The first time Zola Jesus performed in Los Angeles, it was just Nika Rosa and some backing tracks. She crawled across the floor between people’s legs and though she was as small and delicate as a cat, she filled the room with her voice like a big shadow or a ghost. Finding a welcoming audience here, Rosa moved to Los Angeles and wrote her second album, Conatus. This interview by Daiana Feuer.

[Read more →]

Fifteen years ago, DJ Shadow released Endtroducing…, a timeless masterpiece that secured his legacy as a pioneer of instrumental hip-hop and inspired several generation of beatmakers. With his latest The Less You Know, The Better, released last month on Verve, the legendary turntablist returns to his roots after experimenting on his confrontational and polarizing 2006 album The Outsider. This interview by Lainna Fader.

[Read more →]

champoyhate Before becoming a singer, Anika was a political journalist splitting her time between Bristol and Berlin. But after meeting Portishead producer Geoff Barrow, she quit her job as correspondent and released an album she recorded with Barrow’s latest project BEAK> in just twelve days on Stones Throw/Invada. She speaks here from somewhere in the [...]

[Read more →]

Hanni El Khatib plays bluesy garage rock with a lot of soul and a little folk for Highland Park’s Innovative Leisure label. He destroys live with only an electric guitar and drums played by his best friend from high school. From Café Tropical in Silver Lake, he speaks about preferring amps to humans, a memorable mushroom experience in the snow and his various encounters with strippers. He celebrates the release of his debut LP at the Echo tonight. This interview by Lainna Fader.

[Read more →]

Some people seem transported from a parallel universe, sent here to make this world a little more magical or strange. Like Mia Doi Todd—she should be floating, leaving a trail of flowers, or accompanied by a river that washes the city clean of all the creeps and malevolent vibes. Listening to her latest album, a little bit of cosmic energy seems to seep in and that parallel universe becomes visible. Suddenly, you wish you lived in France or Brazil. This interview by Daiana Feuer.

[Read more →]

Director Sion Sono started out as a poet and staged guerrilla experimental poetry street performances before making films about brutal murders, twisted families, and demonic hair. His latest film is Cold Fish, a twisted tale about a struggling fish store owner who falls into the dark orbit of a rich, charismatic—and murderous—owner of a successful high-end fish shop. He speaks here about crime and creativity, pervert power, and his own cult experiences. This interview by Lainna Fader.

[Read more →]

If you always wanted to know what is actually going on in Downtown L.A.’s high-rises and corporate buildings–apart from struggling mortgage dealers and bankrupt banks–go and see artist Seth Lower’s latest show “Diamonds Are Forever.” What starts as Rohrschach test-like riddle turns into a reflection about living and, most notably, working as artist in L.A. [...]

[Read more →]

Dale Crover of the mighty Melvins will do a special DJ set at Big Freak tonight, so in honor of this momentous occasion, we are redeploying our gigantic Melvins interview by Chris Ziegler.

[Read more →]

Before they were Luis & the Wildfires they were Lil’ Luis y Los Wild Teens, a band built then as it is now: on rock ‘n’ roll too Wild for American ears. Now, as Luis & the Wildfires, they have more than earned their spot on the wall of Pasadena’s Colorado Bar alongside the Rolling Stones. They will play Saturday with live Mexican wrestling (and you can win tickets here!) so enjoy this reissued interview by Lainna Fader!

[Read more →]

Darker My Love’s Tim Presley delivered one of the most unexpected and impressive LPs of last year with his solo project White Fence’s self-titled debut. At the time, it was one of the best records L.A. RECORD ever randomly received; about a year later, it is still completely fascinating. White Fence plays Friday at Blue Star with Cold Showers, the Urinals and Night Control (win tickets here!) so we are re-printing this interview by Daniel Clodfelter now!

[Read more →]