Hi friends,

I'm writing this in the middle of summer, when the days seem to stretch just a little longer, and music somehow finds its way into everything. Road trips. Backyard barbecues. Late-night walks. Open windows. Every summer eventually becomes attached to a handful of songs.

I've realized there are two kinds of summer jams. There's the ecstatic one that makes you want to throw your plans out the window: What Björk captured perfectly in "Big Time Sensuality": "I don't know my future after this weekend, and I don't want to." Then there's the quieter song, the one that somehow already sounds like a memory while you're still living it.

My ecstatic summer anthem will probably always be Denim's "Summer Smash." It's wonderfully nerdy, but so am I. For quieter moments, I keep coming back to "Sun, Sea, Sand" by The Revolving Paint Dream. Neither is likely to become the song of summer in 2026, but that's exactly why I rely on KCRW's DJs to introduce me to new favorites.

Over the past few weeks, Madeleine Brand has been asking our DJs on Press Play to share the songs soundtracking their summers, and the results are wonderfully eclectic. We've gathered them into a PLAYLIST, thanks to the help of Robin Estrin, who pitched and produced the “Summer Songs” series, as well as DJs John Tejada, Olive Kimoto, Peanut Butter Wolf, J. Rocc, Luxxury, and Tana Yonas. 

Now I'd like to hear from you.

What's your summer jam for 2026?

Send it my way. If it hits the right note, we may add it to KCRW's Summer 2026 Playlist.

See you in the sunshine,
Ale

Now Spinning On My Turntable
Doug Aitken - Lightscape

What began as a multimedia collaboration between artist Doug Aitken, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic has now found its way to vinyl. Lightscape is a feature-length film, immersive installation, and series of live performances exploring the landscapes and shifting realities of the American West, with music at its core.

The newly released soundtrack distills the project into a nine-track song cycle, blending choral voices with kinetic electronic soundscapes. Here in Los Angeles, KCRW was proud to present many of the original Lightscape performances at the Marciano Art Foundation, featuring artists including Beck, LA LOM, and Julia Holter, among others. Earlier this summer, we also brought several of those performances back to the airwaves in a special overnight broadcast series. Some of those sessions are now available to watch HERE.

More Music Moments

Friko Performs Live at KCRW HQ – By Farin Hoover

Returning to KCRW with songs from their acclaimed new album “Something Worth Waiting For”, native Chicago indie rock / chamber pop outfit Friko prove the confidence of a band that's spent countless hours listening to one another. What begins with the intimacy of a songwriter quietly unpacking a feeling quickly swells into something far larger, equal parts fragile, explosive, and impossible to look away from. Friko have built their reputation living comfortably in both worlds, writing songs that can dissolve into somber introspection before exploding into cinematic swells and bombastic harmonies.

Frontman Niko Kapetan's voice moves effortlessly from a near-whisper to a full-throated howl, while drummer and multi-instrumentalist Bailey Minzenberger anchors every dynamic shift with remarkable sensitivity and power. Joined by newcomers David Fuller (Bass) and Korgan Robb (Guitar), the expanded outfit transforms the KCRW Annenberg Performance Studio into something that feels less like a recording session and more like a cathartic release, finding beauty in the tension, restraint, and soaring noise.

It's a reminder of why Friko has become one of indie rock's most exciting young bands: they're unafraid to let songs breathe, break apart, and rebuild themselves in real time. In the intimate confines of KCRW HQ, every crescendo lands harder, every quiet moment feels closer, and every note serves the song, all while playing with the dichotomy of grit versus polish. It's an exhilarating performance from a band that seems destined for much bigger rooms.

–Farin

Introducing New Resident DJs, Panda Bear & Sonic Boom!

Sonic Boom (Spacemen 3) and Panda Bear (Animal Collective) have been prolific collaborators across a variety of musical projects in recent years. Their second proper album as a duo, A ? Of When, landed on July 10th. In a statement about the album, they say: "Going forward we're looking to radio, live shows, listening parties, Q&A sessions & real life interactions to get back to a place we feel makes more sense." As an extension of this strategy, the pair joins KCRW for our Resident DJ series throughout August 2026. Each week at midnight Thursday night (going into Friday), we'll be simulcasting their sets both on-air and online. And if you're not the night-owl type, you can always listen back on our Resident DJ page, where you can also dive into past residencies from artists like Arlo Parks, Adrian Sherwood, Thomas Dolby, and more.

And finally… This Friday on SNAP (Midnight into Saturday): Deirdre O'Donoghue welcomes Santa Cruz's beloved sons, Camper Van Beethoven. The band made their SNAP in-studio debut on August 10th, 1987, in support of their new album, Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart. The wisecracking ensemble rambles through selections old and new in a semi-acoustic session rife with cheerful chaos.

Upcoming Music Events

One year into its Los Angeles chapter, Blue Note LA welcomes Abandoned Jukebox, a rare gathering of legendary session musicians whose playing has shaped thousands of iconic recordings. KCRW Music Director Alejandro Cohen opens the evening with a special all-vinyl DJ set. Get tickets and learn more. 

🎶 🗓️ ➡️  Also On KCRW's Radar  ⬅️ 🗓️ 🎶

Sat, Aug 8th and Sun, Aug 9th — Splash House in Palm Springs

Sun, Aug 9th — KCRW Presents Flore Laurentienne at Pico Union Project

Mon, Aug 10th — KCRW Presents “Abandoned Jukebox” at Blue Note

Mon, Aug 10th — John Mellencamp at the Hollywood Bowl

Mon, Aug 10th  — KCRW & Sid The Cat Presents Greg Mendez

Thurs, Aug 13th — KCRW & VLSF Present Boyo Ft. Fine, Cody's Program at Gold Diggers