Hi friends,

One of my favorite questions to ask people is: Who introduced you to that artist?

Not where you first heard them… but, who pointed you there.

For me, music has always been passed from one person to another. A friend handing over a burned CD. A late-night college radio show. A record store clerk insisting, "Trust me, take this home." A DJ connecting two songs from opposite sides of the world and somehow making them feel like they belonged together all along.

That's one of the reasons I still believe so deeply in radio. In an age when algorithms are remarkably good at predicting what we already like, they rarely surprise us with something we never knew we needed. Great DJs do. They bring curiosity, context, and decades of listening to every set, helping us discover not just new artists, but entirely new musical worlds.

This week, I'm thrilled to welcome someone who embodies that spirit to KCRW. Beginning August 2nd, Tana Yonas joins KCRW with a monthly Sunday evening program devoted to music from around the globe. Tana is one of those rare selectors whose record collection feels more like a passport than an archive. Every weekly show will dive deeply into a specific musical movement, tracing its roots, celebrating the artists who defined it, and following its influence through time, all the way to the present day. Whether she's exploring spiritual jazz in Los Angeles, Japanese folk music of the 1960s and '70s, or another musical corner of the globe, I have a feeling many of us will finish each episode with a growing list of albums to hunt down and artists to fall in love with.

It’s all about discovery… and that's often how the best musical journeys begin.

Ale

Now Spinning On My Turntable
CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso - “Free Spirits”

There are plenty of reasons why I'm fascinated by Argentina's CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso. Sure, there's a little hometown pride involved (¡Vamos Argentina!), but what really excites me is how they've managed to break through cultural barriers in a way that very few Latin American artists have.

International audiences might hear flashes of Prince or Steely Dan in their music, but I also hear decades of Argentina's rich musical history woven into every track. There are echoes of innovators like Luis Alberto Spinetta, Charly García, and Fito Páez, alongside the adventurous spirit of bands like Babasónicos, Miranda!, and '80s New Wave and Post Punk bands like Virus and Sumo. Those influences aren't referenced as nostalgia, they're transformed into something unmistakably contemporary.

That's what makes CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso so compelling. They've synthesized generations of international artists and Argentine music into a sound and visual identity that feels completely their own while speaking a global musical language. The rest, as they say, is timing.

More Music Moments

Mary Lattimore: Live From KCRW HQ

Some artists completely redefine what you think an instrument can do. Mary Lattimore is one of them. Her music begins with the harp, but that's only the starting point. Layer by layer, she builds shimmering worlds from loops, electronics, and richly textured soundscapes that feel both intimate and cinematic. It's music that rewards slowing down and getting lost for a while. She recently joined us at KCRW HQ for a beautiful live performance that captures exactly what makes her work so transporting.

The KCRW Festival Rolls On

If you were at the Hollywood Bowl last Sunday, you know what I'm talking about. Our annual KCRW Festival kicked off with an unforgettable celebration of the music from Wes Anderson's films, bringing together an extraordinary cast of artists who have helped shape his cinematic universe. Beck, Jim James, and a wonderfully irreverent Bill Murray shared the stage, while Jackson Browne and the Los Angeles Children's Chorus delivered some of the evening's most moving moments. It was one of those nights that reminded me why live music remains such a powerful communal experience.

And we're just getting started. This Sunday, the festival continues with Cannons and Bob Moses under the stars at the Hollywood Bowl. If you haven't made it out yet this summer, here's your chance. 

And finally… KCRW and DoLA want to give you Seven Days of...

One of the things I love most about Los Angeles is that every corner of the city opens the door to a different musical world. This summer, we're teaming up with DoLA to create monthly guides that dig a little deeper than the usual "things to do" lists. Our first edition explores LA's rich goth culture. From record shops and late-night dance floors to the places that have helped shape one of the city's most enduring underground scenes. Where will we take you next month? You'll just have to stay tuned.

Enjoy!
Ale

Upcoming Music Events

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

July 16th — CA7RIEL y Paco Amoroso @ the Greek

July 16th — Chinese American Bear @ the Echo

July 18th — The Big Micro ft. DakhaBrakha w/ Brainstory @ the Bellwether

July 18th–19th — Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band @ Blue Note Los Angeles

July 19th — KCRW Festival at the Bowl: Bob Moses and Cannons w/ host Novena Carmel

July 19th — KCRW Presents Colleen Green

July 19th — Sunday Jazz @ the Ford

July 22nd — KCRW Presents Catherine Moan & Inner Magic

July 23rd — KCRW & VLSF Present: Moondough

July 23rd — KCRW & Make Out Music Present: School Night

July 23rd — Suki Waterhouse @ Hollywood Forever

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