Let KCRW DJ Your Metro Ride — KCRW Soundtrips

Hey ya’ll,

Sometimes when I’m walking down the street, or cruising through LA’s streets, a Metro bus rolls by and my queen, Novena Carmel’s beaming face is looking right at me — a full-on Carrie Bradshaw moment! OK… that’s never happened… until now! (see above!)

So, why is her beautiful visage smiling at me at the corner of Olympic and Sepulveda, you ask? It’s because KCRW teamed up with Metro Arts for Soundtrips! Where KCRW DJs create quintessential LA soundtracks to match your ride across town. Novena, along with Silva, Wyldeflower, and Ale Cohen, act as your personal musical tour guides as they put the rhythms, moods, global grooves, funk, soul, and ambient sounds of LA into motion.

(Note to all who take LA transit, seriously, do not sleep on this. Headphones required.)

Naturally, I had to try it for myself. So on Tuesday, I combined three of my favorite Los Angeles institutions — four, if you count the fact that it was my birthday: LA Metro, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and KCRW.

It was the final day of the legendary Freeway Series with the Angels, and the very last Spring Training game was at Dodger Stadium. And our favorite phenom, Shohei, was pitching! I DL’ed the playlist, donned my headphones, and headed to the show.

Just a short jaunt from my house, I caught the B Line at Hollywood and Highland and rode until it ended at Union Station. I enjoyed my stroll through the hallowed hallways of the historic LA transit hub, with its tiled floors, warm wood benches, and soaring, sunlit ceilings, before catching the Dodger Stadium Express bus.

Novena’s selections begin with a salutation to “the funky people” (that’s you) from herself and Bardo, some “California Soul” courtesy Marlena Shaw, War’s ode to the great “Lowrider” plus Leon Ware, Brijean, The Mamas & the Papas, and Frank Ocean, reminding us why they all “came to California.” As accompaniment for my journey, as a set of music, as a pump-up — it is just SO good! Dare I say, transportive? A perfect slice of LA, best experienced while literally moving through it on the transpo that’s transforming how I get around.

[Pro-tip: this really is the way to go to a Dodger game. It’s a field trip to the church of baseball, everyone in their gear, good vibes all around, no driving, and, blessedly — no parking. $1.75 for Metro, and the shuttle is free. And that bus lane into Vin Scully Drive? Elite.

I pulled off my headphones as I stepped off right outside centerfield and traded Novena’s sounds for Dieter’s organ, Shohei’s K’s, my first Dodger Dog of the season, and a cold beer.

After the last out, or in this case, the 7th inning stretch, rinse and repeat in reverse for the same LA magic!

Be well, Go Dodgers, Go Metro, and Go KCRW!

xx, Anne