inducing grooves that invite total dancefloor hedonism. The album’s lyrics are the real spike in the punch, a consideration of the personal and political that pegs the zeitgeist without succumbing to didacticism. It’s relevant that Adigéry and Pupul are the children of immigrants raised in a stew of unexamined colonialism, but their approach is more open-hearted than polemical, inviting listeners to dance and think in whatever proportion suits them. It’s that combination of vibes – sexy and sardonic, uplifting and aware, rapturous and wry – that makes Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul such perfect agents of our shared historical moment.

As KCRW’s 2022 pick for Breakthrough Artist, Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul join the distinguished list of former honorees: Gabriels, St. Panther, Black Pumas, Rosalía, Anderson .Paak, and Tom Misch.

KCRW’s Favorite Songs of 2022 (listed alphabetically by artist)

A great song can beckon you onto the dance floor or deep into your feels; inspire you to stand up or throw a middle finger as you walk away; shout along to the words or just get lost in effable sound. These are our favorite tracks of 2022 — unranked and individually selected — they helped us get up in the morning and fall asleep (or stay awake) at night. Or sometimes we simply played them on repeat, because you never need a reason to hear your favorite song.

  • Boy Harsher – “Machina (Feat. Mariana Saldaña)”
  • Braxe + Falcon – “Step By Step” (Feat. Panda Bear)”
  • Danger Mouse & Black Thought – “Aquamarine (Feat. Michael Kiwanuka)”
  • Danielle Ponder – “Fray”
  • Gabriels – “Angels & Queens”
  • HAAi – “Baby, We’re Ascending”
  • Helado Negro – “Ya no estoy aqui”
  • Hope Tala – “Stayed At The Party” 
  • Horsegirl – “World of Pots and Pans”
  • Lisa LeBlanc – “Dans l’jus”
  • Madam Bombs – “Get Me Out”
  • Nilüfer Yanya – “stabilise”
  • Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation – “Let The Sunshine In”
  • JJ & The Mood – “How Many Times” 
  • Jorge Drexler – “El Plan Maestro”
  • Omar Apollo – “Evergreen”
  • Robyn Hitchcock – “The Man Who Loves The Rain”
  • Samora Pinderhughes – “Kingly” 
  • SAULT – “Angel”
  • Shervin Hajipour – “Baraye”
  • Steve Lacy – “Bad Habit”
  • Tokischa – “Delincuente” 
  • TSHA – “Time” 
  • Yard Act – “100% Endurance”
  • Warpaint – “Stevie”

Be sure to tune in today, Wednesday December 14, to KCRW’s flagship music program Morning Becomes Eclectic, co-hosted by Novena Carmel and Anthony Valadez for a three-hour special show highlighting KCRW’s Best of 2022.

For more information, please visit: kcrw.com/bestof

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Media contact:
Laura Cohen, LC Media, lcmediapr@gmail.com

About KCRW Music
KCRW’s hand-picked music programming is thoughtfully curated by actual people, not algorithms. It encourages real music discovery and delivers a truly eclectic listening experience. KCRW Music is helmed by Program Director of Music, industry veteran Anne Litt and a team of influential tastemaker DJs – Anthony Valadez, Chris Douridas, Dan Wilcox, Francesca Harding, Henry Rollins, Jason Bentley, Jason Kramer, Jeremy Sole, José Galván, LeRoy Downs, Nassir Nassirzadeh, Novena Carmel, Raul Campos, Ro “Wyldeflower” Contreras, Scott Dallavo, SiLVA, Travis Holcombe, Tyler Boudreaux, and Valida. KCRW DJs are given one directive: “play what you love.” KCRW has hosted radio debuts and album celebrations for countless artists. Now household names, KCRW has been influential in helping launch the careers of such luminaries as Adele, Alabama Shakes, Anderson Paak, Angel Olsen, Beck, Billie Eilish, Brett Dennen, Coldplay, Eels, Fiona Apple, Gabriel Garzon Montano, Garbage, Gillian Welch, Janelle Monae, Jenny Lewis, Juana Molina, Kamasi Washington, Mac DeMarco, Natalia Lafourcade, Ray LaMontagne, Sofi Tukker, and Tame Impala, among many others. KCRW Music offers a robust array of music programming and content including nearly 100 hours of on-air music every week and a continuous curated stream of music, Eclectic24. 

About KCRW
KCRW creates and curates a unique mix of content centered around music discovery, NPR news, cultural exploration and informed public affairs. KCRW is driven by the spirit of LA and delivers in innovative ways – on the radio, digitally and in-person – to diverse, curious communities around the corner and around the world. A community service of Santa Monica College, KCRW can be found on the air in L.A., Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mojave, Palm Springs, San Luis Obispo, and worldwide via the KCRW app or online at kcrw.com.

Twitter | twitter.com/kcrw
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KCRW Music Announcement

KCRW Releases Archival Live Recordings from R.E.M., Tom Waits, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Meat Puppets, Harry Dean Stanton, Pere Ubu and more!

KCRW’S BENT BY NATURE

KCRW releases over 50 newly-remastered archival live recordings that have not been heard since they originally aired in the ‘80s and ‘90s

Sessions include live performance recordings of R.E.M., Tom Waits, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Meat Puppets, Harry Dean Stanton, Pere Ubu, The Church, Blue Aeroplanes, Robyn Hitchcock, Shawn Colvin, Concrete Blonde, Daniel Lanois, Lyle Lovett, Dwight Yoakam, Sarah MacLachlan and Suzanne Vega

In tandem, KCRW launches BENT24, an on-demand streaming channel with full-length episodes of Deirdre O’Donoghue’s SNAP

KCRW Members Early Access: November 4, 2022
Public Release: November 14, 2022

Santa Monica, CA (November 3, 2022) – On November 14, 2022, one year after KCRW released the critically acclaimed podcast Bent by Nature: Deirdre O’Donoghue and the Lost SNAP Archives, L.A.’s tastemaker radio station is set to make publicly available a massive digital archive of newly-remastered live recordings, recently unearthed and unheard for nearly 40 years. This archive includes early live performance recordings from underground and alternative iconoclasts like R.E.M., Tom Waits, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Meat Puppets, Harry Dean Stanton, Pere Ubu, The Church, Blue Aeroplanes, Robyn Hitchcock, Shawn Colvin, Concrete Blonde, Daniel Lanois, Lyle Lovett, Dwight Yoakam, Sarah McLachlan, Suzanne Vega and many more. These early radio performances have not been heard since they originally aired back in the ‘80s and early ‘90s. 

In tandem, KCRW will launch BENT24, a 24-hour, on-demand streaming service featuring a shuffling playlist of full SNAP episodes (1981-1991). Restored from the original board tapes, BENT24 is designed to transport the listener back in time, recreating the experience of listening to Deirdre’s groundbreaking Saturday night show. KCRW members will have early access to the performance archive and BENT24 starting tomorrow, Friday, November 4. The general public will have access on Monday, November 14.

When approached by KCRW for permission to release his live performance, Tom Waits and his wife Kathleen Brennan wrote, “In a town filled with sounds borne of the marriage of music and commerce, Deirdre [O’Donoghue] was a voice and venue for the undiscovered or marginalized and a refuge for artists who felt estranged from the prevailing currents. She opened so many ears and hearts, including ours, with her earthy and irreverent voice and wide ranging enthusiasm for all music. So great someone thought to do this.”

Taken as a whole, the Deirdre O’Donoghue archive amounts to a “secret history” of the pre-Nirvana underground (1982-1991), offering a unique and unprecedented time capsule for fans of ‘80s independent music. Spanning hundreds of reel-to-reel tapes and cassettes, the entire archive was gifted to KCRW by her family after Deirdre’s untimely passing in 2001. Bob Carlson (KCRW’s UnFictional) and Myke Dodge Weiskopf (KCRW’s Lost Notes), co-producers of Bent by Nature: Deirdre O’Donoghue and the Lost SNAP Archives, spent the last three years painstakingly transferring and restoring these vital artifacts of an under-explored time. The ten-part podcast offers newcomers a window into O’Donoghue’s life and work at KCRW. Hosted by former KCRW DJ Tricia Halloran, the “lovingly crafted” audio documentary made the case for O’Donoghue as a tireless innovator, passionate music lover, and unheralded icon of public broadcasting.

Bent By Nature was named #8 in The Atlantic‘s 50 Best Podcasts of 2021 and #2 in Time Out’s Best Podcasts About Music. It was also featured by Vulture, The Guardian, BBC, and FLOOD Magazine, among others.

KCRW’s official website for Bent By Nature serves as the portal into Deirdre’s world. Already available is the entire podcast, as well as incredible archival interviews with Brian Wilson, Brian Eno, David Lowery, Michael Stipe, Joe Strummer, Jonathan Demme, Paul Westerberg, Robert Fripp and more!

BENT BY NATURE: ARCHIVAL PERFORMANCES
Luka Bloom (4/26/1990)
The Blue Aeroplanes (7/18/1990)
Camper Van Beethoven (8/10/1987)
Camper Van Beethoven (9/14/1989)
Peter Case (8/7/1989)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (3/3/1989)
The Chills (5/10/1990)
The Church (3/24/1988)
Shawn Colvin (11/20/1989)
Concrete Blonde (4/23/1987)
Cowboy Junkies (12/6/1988)
Cowboy Junkies (2/19/1990)
The dB’s (12/3/1987)
Downy Mildew (12/20/1990)
The Dream Syndicate (2/27/1986)
The Dream Syndicate (7/14/1988)
Fetchin Bones (10/16/1989)
Glass Eye (9/3/1987)
Glass Eye (2/21/1990)
John Wesley Harding and the Deceivers (6/10/1991)
Hetch Hetchy (5/31/1990)
Hex (1/21/1991)
Peter Himmelman (5/29/1991)
Robyn Hitchcock (4/24/1989)
Peter Holsapple, Chris Stamey, & Ilene Markell (7/19/1990)
Hurrah! (11/19/1987)
Paul Kelly & The Messengers (10/7/1988)
Kitchens of Distinction (2/14/1991)
Daniel Lanois (12/11/1990)
Love Tractor (1/8/1990)
Love Tractor (6/26/1989)
Lyle Lovett (4/26/1989)
Nick Lowe (2/26/1990)
Sarah McLachlan (3/30/1989)
Meat Puppets (1/16/1986)
The Mighty Lemon Drops (5/12/1988)
Aaron Neville (10/15/1990)
Pere Ubu (as Petit Ubu) (6/14/1991)
Sam Phillips (6/6/1991)
Poi Dog Pondering (6/13/1988)
R.E.M. (4/3/1991)
The Railway Children (9/21/1988)
The Reivers (1/29/1988)
Shelleyan Orphan (7/9/1989)
The Silos (4/18/1990)
Harry Dean Stanton (6/24/1987)
Martin Stephenson & The Daintees (9/20/1990)
Syd Straw, Peter Holsapple, & Ilene Markell (9/4/1986)
Syd Straw & Marc Ribot (8/23/1990)
That Petrol Emotion (10/26/1989)
Throwing Muses (5/27/1991)
Timbuk 3 (8/11/1988)
Suzanne Vega (4/10/1985)
Tom Waits (8/24/1987)
Steve Wynn (12/9/1987)
Dwight Yoakam & The Babylonian Cowboys (7/30/1986)

For more information, please visit: kcrw.com/bent

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Press credentials granting early access to the digital archive are available upon request. Please inquire directly to:
Laura B. Cohen, LC Media: lcmediapr@gmail.com

About KCRW
KCRW is your always-on connection to music, news, culture, and each other — on the radio, online, and in-person. We belong to Los Angeles, connecting diverse perspectives and the sounds of Southern California with curious communities around the corner and around the world. We are NPR’s flagship member station in Southern California and a community service of Santa Monica College. You can find our broadcast signal in LA, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mojave, Palm Springs, San Luis Obispo, and worldwide via the KCRW app and at kcrw.com.

Twitter | twitter.com/kcrw
Facebook | facebook.com/kcrw
Instagram | instagram.com/kcrw
YouTube | youtube.com/kcrw

 

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KCRW Music Announcement, Station Announcement

KCRW Announces KCRW Live From…

KCRW ANNOUNCES KCRW LIVE FROM…

TASTEMAKER STATION LAUNCHES THE RETURN OF LIVE PERFORMANCES AND EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS 

Artists confirmed for Fall 2022 include:

Cuco, Andrew Bird, Tears for Fears, Say She She, Automatic, Nation of Language, Wet Leg, Stromae, and Danielle Ponder

Sessions Recorded at KCRW Headquarters, Bob Clearmoutain’s Apogee Studio, world-famous studio The Village, and KCRW Program Director of Music Anne Litt’s Backyard!

Santa Monica, CA (September 15, 2022) – Today KCRW unveils KCRW Live From…, a robust initiative to bring back live music to KCRW in a big way. Utilizing the station’s state-of-the-art headquarters (HQ), legendary mixer/producer Bob Clearmountain’s Apogee Studio, world famous recording complex The Village Studios, and the stunning backyard of Program Director of Music, Anne Litt, KCRW is reaffirming its longstanding commitment to feature live performances and insightful interviews from an eclectic array of artists, both superstars and rising stars.

KCRW Live From…kicks off its long awaited return of live sessions this Fall with confirmed artists that include Cuco, Andrew Bird, Tears for Fears, Say She She, Automatic and Nation of Language.

First up is KCRW Live From HQ with Cuco, which airs today, Thursday, September 15, on Morning Becomes Eclectic, in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Interviewed by MBE co-hosts Novena Carmel and Anthony Valadez, this session marks the return of live sessions to KCRW’s headquarters in Santa Monica.

Next is KCRW Live From The Village Studios featuring Andrew Bird interviewed by Anthony Valadez airing Wednesday, September 21 on Morning Becomes Eclectic, followed by Tears for Fears interviewed by Raul Campos airing on Campos’ show Saturday, September 24. In addition, KCRW Live From The Village featuring Nation of Language interviewed by Travis Holcombe airs on Holcombe’s nightly show Freaks Only, Wednesday, September 28.

Two KCRW Live From Apogee Studio sessions feature Automatic interviewed by Anne Litt airing on Wednesday, September 28 on Morning Becomes Eclectic and Say She She interviewed by Anthony Valadez airing on Morning Becomes Eclectic Wednesday, October 5.

Also on the horizon is KCRW Live From Anne’s Backyard featuring Wet Leg, KCRW Live From HQ featuring Stromae, KCRW Live From HQ featuring Danielle Ponder, with much more to come!

“It is so exciting to be bringing a consistent stream of live music back to KCRW,” says Anne Litt, KCRW Program Director, Music. “Live music has been a hallmark of the station for decades. Our sessions are musical gold: their vibe, their energy, the pure spontaneity. And the conversations that artists have with KCRW DJs not only offer great insight into their music-making and personal lives — they are downright fun.” 

“The pandemic gave us a chance to rethink and refresh the ways we are bringing live music back to our audience. We’re fortunate to have such tremendous partners in Apogee and The Village, and I’m lucky to be able to host outdoor sessions in my own backyard. We’re using every available option to bring back live music to KCRW’s channels in the freshest, most robust way possible.”

KCRW Live From… scheduled sessions:

Sept 15, KCRW Live From HQ featuring Cuco on MBE
Sept 21, KCRW Live From The Village Studios featuring Andrew Bird on MBE
Sept 24, KCRW Live From The Village Studios featuring Tears for Fears on Raul Campos
Sept 28, KCRW Live From Apogee Studio featuring Automatic on MBE
Sept 28, KCRW Live From The Village Studios featuring Nation of Language on Freak’s Only
Oct 5, KCRW Live From Apogee Studio featuring Say She She on MBE

For more information, please visit: kcrw.com/livefrom

# # #

For media inquiries, please contact:
Laura B. Cohen, LC Media: lcmediapr@gmail.com

About KCRW
KCRW is your always-on connection to music, news, culture, and each other — on the radio, online, and in-person. We belong to Los Angeles, connecting diverse perspectives and the sounds of Southern California with curious communities around the corner and around the world. We are NPR’s flagship member station in Southern California and a community service of Santa Monica College. You can find our broadcast signal in LA, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mojave, Palm Springs, San Luis Obispo, and worldwide via the KCRW app and at kcrw.com.

Twitter | twitter.com/kcrw
Facebook | facebook.com/kcrw
Instagram | instagram.com/kcrw
YouTube | youtube.com/kcrw

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KCRW Music Announcement, Station Announcement

KCRW Unveils Next Stop for Global Beat

KCRW UNVEILS NEXT STOP FOR GLOBAL BEAT
Global Beat México
Hosted by Raul Campos, Betto Arcos, and Junf
Audio Series Features Emerging Artists from Around the World
Airs Weekly, Thursdays at 10am on Morning Becomes Eclectic

Santa Monica, CA (August 18, 2022)KCRW unveils today the next stop for Global Beat, the weekly music segment that highlights emerging artists from around the world. Global Beat México, hosted by Raul Campos, Betto Arcos and Junf, airs weekly on Thursdays, at 10AM, during Morning Becomes Eclectic. The first Global Beat México featuring Los Vaguens, Don Couto, and Costa Felina airs today, August 18.

KCRW’s Global Beat takes a deep dive into the music scene of a singular country. The inaugural edition Global Beat Australia launched in 2021 with hosts KCRW DJ Raul Campos and Andrew Khedoori, and featured more than 100 artists from the region. The next stop on the world tour is Global Beat México, hosted by Campos who will be joined by longtime broadcast journalist Betto Arcos, and tastemaker DJ from Mexico City, Junf. 

“KCRW Music’s mission has always been to share what we love not only from our SoCal backyard, but from all over the world,” says KCRW Program Director of Music Anne Litt. “When Raul, along with the Australian Music Alliance, brought KCRW the idea for Global Beat, we knew instantly it was a perfect fit. Global sounds are already an integral part of our music programming, but this allows us to explore the world of music in an even more focused way. It’s a celebration of worldwide cultures and perspectives to hopefully shift our perspective and make us closer than sometimes we think we are. Raul is the epitome of the curious, crate digging music lover, no matter the era or genre, so he’s the perfect host for this around the world journey.”

“As a DJ and programmer, I’m always searching for new sounds that will challenge and inspire our passionate listeners,” remarks Raul Campos. “This extra effort from our hosts is why KCRW has led in music discovery for decades. And as any music fan knows, the only way to really find out what’s happening in new music is to go to the source.  Last year we went to Australia and had a blast. And now as the Global Beat continues, what better place to do a deep dive than the vibrant and colorful sounds from our neighbors south of the border.  Our ears-on-the-ground include Junf, one of CDMX’s hippest curators and DJs, along with our explorer Betto Arcos, the highly respected and charismatic dear friend. We’re excited for you to join us on this musical journey throughout the vast regions of mi Mexico, lindo y querido!”

In addition to the audio series, KCRW will produce Global Beat México live showcase events featuring artists directly from the country this Fall. 

KCRW’s Global Beat is generously supported by the Australian Consulate in Los Angeles.

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Raul Campos
The voice of pirate radio in the mid-’90s and a native Angeleno, Raul Campos came from the underground to represent the eclectic airwaves of KCRW. His youthful affection for music began with the 8-track and vinyl collection of his Mexican parents and six older siblings that ran the gamut of genres and styles. His own assorted collection of music expanded as tapes became the format of choice and Raul began to experiment with cutting and “mixing” tapes on his boombox. At the age of 14, he finally put the needle to the record and stepped behind the decks as a DJ. Specializing in house parties, college mayhem, nightclubs and underground events, Raul quickly developed a following across Los Angeles. He established a residency on Power 106 FM’s longest running after hours mix show Power Tools, along with Richard Vission and Swedish Egil, cutting his teeth banging out mega-mixes. But it was in KCRW’s basement in Santa Monica that Raul would find a home for his motley musical influences. Under the attentive and personal mentorship of renowned Music Director Nic Harcourt, Raul quickly worked his way from volunteer to production and on-air stints, securing a weekly show, formerly called Nocturna, and ultimately moving to his current weekend afternoon show. Campos still loves to rock the club and has been billed along with some of the world’s biggest talents, including deadmau5, Kaskade, Moby, Armin Van Buuren, Louie Vega, Paul Van Dyk, and Mark Farina, to name a few. He’s also opened for some of music’s greatest artists, from Martin Gore (Depeche Mode), Stevie Wonder and Cafe Tacuba, to Booka Shade, Groove Armada and Lionel Richie. Raul co-hosts the podcast Pili, Raul, and La Musica, has hosted the Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC) in New York for the last six years, and continues his work behind the scenes as a remixer, putting his special spin on tracks by Femi Kuti, Supreme Beings of Leisure, Aterciopelados, and Jill Scott. 

Betto Arcos
Betto Arcos is a radio journalist, curator and music promoter based in Los Angeles. He is a regular contributor to NPR and BBC Radio 3, writing and producing stories about musicians and music from all over the world. Arcos is the Latin music curator at the San Jose Jazz Festival. He recently published his first book, “Music Stories from the Cosmic Barrio” (Fogra Editorial) and is a founding member of REDPEM – Red de Periodistas Musicales de Iberoamérica. In addition to his work in public radio, Betto has taught arts & culture and broadcast journalism at Loyola Marymount University. He developed a musical component for two different courses at Harvard University’s Divinity School, “Religion in the Latin American Imagination” (2002, 2011, 2015) and “Latinos Remaking America” (2014, 2016) taught by Prof. David Carrasco. Since 2014, Betto has been a guest speaker at the State Department’s Foreign Service Institute, lecturing on Latin American Music to career diplomats. Starting in 2014, Betto has been traveling extensively in Latin America, offering workshops on music journalism, podcasting and the music industry at major international festivals, including: Asunción Jazz Fest, Ecuador Jazz Fest, Panama Jazz Fest, Colombia al Parque, Bogotá Music Market, AM-PM in Havana. From 1997-2015, Betto created, produced and hosted the daily music program “Global Village” on Pacifica Radio’s 90.7 FM-KPFK in Los Angeles. In 1993, Betto received his Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism with honors from the University of Colorado-Boulder. Betto is a native of Xalapa, capital of the state of Veracruz, Mexico.

Junf
Content Curator and Music Supervisor for Mexico City-based Canela Music, Junf’s passions lie in world music and broadcast radio, leading him to contribute to diverse and popular stations such as DUBLAB (Los Angeles), KPFK 90.7 (Los Angeles), WFMU (Jersey City), The Lot Radio (NY), Rise Radio (NY), Aire Libre 105.3 (CDMX) and more. Junf spreads his radio and world music ideology through the telling of his own experience across prominent music conferences, encouraging future and emerging artists to embrace and share their own perspectives. As a resident DJ in many of Mexico City’s hottest spots, he also takes his signature fresh mix of eclectic sounds, new music, and future roots to dance floors around the world. Junf was host and DJ on Mexico City’s popular radio station Ibero 90.9 where he created an overnight loom of ritualistic sounds through the weekends. Junf also created music discovery mixes for the MAKENWA radio show on Saturday nights with the aim of connecting sound and space, and was a producer/music curator of the popular radio show, Radio Pocajú Internacional on Ibero 90.9.

For more information, please visit: https://www.kcrw.com/music/shows/kcrws-global-beat

For media inquiries, please contact:
Laura B. Cohen, LC Media: lcmediapr@gmail.com

About KCRW
KCRW is your always-on connection to music, news, culture, and each other — on the radio, online, and in-person. We belong to Los Angeles, connecting diverse perspectives and the sounds of Southern California with curious communities around the corner and around the world. We are NPR’s flagship member station in Southern California and a community service of Santa Monica College. You can find our broadcast signal in LA, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mojave, Palm Springs, San Luis Obispo, and worldwide via the KCRW app and at kcrw.com.

Twitter | twitter.com/kcrw
Facebook | facebook.com/kcrw
Instagram | instagram.com/kcrw
YouTube | youtube.com/kcrw

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Events, KCRW Music Announcement, Station Announcement

KCRW Announces Line-up for 2022 Summer Nights

KCRW Announces Line-up for 2022 Summer Nights

Free, All-Ages, Outdoor Performances Featuring KCRW-Curated Live Music and the Station’s Stellar DJs

Santa Monica, CA (June 22, 2022) – KCRW announces today the line-up for the station’s signature event series, Summer Nights, with free, all-ages, outdoor performances featuring KCRW-curated bands, and the tastemaker station’s stellar DJs. For KCRW’s 2022 Summer Nights, L.A.’s legendary public radio station is teaming up again with iconic L.A. cultural institutions CAAM (California African American Museum), One Colorado, Descanso Gardens and Grand Performances. 2022 also sees the return of Summer Nights at the Hammer Museum and Chinatown, as well as new partnerships with The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, JANM (Japanese American National Museum), and the Bowers Museum.

KCRW’s 2022 Summer Nights features an incredible line-up of live music from artists including Ambar Lucid, Hana Vu, Mark de Clive-Lowe, Pachyman, Sly5thAve, Thee Sinseers, Tolliver, and more to be announced. See your favorite KCRW DJs spin live, with sets from Anthony Valadez, Dan Wilcox, Francesca Harding, Jeremy Sole, LeRoy Downs, Jason Bentley, Jason Kramer, José Galván, Nassir Nassirzadeh, Novena Carmel, Raul Campos, Scott Dallavo, SiLVA, Travis Holcombe, Tyler Boudreaux, Valida, and Wyldeflower.

KCRW’s 2022 Summer Nights are as follows:

Ambar Lucid
KCRW DJs: Wyldeflower & Nassir Nassirzadeh
Thursday, July 7
Summer Nights at the Hammer Museum

Pachyman
KCRW DJs: Jeremy Sole & Tyler Boudreaux
Thursday, July 14
Summer Nights at the Hammer Museum

KCRW DJs: Travis Holcombe &  Jason Bentley
Saturday, July 16
Summer Nights at Chinatown

Thee Sinseers
KCRW DJs: José Galván & Jason Kramer
Thursday, July 21
Summer Nights at the Hammer Museum

KCRW DJs: Novena Carmel & Francesca Harding
Friday, July 22
Summer Nights at CAAM

Hana Vu
KCRW DJs: Dan Wilcox & Valida
Thursday, July 28
Summer Nights at the Hammer Museum

Sly5thAve
KCRW DJ: SiLVA
Saturday, July 30
Summer Nights at Grand Performances

KCRW DJs: Anthony Valadez & Jeremy Sole
Saturday, August 13
Summer Nights at Descanso Gardens

KCRW DJs: Novena Carmel & Raul Campos
Saturday, August 20
Summer Nights at Chinatown

KCRW DJs José Galván & Francesca Harding
Sunday, August 28
Summer Nights at the Bowers Museum

Artists to be announced
Saturday, September 3
Summer Nights at Grand Performances

Tolliver
KCRW DJ: Travis Holcombe
Saturday, September 10
Summer Nights at One Colorado

Mark de Clive-Lowe
KCRW DJ: LeRoy Downs
Sunday, September 11
Summer Nights at One Colorado

KCRW DJs: Valida & Scott Dallavo
Thursday, September 22
Summer Nights at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA & JANM

KCRW DJs: Anthony Valadez & SiLVA
Thursday, September 29
Summer Nights at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA & JANM

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The Hammer Museum

Thursday, July 7
6:30 PM – 11:00 PM
Ambar Lucid
KCRW DJs Wyldeflower & Nassir Nassirzadeh

Thursday, July 14
6:30 PM – 11:00 PM
Pachyman
KCRW DJs Jeremy Sole & Tyler Boudreaux

Thursday, July 21
6:30 PM – 11:00 PM
Thee Sinseers
KCRW DJs José Galván & Jason Kramer

Thursday, July 28
6:30 PM – 11:00 PM
Hana Vu
KCRW DJs Dan Wilcox & Valida

KCRW presents the return of Summer Nights at the Hammer Museum – four free nights of live music in the museum’s lively courtyard on Thursdays in July. Artists include folk-tinged, bilingual, indie pop and R&B sensation Ambar Lucid, Puerto Rico’s emerging master of rub-a-dub style Pachyman, East L.A.’s innovative soul music collective Thee Sinseers, and brooding, melodic experimental pop singer/songwriter Hana Vu. Live music starts at 8:30pm, bookended by KCRW DJ sets at 6:30pm and 9:30pm. A happy hour with a cash bar starts at 6:30 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to come early and visit the Hammer’s galleries, which will be open until 9:00pm.

On view at the Hammer will be Andrea Bowers, the first museum retrospective surveying more than two decades of the Los Angeles–based artist’s work. For the past 30 years, Andrea Bowers has used her artistic practice as a political exercise, a narrative platform that she lends to movements of social and political activism. Bowers takes up immigration rights, workers’ rights, climate justice, and women’s rights, illustrating the shared pursuit of justice that connects them. The exhibition presents dozens of works spanning drawing, performance, installation, sculpture, video, and neon, and reflects  Bowers’s deep engagement with activism and experimentation with figurative space.

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Chinatown

Saturday, July 16
8:00 PM – 12:00 AM
KCRW DJs Travis Holcombe & Jason Bentley

Saturday, July 16
8:00 PM – 12:00 AM
KCRW DJs Novena Carmel & Raul Campos

KCRW is excited for the return of Chinatown Summer Nights. The perfect combination of food festival and summer party, Chinatown Summer Nights presents an exciting hot spot for Angelenos this August. Taste the many culinary offerings and LA’s gourmet food trucks; sample the neighborhood’s wares; watch Chinese chefs perform cooking demonstrations; experience large-scale, outdoor video projections; take part in hands-on, Chinese cultural activities presented by local organizations and museums; sip on Chinese beer and dance in Central Plaza with KCRW DJs Travis Holcombe & Jason Bentley and Novena Carmel & Raul Campos.

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California African American Museum

Friday, July 22
7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
KCRW DJs Novena Carmel & Francesca Harding

KCRW returns to CAAM for a warm night and cool vibes, featuring live sets from KCRW DJs Novena Carmel and Francesca Harding, after-hours museum access to all six of CAAM’s current exhibitions, food trucks, a beer garden, and more! This year’s event will also include a curated marketplace of Black-owned businesses from the FOUND/LA community. The California African American Museum (CAAM) in Exposition Park explores the art, history, and culture of African Americans, with an emphasis on California and the West. In addition to presenting a dynamic slate of exhibitions and public programs, CAAM houses a permanent collection of more than five thousand works of art, artifacts, and historical documents, and a research library. Admission is free.

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Descanso Gardens

Saturday, August 13
6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
KCRW DJ Anthony Valadez & Jeremy Sole

Last year’s wilderness party at Descanso Gardens was so epic KCRW is coming back again this year. Don’t miss the chance to catch the one and only KCRW Summer Nights at Descanso Gardens with KCRW DJ Jeremy Sole and MBE co-host and plant enthusiast, Anthony Valadez. Located in La Cañada Flintridge, just northwest of Pasadena, Descanso Gardens is a unique Southern California forested landscape distinguished by its specialized botanical collections, historical significance, and rare natural beauty. Escape to a night under the stars in LA’s magical oasis, where parking is free (and so is admission).

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One Colorado

Saturday, September 10
7:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Tolliver
KCRW DJ Travis Holcombe

Sunday, September 11
7:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Mark de Clive-Love
KCRW DJ LeRoy Downs

Join KCRW for a weekend takeover of the beautiful One Colorado courtyard, an open air shopping center that spans a full city block that boasts exceptional retail and dining experiences in the heart of historic Old Pasadena. KCRW’s Summer Nights at One Colorado features two nights of live band performances from the fun loving gumbo of soul, funk, pop and camp of Tolliver, to the mind-boggling on-the-fly juggling of piano, synths, live sampling and beat making of Mark de Clive-Love. Add in KCRW DJ sets from Freaks Only host Travis Holcombe and the Jazz Cat LeRoy Downs and you’ve got an entire weekend’s worth of incredible music. One Colorado is a quick walk from the Metro to the Gold Line stop at Memorial Park. 

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Grand Performances

Saturday, July 30
6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Sly5thAve
KCRW DJ SiLVA

Saturday, September 3
6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Artists to be announced

KCRW teams up with Grand Performances, the longest running presenter of free outdoor concerts in Los Angeles, for two special Summer Nights. Returning this year to the newly- renovated California Plaza in Downtown Los Angeles, Grand Performances inspires community, celebrates diversity, and unites Los Angeles through free access to global performing arts. KCRW’s Summer Nights at Grand Performances features the multi-instrumentalist, producer, arranger and composer Sylvester Uzoma Onyejiaka II, aka Sly5thAve, whose sophisticated compositions are rooted in hip hop, soul, R&B and jazz. Additional artists and KCRW DJs to be announced.

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Bowers Museum

Sunday, August 28
6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
KCRW DJs José Galván & Francesca Harding

KCRW is excited for its brand-new partnership with the Bowers Museum for one special Summer Nights featuring live sets from KCRW DJs José Gavlán & Francesca Harding, a beer garden pop-up by Blinking Owl Distillery, kids activities and more. Sunday, August 28 marks the last day to check out the Bowers Museum’s current exhibition, Everest: Ascent to Glory. After-hours admission to the museum will be free for KCRW Members and Santa Ana residents. 

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The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA and Japanese American National Museum

Thursday, September 22
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
KCRW DJs Valida & Scott Dallavo

Thursday, September 29
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
KCRW DJs Anthony Valadez & SiLVA

KCRW is excited for its brand-new Summer Nights partnership with two incredible cultural institutions – The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA and the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo. The two-night series set in the courtyard features KCRW DJs Valida & Scott Dallavo and Anthony Valadez & SiLVA tearing up the turntables for a night of summer fun, food trucks, a beer garden and after-hours access to two of the finest museums in town.

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For more information, please visit: kcrw.com/summernights

For media inquiries, please contact:
Laura B. Cohen, LC Media: lcmediapr@gmail.com

About KCRW
KCRW is your always-on connection to music, news, culture, and each other — on the radio, online, and in-person. We belong to Los Angeles, connecting diverse perspectives and the sounds of Southern California with curious communities around the corner and around the world. We are NPR’s flagship member station in Southern California and a community service of Santa Monica College. You can find our broadcast signal in LA, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mojave, Palm Springs, San Luis Obispo, and worldwide via the KCRW app and at kcrw.com.

Twitter | twitter.com/kcrw
Facebook | facebook.com/kcrw
Instagram | instagram.com/kcrw
YouTube | youtube.com/kcrw

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Events, KCRW Music Announcement

LA PHIL AND KCRW ANNOUNCE LINE-UP FOR 2022 KCRW FESTIVAL AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL

LA PHIL AND KCRW ANNOUNCE LINE-UP FOR  2022 KCRW FESTIVAL AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL 

Santa Monica, CA (February 15, 2022) – The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association and KCRW will continue their longtime partnership for the 2022 KCRW Festival at the Hollywood Bowl. The six shows during the historic Hollywood Bowl centenary season feature an eclectic line-up of artists including A.R. Rahman (July 24), Polo & Pan and Parcels (August 7), Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Durand Jones & The Indications, and Celisse (August 14), Flying Lotus and Hiatus Kaiyote with Orchestra (August 21), Reggae Night XX with UB40, The Wailers, Maxi Priest and Big Mountain (September 18), and Grace Jones and CHVRCHES (September 25).

KCRW’s long-standing partnership with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association for KCRW Festival at the Hollywood Bowl embodies the adventurous musical spirit of both organizations by featuring artists from a wide array of genres. Hundreds of artists have performed at the iconic venue as a result including Adele, Arcade Fire, Ben Harper, Bon Iver, Brittany Howard, Caetano Veloso, Cesaria Evora, Café Tacvba, David Byrne, Erykah Badu, Gary Clark Jr., Goldfrapp, Hot Chip, Hugh Masekela, James Blake, Kamasi Washington, Lauryn Hill, M83, Massive Attack, Miriam Makeba, Natalia Lafourcade, Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club, Os Mutantes, Ray LaMontagne, Sade, Solange, Spoon, Sufjan Stevens, The Flaming Lips, The Pixies, Underworld, Willie Nelson, Yo Yo Ma, Yola, Yoko Ono, Zero 7 with Sia, and many more. 

2022 KCRW Festival at the Hollywood Bowl

Sunday, July 24, 2022, at 7:00 PM
A.R. Rahman

Prolific film composer A.R. Rahman is known for bringing Indian classical music together with orchestral arrangements, electronic music and various other sounds from around the world. He’s won dozens of awards — including an Oscar for his score to Slumdog Millionaire — and collaborated with everyone from Mick Jagger and U2 to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Sunday, August 7, 2022, at 7:00 PM
Polo & Pan
Parcels

A laid-back night of mellow electro-pop and enchanted disco from Polo & Pan, who The New Yorker called “funky yet suave,” as well as the funkified sounds of Parcels.

Sunday, August 14, 2022, at 7:00 PM
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
Durand Jones & The Indications
Celisse

A night of massive, soul-powered rock’n’roll. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats send rave-ups into rarified air, while Durand Jones & The Indications mix disco into their progressive funk and soul. Opener Celisse kicks it off with her own infectious grooves.

Sunday, August 21, 2022, at 7:00 PM
Flying Lotus and Hiatus Kaiyote with Orchestra
Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
Thomas Wilkins, conductor

Pitchfork has designated Flying Lotus as an “icon of the past 25 years.” The Grammy-winning LA native is a producer, composer, rapper, filmmaker, and the founder of Brainfeeder Records. Three-time Grammy nominees Hiatus Kaiyote build their laidback electric soul out of grooving piano, Nai Palm’s smoky vocals, and perpetually shape-shifting rhythms. Both artists team up with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra for a big night at the Bowl.

Sunday, September 18, 2022, at 7:00 PM
Reggae Night XX
UB40 • The Original Wailers featuring Al Anderson • Maxi Priest • Big Mountain

Four of reggae’s biggest groups bring the sounds of the islands to the Bowl. It’s a night full of hits from UB40 (“Red Red Wine”), Maxi Priest (“Close to You”), and Big Mountain (“Baby, I Love Your Way”), while The Wailers carry the flame for their departed leader, Bob Marley.

Sunday, September 25, 2022, at 7:00 PM
Grace Jones • CHVRCHES

You’ve seen that face before, Grace Jones returns to the Bowl! The disco star, actor, and model is an icon of the 1980s and influencer on generations of forward-thinking Black artists. With their massive washes of synthesizer and Lauren Mayberry’s soaring voice, CHVRCHES makes music to fill big outdoor spaces with even bigger songs.

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​​Tickets for the Hollywood Bowl 2022 summer season will be available online at hollywoodbowl.com or via phone at (323) 850-2000 on the following dates:

  •  Subscriptions available now.
  • “Create Your Own” packages will be available Tuesday, March 15, 2022.
  • The Hollywood Bowl Box Office opens for single ticket sales Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at 10.00 AM.

Programs, artists, prices, and dates are subject to change. Ticket limits may apply.

COVID PROTOCOLS

Following the health guidelines set forth by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, guests attending events at the Hollywood Bowl are currently required to have proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 48 hours (PCR) or 24 hours (Antigen) of the concert. Mask wearing will be required for all attendees unless actively eating or drinking. The Hollywood Bowl will continue to receive public health guidelines from Los Angeles County and as policies evolve over the summer, more information can be found here.

For additional information, please visit: https://www.hollywoodbowl.com

For media inquiries, please contact:
Laura B. Cohen, LC Media: lcmediapr@gmail.com

About KCRW
KCRW creates and curates a unique mix of content centered around music discovery, NPR news, cultural exploration and informed public affairs. KCRW is driven by the spirit of LA and delivers in innovative ways – on the radio, digitally and in-person – to diverse, curious communities around the corner and around the world. A community service of Santa Monica College, KCRW can be found on the air in L.A., Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mojave, Palm Springs, San Luis Obispo, and worldwide via the KCRW app or online at kcrw.com.

Twitter | twitter.com/kcrw
Facebook | facebook.com/kcrw
Instagram | instagram.com/kcrw
YouTube | youtube.com/kcrw

About the LA Phil
Under the leadership of Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel, the LA Phil offers live performances, media initiatives and learning programs that inspire and strengthen communities in Los Angeles and beyond. The Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra is the foundation of the LA Phil’s offerings, which also include a multi-genre, multidisciplinary presenting program and such youth development programs as YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles). Performances are offered on three historic stages—Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and The Ford—as well as through a variety of media platforms. In all its endeavors, the LA Phil seeks to enrich the lives of individuals and communities through musical, artistic and learning experiences that resonate in our world today.   

About the Hollywood Bowl
One of the largest natural amphitheaters in the world, with a seating capacity of nearly 18,000, the Hollywood Bowl has been the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since its official opening in 1922 and plays host to the finest artists from all genres of music, offering something for everyone. It remains one of the best deals anywhere in Los Angeles; to this day, $1 buys a seat at the top of the Bowl for many classical and jazz performances. In June 2021, the Hollywood Bowl was awarded Amphitheater of the Decade at the 32nd Annual Pollstar Awards. It was also awarded the Outdoor Concert Venue of the Year award at the 31st Annual Pollstar Awards, an honor bestowed 14 previous times, as well as Top Amphitheater prize at the 2017 and 2018 Billboard Touring Awards. For millions of music lovers across Southern California, the Hollywood Bowl is synonymous with summer. hollywoodbowl.com.

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KCRW Music Announcement

KCRW Reveals Best of 2021

KCRW Reveals Best of 2021
The albums, songs and artists that shaped the musical landscape of the past year

Santa Monica, CA (December 21, 2021) – KCRW has revealed its Best of 2021, the coveted list of the year’s best albums, songs, and artists. The annual Best Of recognizes the music that caught KCRW’s attention throughout the year. From ineffable gospel to astral punk, iconoclast jazz to bedroom pop, these are the sounds, words, and tastes that kept us moving, thinking, and inspired in 2021. 

I was so curious to see what music emerged in 2021 as artists everywhere lived, like we did, through a challenging year. The music that has come from this collective experience has been nothing short of brilliant, with intricacies and longing that reflect this particular time in history. What struck me most is that the music of 2021 has helped express the need to take care of not only ourselves, but each other. I and all of the KCRW DJs, as well as our fantastic music team, have shared our perspectives on the artists, albums and songs that moved and inspired us during the year. It is our honor to present you with KCRW’s Best of 2021.

Anne Litt, Program Director of Music

KCRW’s Best 21 Albums of 2021

Rarely does our team of opinionated, passionate KCRW DJs agree collectively on anything musically, let alone the #1 Album in any given year. This year is different.. The piece of art that across the board crushed us with its poetry, elegance, warmth, depth and precision is the debut from UK newcomer Arlo Parks “Collapsed in Sunbeams.” Congratulations to Arlo Parks and all of the artists that made it into the Best 21 Albums of 2021.

  1. Arlo Parks – “Collapsed in Sunbeams”
  2. Little Simz – “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert”
  3. Cleo Sol – “Mother”
  4. Helado Negro – “Far In”
  5. Brittany Howard – “Jaime Reimagined”
  6. The Marías – “CINEMA”
  7. Tyler, the Creator – “Call Me If You Get Lost”
  8. St. Vincent – “Daddy’s Home” 
  9. Black Country, New Road – “For the first time”
  10. Dry Cleaning – “New Long Leg”
  11. Nation of Language – “A Way Forward”
  12. La Femme – “Paradigmes”
  13. Floating Points / Pharoah Sanders / The London Symphony Orchestra  – “Promises”
  14. DARKSIDE – “Spiral”
  15. Vijay Iyer with Tyshawn Sorey and Linda May Han Oh – “Uneasy”
  16. Arooj Aftab – “Vulture Prince”
  17. Sons of Kemet – “Black to the Future”
  18. Genesis Owusu – “Smiling with No Teeth”
  19. Meskerem Mees – “Julius”
  20. Clairo – ”Sling”
  21. Idles – “Crawler”

KCRW’s Best Emerging Artist – Gabriels

It’s hard to conjure suitable words to describe the feeling of being immersed in Gabriels’ music for the first time without sounding hyperbolic — “magnificent,” “breathtaking,” and “transcendent” come to mind — but these words exist to describe extraordinary things, and in the case of soul-R&B trio Gabriels, hyperbolic praise is appropriate.

Travis Holcombe, KCRW DJ and host of Freaks Only

As KCRW’s 2021 pick for Best Emerging Artist, Gabriels joins the distinguished list of artists who have received this endorsement in recent years which include: St. Panther, Black Pumas, Rosalía, Anderson .Paak, and Tom Misch.

KCRW’s Best 21 Songs of 2021 (listed alphabetically by artist)

  • Amber Mark – “Worth It”
  • Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar – “family ties”
  • Bo Burnham – “That Funny Feeling”
  • Dua Saleh – “fitt”
  • duendita – “bio”
  • Esperanza Spalding – “Formwela 2”
  • Gabriels – “Blame”
  • Hector Morlet – “Picture Frame”
  • James Blake – “Life Is Not The Same”
  • Julia Kwamya – “Wonderhow”
  • La Dame Blanche – “Veneno”
  • Lady Blackbird – “Beware the Stranger”
  • Lakou Mizik & Joseph Ray – “Ogou (Pran Ka Mwen)”
  • The Lazy Eyes – “Where’s My Brain???”
  • Lips – “Not Today”
  • Melanie Charles – “Woman of the Ghetto (Reimagined)”
  • Petey – “Lean Into Life”
  • Qrion – “Proud”
  • Serpentwithfeet – “Fellowship”
  • Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – “A Dream I Have”
  • Wet Leg – “Chaise Longue”

Be sure to tune in tomorrow, Wednesday, December 22, at 9:00AM, to KCRW’s flagship music program Morning Becomes Eclectic, co-hosted by Novena Carmel and Anthony Valadez for a three-hour special show highlighting KCRW’s favorite artists, albums and songs of the year. Personal picks from each individual KCRW DJ, as well as Michael Silverblatt’s Best Books of the year will also be revealed tomorrow morning, online at the Best of 2021 website.

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For more information please contact:
Laura Cohen, LC Media, lcmediapr@gmail.com

About KCRW Music
KCRW’s hand-picked music programming is thoughtfully curated by actual people, not algorithms. It encourages real music discovery and delivers a truly eclectic listening experience. KCRW Music is helmed by Program Director of Music, industry veteran Anne Litt and a team of influential tastemaker DJs – Anthony Valadez, Chris Douridas, Dan Wilcox, Francesca Harding, Henry Rollins, Jason Bentley, Jason Kramer, Jeremy Sole, John Moses, José Galván, LeRoy Downs, Nassir Nassirzadeh, Novena Carmel, Raul Campos, Ro “Wyldeflower” Contreras, Scott Dallavo, SiLVA, Travis Holcombe, Tyler Boudreaux, and Valida. KCRW DJs are given one directive: “play what you love.” KCRW has hosted radio debuts and album celebrations for countless artists. Now household names, KCRW has been influential in helping launch the careers of such luminaries as Adele, Alabama Shakes, Anderson Paak, Angel Olsen, Beck, Billie Eilish, Brett Dennen, Coldplay, Eels, Fiona Apple, Gabriel Garzon Montano, Garbage, Gillian Welch, Janelle Monae, Jenny Lewis, Juana Molina, Kamasi Washington, Mac DeMarco, Natalia Lafourcade, Ray LaMontagne, Sofi Tukker, and Tame Impala, among many others. KCRW Music offers a robust array of music programming and content including nearly 100 hours of on-air music every week and a continuous curated stream of music, Eclectic24.

About KCRW
KCRW creates and curates a unique mix of content centered around music discovery, NPR news, cultural exploration and informed public affairs. KCRW is driven by the spirit of LA and delivers in innovative ways – on the radio, digitally and in-person – to diverse, curious communities around the corner and around the world. A community service of Santa Monica College, KCRW can be found on the air in L.A., Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mojave, Palm Springs, San Luis Obispo, and worldwide via the KCRW app or online at kcrw.com.

Twitter | twitter.com/kcrw
Facebook | facebook.com/kcrw
Instagram | instagram.com/kcrw
YouTube | youtube.com/kcrw

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KCRW Music Announcement

KCRW Presents Bent by Nature: Deirdre O’Donoghue and the Lost SNAP! Archives

KCRW Presents
Bent by Nature: Deirdre O’Donoghue and the Lost SNAP! Archives

Ten-part audio documentary about the most influential American DJ you’ve never heard of, until now

From the Producers of Lost Notes and UnFictional

Hosted by Tricia Halloran 

Features legendary in-studio performances from R.E.M., Vic Chesnutt, Syd Straw, Tom Waits, Concrete Blonde, Camper Van Beethoven, and many more

Bent by Nature site cracks open the secret history and archives of the ‘80s underground, highlighting artwork, footage, and performances and interviews from rare, unreleased and newly-remastered recordings

Santa Monica, CA (October 19, 2021) – KCRW announces Bent by Nature: Deirdre O’Donoghue and the Lost SNAP! Archives, a ten-part audio documentary series from the producers of the critically-acclaimed Lost Notes and UnFictional podcasts, and hosted by Tricia Halloran, music supervisor and former KCRW DJ (Brave New World) who helped shape independent music on the airwaves for 15 years. The first episode drops on Thursday, October 28, 2021. In addition, KCRW will kick off a dynamic online archive featuring many of Deirdre’s most legendary interviews and in-studio performances, newly transferred and remastered from the original source tapes. 

Deirdre O’Donoghue was the most influential American DJ you’ve never heard of, until now. She revolutionized live performance on the radio for an entire generation of underground, independent, and “avant-pop” bands and their fans. A vital force in the musical underground of the 1980s, countless artists crammed into her studio at KCRW to perform live on her late-night show, “SNAP!” After 40 years, many of these sessions will finally be heard again. Join Michael Stipe, Henry Rollins, Julian Cope and more for a series that will transport you back to the heyday of ‘80s independent music, packed with long-unheard performances and brand new interviews.

In an essay penned by Henry Rollins, which he recites during the final episode of the series, he says of O’Donoghue: “Deirdre was a huge influence not only on what I listened to, but how I appreciated music. The degree to which she opened my mind to music I might not have ever found on my own is profound. Now and then, I get an email from someone telling me they like my show on KCRW. I thank them but it’s just what Deirdre taught me. I’m trying to be like her.”

“SNAP!,” was a welcome home for adventurous and idiosyncratic bands during the explosion of “college rock” in the 1980s. They arrived at the basement studio from all corners: Fetchin’ Bones (Charlotte, NC), Glass Eye (Austin, TX), Camper Van Beethoven (Davis, CA), and The Meat Puppets (Phoenix, AZ). She nurtured LA talent like Concrete Blonde, Downy Mildew, and the Dream Syndicate. Deirdre also welcomed established artists like Bob Mould, Robyn Hitchcock, Graham Parker, Julian Cope, and Tom Waits, all of whom had moved into richer and more satisfying second acts.

“No categories, no definitions, no pigeonholes,” O’Donoghue declared in January 1984, “just combinations of things that seem to go together.”

Taken as a whole, the Deirdre O’Donoghue archive amounts to a “secret history” of the pre-Nirvana underground (1982-1991), spanning hundreds of reel-to-reel tapes and cassettes featuring all of the aforementioned artists and so many more. Co-producers Bob Carlson (KCRW’s UnFictional) and Myke Dodge Weiskopf (KCRW’s Lost Notes) spent the last two years painstakingly transferring and restoring these vital artifacts of an under-explored time.

Carlson was Deirdre’s house engineer for many of the original sessions, and his firsthand recollections comprise the first two episodes of Bent by Nature. O’Donoghue’s indescribable style is brought to life in the remaining episodes, an eight-part cycle of archival sound and fresh interviews with the artists she so deeply impacted. Host Tricia Halloran sets the stage for episodes featuring Henry Rollins, Michael Stipe, Syd Straw, and Julian Cope, as well as members of Camper Van Beethoven, Pere Ubu, the Mighty Lemon Drops, Glass Eye, and more.

Bent by Nature: Deirdre O’Donoghue and the Lost SNAP! Archives Episode Synopses
*Episode order is subject to change.

EP 1: THIS IS SNAP with Bob Carlson
Introducing Deirdre O’Donoghue: the most influential American DJ you’ve never heard of. KCRW’s Bob Carlson takes you inside the world of her radio show, “SNAP!”, and the rare atmosphere she created for bands and listeners alike
(Releases 10/28/2021)

EP 2: MUSIC COULD BE YOUR WHOLE LIFE with Bob Carlson
KCRW’s Bob Carlson takes you further inside the world of Deirdre O’Donoghue, her radio show, “SNAP!”, and the rare atmosphere she created for bands and listeners alike.
(Releases 11/4/2021)

EP 3: INSIDE OUT with Bekki and Dave Newton
Dave Newton was a Mighty Lemon Drop. His future wife Bekki was an American Anglophile. Their romance spanned continents … as did their friendship with Deirdre.
(Releases 11/11/2021)

EP 4: ALMOST MAGIC with Syd Straw
Vocalist Syd Straw has sung with the very best of her generation. And like her beloved friend Deirdre, she’s funny, fearless, and more than a little bent.
(Releases 11/18/2021)

EP 5: HAYWIRE with Brian Beattie and Kathy McCarty
Glass Eye were one of Deirdre’s favorite exports from Austin, TX. They credit Deirdre with making SNAP! a home away from home for wayward indie bands.
(Releases 11/25/2021)

EP 6: CROSSING OVER with David Lowery
Camper Van Beethoven‘s David Lowery charts his band’s rise alongside the American underground, and reflects on his subsequent friendship with Deirdre.
(Releases 12/2/2021)

EP 7: AGES OF YOU with Felicia Daniel and Tanja Laden
Tanja and Felicia met as pre-teen musical soulmates in LA. But their lives began with the advent of the drivers license … and Deirdre O’Donoghue on the car stereo.
(Releases 12/9/2021)

EP 8: GOODBYE SADNESS with Michael Stipe
R.E.M. were one of Deirdre’s final guests on SNAP! in 1991. Michael Stipe talks about their infamous acoustic set and reflects on friendships with Deirdre and Vic Chesnutt.
(Releases 12/16/2021)

EP 9: PROMISED LAND with Julian Cope
Julian Cope recounts how Deirdre decamped to England after leaving KCRW in 1991, and the time she spent exploring its ancient countryside.
(Releases 12/23/2021)

EP 10: ROLLINS with Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins‘ weekly show has become a KCRW cornerstone. But he credits Deirdre for making him the radio legend he is today.
(Releases 12/30/2021)

For an even deeper dive into these incredible archives, visit:
kcrw.com/bentbynature

Listen to Bent By Nature: Deirdre O’Donoghue and the Lost SNAP! Archives on Apple and Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

More About Tricia Halloran:
Tricia Halloran hosted Brave New World for 15 years on KCRW, navigating the indie rock scene as it emerged from a niche college radio format into a nationwide media genre, and introducing Pete Yorn, David Gray, Eels, Death Cab For Cutie and many other new artists to Los Angeles. She currently works as a music supervisor, finding songs for directors and producers of film and television projects. She’s never lost her love of discovering new music and you can find her latest playlists at www.bravenewworld.net.

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For more information please contact:
Laura Cohen, LC Media, lcmediapr@gmail.com

About KCRW Music
KCRW’s hand-picked music programming is thoughtfully curated by actual people, not algorithms. It encourages real music discovery and delivers a truly eclectic listening experience. KCRW Music is helmed by Program Director of Music, industry veteran Anne Litt and a team of influential tastemaker DJs – Anthony Valadez, Chris Douridas, Dan Wilcox, Francesca Harding, Henry Rollins, Jason Bentley, Jason Kramer, Jeremy Sole, John Moses, José Galván, LeRoy Downs, Nassir Nassirzadeh, Novena Carmel, Raul Campos, Ro “Wyldeflower” Contreras, Scott Dallavo, SiLVA, Travis Holcombe, Tyler Boudreaux, and Valida. KCRW DJs are given one directive: “play what you love.” KCRW has hosted radio debuts and album celebrations for countless artists. Now household names, KCRW has been influential in helping launch the careers of such luminaries as Adele, Alabama Shakes, Anderson Paak, Angel Olsen, Beck, Billie Eilish, Brett Dennen, Coldplay, Eels, Fiona Apple, Gabriel Garzon Montano, Garbage, Gillian Welch, Janelle Monae, Jenny Lewis, Juana Molina, Kamasi Washington, Mac DeMarco, Natalia Lafourcade, Ray LaMontagne, Sofi Tukker, and Tame Impala, among many others. KCRW Music offers a robust array of music programming and content including nearly 100 hours of on-air music every week and a continuous curated stream of music, Eclectic24. 

About KCRW
KCRW creates and curates a unique mix of content centered around music discovery, NPR news, cultural exploration and informed public affairs. KCRW is driven by the spirit of LA and delivers in innovative ways – on the radio, digitally and in-person – to diverse, curious communities around the corner and around the world. A community service of Santa Monica College, KCRW can be found on the air in L.A., Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mojave, Palm Springs, San Luis Obispo, and worldwide via the KCRW app or online at kcrw.com.

Twitter | twitter.com/kcrw
Facebook | facebook.com/kcrw
Instagram | instagram.com/kcrw
YouTube | youtube.com/kcrw

 

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KCRW Music Announcement

KCRW To Air a Never-Before-Broadcast 60-Minute Live Audio Recording from Prince’s “21 Nite Stand”

KCRW To Air a Never-Before-Broadcast 60-Minute Live Audio Recording from Prince’s “21 Nite Stand”
(Recorded live at The Forum on April 28, 2011)

One-Time-Only Live Broadcast
On-Air (89.9), Online (kcrw.com) and via the KCRW App
Thursday, July 29, at 8.p.m. PDT

Video and audio of entire concert exclusively available on Deluxe Edition Blu-Ray of Welcome 2 America Friday, July 30

Los Angeles, CA (July 23, 2021) – KCRW is set to air a never-before-broadcast, 60-minute live audio recording from Prince’s “21 Nite Stand” at The Forum (recorded on April 28, 2011). The special radio cut can only be experienced live on-air, online and via the KCRW app during DJ Aaron Byrd’s show on Thursday, July 29, at 8:00 p.m. PDT.

This special one-time-only broadcast is in celebration of, and anticipation for, the July 30 release of the enigmatic 2010 Prince album Welcome 2 America. Released for the first time by The Prince Estate and Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, Welcome 2 America is a powerful creative statement that documents Prince’s concerns, hopes, and visions for a shifting society, presciently foreshadowing an era of political division, disinformation, and a renewed fight for racial justice. 

Shortly after completing the Welcome 2 America album, Prince embarked on a unique tour of the same name that included multiple performances in several U.S. cities, capped off by the historic “21 Nite Stand” at The Forum. The Deluxe Edition of Welcome 2 America includes the complete studio vault album on both CD and black vinyl (accompanied with a hi-res digital download) plus a never-before-released full concert video of Prince’s April 28, 2011 show at The Forum, presented in 1080p HD with stereo, 5.1 surround and Dolby Atmos audio. For more information about Welcome 2 America, please click here.

# # #

For KCRW media inquiries, please contact:
Laura Cohen, LC Media: lcmediapr@gmail.com

For media inquiries about The Prince Estate, please contact:
Cara Hutchison, The Lede Company: cara.hutchison@ledecompany.com

About KCRW
KCRW creates and curates a unique mix of content centered around music discovery, NPR news, cultural exploration and informed public affairs. We are driven by the spirit of L.A. and deliver in innovative ways – on the radio, digitally and in person – to diverse, curious communities around the corner and around the world. A community service of Santa Monica College, KCRW can be found on the air in L.A., Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mojave, Palm Springs, San Luis Obispo, and worldwide via the KCRW-developed smart phone app or online at kcrw.com.

Twitter | twitter.com/kcrw
Facebook | facebook.com/kcrw
Instagram | instagram.com/kcrw
YouTube | youtube.com/kcrw

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Events, KCRW Music Announcement

KCRW Presents the return of Summer Nights

KCRW Presents the return of Summer Nights

Free, All-Ages, Outdoor Performances Featuring KCRW-Curated Bands and the Station’s Stellar DJs

Santa Monica, CA (July 13, 2021) – KCRW presents the return of its signature event series, Summer Nights, with five free, all-ages, outdoor performances featuring KCRW-curated bands, and the tastemaker station’s stellar DJs. For KCRW’s 2021 Summer Nights, L.A.’s iconic radio station is partnering with L.A. cultural institutions CAAM (California African American Museum), One Colorado, Descanso Gardens and Grand Performances.

KCRW’s 2021 Summer Nights are as follows:

Friday, July 30, at 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
KCRW DJs Aaron Byrd & Novena Carmel
California African American Museum

Saturday, August 14, at 7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
James Francies & KCRW DJ LeRoy Downs
One Colorado

Saturday August 21, at 7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Nation of Language & KCRW DJ Travis Holcombe
One Colorado

Friday, September 3, at 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
KCRW DJs Raul Campos & Anthony Valadez
Descanso Gardens

Friday, September 24, at 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Madame Gandhi & KCRW DJs Anne Litt & Valida
Grand Performances at California Plaza

For more information and to RSVP, please visit:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kcrw-summer-nights-2021-tickets-160998373469?aff=Press

California African American Museum:

Friday, July 30, at 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
KCRW DJs Aaron Byrd & Novena Carmel

KCRW returns to the California African American Museum (CAAM) for the 2021 Summer Nights kick-off featuring live sets from KCRW DJs Aaron Byrd and Co-host of Morning Becomes Eclectic Novena Carmel. Enjoy after-hours access to the museum’s newest exhibition, Sanford Biggers: Codeswitch, the first survey of quilt-based works by the New York-based interdisciplinary artist, featuring nearly fifty pieces that seamlessly weave together references to contemporary art, urban culture, sacred geometry, and more. There will also be food trucks and a beer garden at this summer’s best dance party! Party on the courtyard, but don’t forget your masks, which are required inside the museum.

The California African American Museum (CAAM) in Exposition Park explores the art, history, and culture of African Americans, with an emphasis on California and the West. In addition to presenting a dynamic slate of exhibitions and public programs, CAAM houses a permanent collection of more than four thousand works of art, artifacts, and historical documents, and a publicly accessible research library. Admission is free.

One Colorado Old Pasadena:

Saturday, August 14, at 7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
James Francies & KCRW DJ LeRoy Downs

Saturday August 21, at 7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Nation of Language & KCRW DJ Travis Holcombe

KCRW’s Summer Nights returns to Pasadena’s One Colorado for two nights of summer fun featuring a night of jazz with pianist, keyboardist, composer, and arranger James Francies and KCRW DJ LeRoy Downs (August 14) and an evening with Brooklyn’s indie pop band Nation of Language and KCRW DJ Travis Holcombe (August 21).

One Colorado is an open air shopping center that spans a full city block and is an exceptional retail and dining experience in the heart of historic Old Pasadena. With authentic charm, historic elegance and sophisticated shopping, dining, and entertainment, One Colorado has something for everyone.

Descanso Gardens:

Friday, September 3, at 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
KCRW DJs Raul Campos & Anthony Valadez

KCRW partners with Descanso Gardens for the first-ever summer nights in this idyllic setting.  Enjoy the beautiful landscapes and free admission to the botanical gardens while dancing to beats by KCRW DJ Raul Campos and Co-host of Morning Becomes Eclectic Anthony Valadez. Descanso Gardens is a unique Southern California landscape distinguished by its specialized botanic collections, historical significance, and rare natural beauty. Their mission is to practice exemplary stewardship of Descanso’s distinctive character and assets; offer people an experience close to nature; and cultivate understanding of the natural world and people’s place in it through inspiration, education and example.

Grand Performances:

Friday, September 24, at 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Madame Gandhi & KCRW DJs Anne Litt & Valida

KCRW’s Summer Nights and L.A.’s iconic Grand Performances are collaborating for a dance party in Downtown L.A.’s California Plaza featuring electrofeminist singer, percussionist and activist, Madame Gandhi, in a full band performance, along with DJ sets from KCRW Program Director of Music Anne Litt and KCRW DJ Valida. Grand Performances, the longest running presenter of free outdoor concerts in Los Angeles, is returning this year to the newly renovated California Plaza for its 35th season. Grand Performances mission is to inspire community, celebrate diversity, and unite Los Angeles through free access to global performing arts.

# # #

For all media inquiries, please contact:
Laura Cohen, LC Media, lcmediapr@gmail.com

About KCRW
KCRW creates and curates a unique mix of content centered around music discovery, NPR news, cultural exploration and informed public affairs. We are driven by the spirit of L.A. and deliver in innovative ways – on the radio, digitally and in person – to diverse, curious communities around the corner and around the world. A community service of Santa Monica College, KCRW can be found on the air in L.A., Santa Barbara, Ventura, Mojave, Palm Springs, San Luis Obispo, and worldwide via the KCRW-developed smart phone app or online at kcrw.com.

Twitter | twitter.com/kcrw
Facebook | facebook.com/kcrw
Instagram | instagram.com/kcrw
YouTube | youtube.com/kcrw

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