Live on KEXP

On the show this time, it’s the DI A Y - that’s do it all yourself - groovy latin-dub of Pachyman. Pachyman is the solo project of multi-instrumentalist and producer Pachy Garcia. He is from Puerto Rico, now living in Los Angeles. Pachyman wrote, produced, played, sang, recorded and mixed this latest record at his studio, “333 House.” The album is called 'Switched On' and is available on ATO recor...

On the show this time, it's the yarn-spinning indie-rock of Portland, Oregon’s The Decemberists. It’s been 6 years since The Decemberists released new music. The Portland-based mini orchestra has been making their infectious folk pop since their formation in 2000. Any myth, epic poem, or historical account is fair game as fodder for their songs. Over the years they’ve built a deeply invested group...

On the show this time, it's the yarn-spinning indie-rock of Portland, Oregon’s The Decemberists. It’s been 6 years since The Decemberists released new music. The Portland-based mini orchestra has been making their infectious folk pop since their formation in 2000. Any myth, epic poem, or historical account is fair game as fodder for their songs. Over the years they’ve built a deeply invested group...

On the show this time, it’s the contemporary jazz and black classical music of Yussef Dayes. Drummer and composer Yussef Dayes makes music that embraces tradition, but then puts on a brand new shirt and walks out into the city, ready for anything.  He’s a band leader - having put together a group of monster players to bring this music into existence. The Lewisham native has been in the midst of th...

On the show this time, it’s the contemporary jazz and black classical music of Yussef Dayes. Drummer and composer Yussef Dayes makes music that embraces tradition, but then puts on a brand new shirt and walks out into the city, ready for anything.  He’s a band leader - having put together a group of monster players to bring this music into existence. The Lewisham native has been in the midst of th...

On the show this time, it’s the immaculately tailored imagery of Heartworms. Heartworms is the band project of London singer-songwriter Jojo Orme. She named it after one of her favorite bands - the Shins - 2017 album of the same name. The sound is threatening, dark, gothic even. Her lyrics walk a tightrope, beautifully balanced betwixt concrete imagery and abstract entendre. And she’s got a voice...

On the show this time, it’s the immaculately tailored imagery of Heartworms. Heartworms is the band project of London singer-songwriter Jojo Orme. She named it after one of her favorite bands - the Shins - 2017 album of the same name. The sound is threatening, dark, gothic even. Her lyrics walk a tightrope, beautifully balanced betwixt concrete imagery and abstract entendre. And she’s got a voice...

On the show this time, it’s the Colombian psychedelic funk of BALTHVS. BALTHVS is a psych-funk power-trio from Colombia. They can play surfy classics and straight ahead Cumbia, but they excel at trippy groovy psych-rock that references the sounds of the Middle East, especially Turkish music. Oh - and you can definitely dance to it. Their 4th album and latest release is called 'Harvest' and it is a...

On the show this time, it’s the Colombian psychedelic funk of BALTHVS. BALTHVS is a psych-funk power-trio from Colombia. They can play surfy classics and straight ahead Cumbia, but they excel at trippy groovy psych-rock that references the sounds of the middle east, especially Turkish music. Oh - and you can definitely dance to it. Their 4th album and latest release is called 'Harvest' and it is a...

On the show this time, it’s the hope and light of Australian singer and writer Angie McMahon.  Angie McMahon’s new record is an ode to the simplest mantra - “One day at a time.” After the success of her first album she found herself struggling with anxiety and depression. She was diagnosed with ADHD. She moved out of her family home. She embraced being queer. She got really ill. She experienced pa...

On the show this time, it’s the hope and light of Australian singer and writer Angie McMahon.  Angie McMahon’s new record is an ode to the simplest mantra - “One day at a time.” After the success of her first album she found herself struggling with anxiety and depression. She was diagnosed with ADHD. She moved out of her family home. She embraced being queer. She got really ill. She experienced pa...

On the show this time, it’s the anti-apathy activism of Chile’s Ana Tijoux.  Ana Tijoux is a hip-hop artist, rapper, singer and songwriter.  She is from France, with Chilean roots, but she represents a world-spanning perspective, a belief in the value of human life, in the equality we deserve, and in the necessity of fighting for those rights.  She has just released her 5th solo album “Vida."  It...

On the show this time, it’s the anti-apathy activism of Chile’s Ana Tijoux.  Ana Tijoux is a hip-hop artist, rapper, singer and songwriter.  She is from France, with Chilean roots, but she represents a world-spanning perspective, a belief in the value of human life, in the equality we deserve, and in the necessity of fighting for those rights.  She has just released her 5th solo album “Vida."  It...

On the show this time, electronics fight guitars in the post-prog noise-rock of SISTEMAS INESTABLES. SISTEMAS INESTABLES is an instrumental trio from Santiago de Chile. They are finishing a trilogy of EP’s which will comprise their full-length-release at the end of 2024. The first EP, 'oppidum,' which means “town” is about cities - powerful and aggressive. The second, 'homines,' meaning “people” i...

On the show this time, electronics fight guitars in the post-prog noise-rock of SISTEMAS INESTABLES. SISTEMAS INESTABLES is an instrumental trio from Santiago de Chile. They are finishing a trilogy of EP’s which will comprise their full-length-release at the end of 2024. The first EP, 'oppidum,' which means “town” is about cities - powerful and aggressive. The second, 'homines,' meaning “people” i...

On the show this time, it's the low-end chaotic pattern-math of Taiwan’s Elephant Gym. Elephant Gym is siblings KT and Tell Chang on bass and guitar, and drummer Chia-Chin Tu. They met in high school, forming the band in 2012. They say the “elephant” refers to their emphasized agile bass guitar, and the “gym” refers to the physical and mental workout that is Math-Rock. Their music is a delicate ba...

On the show this time, it's the low-end chaotic pattern-math of Taiwan’s Elephant Gym. Elephant Gym is siblings KT and Tell Chang on bass and guitar, and drummer Chia-Chin Tu. They met in high school, forming the band in 2012. They say the “elephant” refers to their emphasized agile bass guitar, and the “gym” refers to the physical and mental workout that is Math-Rock. Their music is a delicate ba...

On the show this time, it's a very special throwback episode, featuring a live performance from Oakland’s own, R&B singer - Raphael Saadiq. Raphael Saadiq is a multi-instrumentalist, particularly deadly on bass - his first big gig was playing bass for Sheila E, who was opening for … Prince. He formed the multi-platinum group Tony Toni Toné with his brother and cousin. None of them are named To...

On the show this time, it's a very special throwback episode, featuring a live performance from Oakland’s own, R&B singer - Raphael Saadiq. Raphael Saadiq is a multi-instrumentalist, particularly deadly on bass - his first big gig was playing bass for Sheila E, who was opening for … Prince. He formed the multi-platinum group Tony Toni Toné with his brother and cousin. None of them are named To...

On the show this time, it’s a set of music from Bay area producer DJ Shadow. DJ Shadow grew up in Northern California in the 70’s and 80s, in the original Star Wars era, spending all his lunch money on comics and sci-fi movies and music. He fell in love with hip-hop, and began to make it however he could. He didn’t know any MCs - so he gravitated to the musical side - sampling and scratching. He r...

On the show this time, it’s a set of music from Bay area producer DJ Shadow. DJ Shadow grew up in Northern California in the 70’s and 80s, in the original Star Wars era, spending all his lunch money on comics and sci-fi movies and music. He fell in love with hip-hop, and began to make it however he could. He didn’t know any MCs - so he gravitated to the musical side - sampling and scratching. He r...

On the show this time, it’s the mesmerizing instrumental magic of Circles Around The Sun. Circles Around The Sun is made up of guitarist John Lee Shannon, bassist Dan Horne, keyboardist Adam MacDougall, and drummer Mark Levy. The band originally formed around guitarist Neil Casal, for the purposes of performing original music written for the intermission of the Grateful Dead’s Fare Thee Well reuni...

On the show this time, it’s the mesmerizing instrumental magic of Circles Around The Sun. Circles Around The Sun is made up of guitarist John Lee Shannon, bassist Dan Horne, keyboardist Adam MacDougall, and drummer Mark Levy. The band originally formed around guitarist Neil Casal, for the purposes of performing original music written for the intermission of the Grateful Dead’s Fare Thee Well reuni...

On the show this time, it's the cinematic indie-pop of songwriter Caroline Rose. Caroline Rose is an uncompromising, ever morphing, creative force. They’ve been putting out music since 2012. Originally it was a folky Americana sound, with acoustic guitar, pedal steel and mandolins - though Caroline’s lyrics were already potent with insight, entanglements, despair or dgaf ennui. Artistic evolution...

On the show this time, it's the cinematic indie-pop of songwriter Caroline Rose. Caroline Rose is an uncompromising, ever morphing, creative force. They’ve been putting out music since 2012. Originally it was a folky Americana sound, with acoustic guitar, pedal steel and mandolins - though Caroline’s lyrics were already potent with insight, entanglements, despair or dgaf ennui. Artistic evolution...