Southland Sessions

Musical Expansions in Quarantine
Witness the creativity of L.A.’s music scene during COVID-19, from drive-in performances and punk rocker exercise videos to musical tributes to the city’s iconic street vendors and food trucks. See how rhythms made from scavenged household items created during quarantine have kept communities inspired and moving to the beat in this episode made in collaboration with dublab.
TRANSCRIPT
SOUND: WELCOME TO "SOUTHLAND
SESSIONS." EVERY WEEK, WE
SHOWCASE THE VIBRANCY AND THE
RESILIENCE OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA'S CREATIVE
COMMUNITY. I'M DEF SOUND, AN
ARTIST, DJ, AND MC AND
GENRE-FLUID HUMAN RESOURCE.
TODAY WE'RE GONNA EXPLORE SONIC
EXPRESSIONS BY ARTISTS FROM ALL
WALKS OF LIFE. FROM VIRTUAL JAM
SESSIONS TO DRIVE-IN CONCERTS,
MUSIC IS A UNIVERSAL TOOL TO
KEEP US GROUNDED, CONNECTED,
AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, ALIVE.
ANNOUNCER: MAJOR FUNDING FOR
THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY
THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES
DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING WAS PROVIDED
BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR
THE ARTS AND THE LOS ANGELES
COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ARTS &
CULTURE.
[CHIMES PLAYING]
SOUND: THE VIDEO YOU JUST SAW
WAS CREATED BY NO OTHER THAN
BEASTIE BOYS KEYBOARDIST AND
SINGER MONEY MARK, WHO HAS BEEN
MAKING A SERIES OF SUPER
CREATIVE SHORT FILMS CALLED
"ISO JAMS" AND SHARING THEM ON
INSTAGRAM OVER THE LAST FEW
MONTHS. WE'RE GONNA CHAT WITH
HIM A LITTLE LATER ON IN THE
SHOW AND TALK ABOUT MUSIC,
SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND QUARANTINE
LIFE. I THINK FOR A LOT OF
PEOPLE, INCLUDING MYSELF, THIS
HAS BEEN A TIME OF REFLECTION,
AND MUSIC OFFERS US A WAY TO
PROCESS THE CURRENT MOMENTS
WE'RE LIVING THROUGH. COVID-19
HAS AFFECTED ALL OF US, BUT
EVERYONE IS FINDING THEIR OWN
WAY TO COPE AND EXPRESS
THEMSELVES. LET'S START WITH
XOCHI, A YOUNG
SINGER-SONGWRITER FROM DELANO,
CALIFORNIA. THIS ONE'S CALLED
"COVID CORRIDO."
MORALES: HI. MY NAME IS XOCHI,
AND THIS IS A CORRIDO THAT I
WROTE ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS AND
ABOUT THE STRENGTH OF OUR
COMMUNITIES AND HOW, EVEN IF
THINGS MIGHT FEEL SCARY OR YOU
MIGHT FEEL DISCOURAGED, WE'LL
GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.
[PLAYING "COVID CORRIDO"]
[SINGING IN SPANISH]
RUFFIN: ALL RIGHT. CRUISING
AGAIN. WHAT'S THE NEXT SONG? I
DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEXT SONG
IS? WHOO!
["MABUHAY BOY" PLAYING]
[SINGING IN TAGALOG]
SOUND: THESE DAYS BY NECESSITY,
PUBLIC MUSIC EXPRESSION IS
GOING TO TAKE MORE INTENTIONAL
IMAGINATION. EARLY IN THE
PANDEMIC, MUSIC COLLECTIVE AND
RADIO STATION DUBLAB SET UP A
DRIVE-IN CONCERT AT A GROCERY
STORE PARKING LOT IN ECHO PARK.
THE PERFORMANCES HAPPENED FROM
INSIDE A VAN WHILE THE AUDIENCE
LISTENED FROM THE SAFETY OF
THEIR CARS. LET'S CHECK IT OUT.
>> YOU ARE LISTENING TO...
>> 99.1 FM--KZUT, LOS ANGELES,
CALIFORNIA.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, AT DUBLAB.
HERE WE ARE ALL TOGETHER
MAINTAINING OUR SOCIAL
DISTANCE. THIS IS AN
EXPERIMENT. WE REALLY DON'T
HAVE SORT OF A ANSWER OR AN
UNDERSTANDING OF HOW IT'S GONNA
RESOLVE RIGHT NOW, SO I THINK
ALL WE CAN DO IS JUST REALLY
WORK TOGETHER AND COMMUNICATE
WITH EACH OTHER AND TRY TO DO
THINGS LIKE THIS THAT CAN BRING
COMMUNITY TOGETHER IN A SAFE
WAY. ALSO KNOW THAT SO MUCH IS
UNKNOWN RIGHT NOW AND ALSO JUST
CHANGING EVERY DAY. REAL LIFE
IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW OUTSIDE
EVERYWHERE VIA THIS MICROPHONE,
VIA US FIGURING OUT HOW TO DO
THIS BROADCAST FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN A VAN IN A PARKING LOT
IN A CITY ON THE EARTH.
SOUND: AS AN INDEPENDENT
CREATIVE, THIS QUARANTINE HAS
FELT A LITTLE BIT LIKE AN
INCUBATION FOR ME, A REAL BREAK
IN THE NORMAL GRIND WITH MORE
TIME TO EXPLORE WAYS OF MOVING
PEOPLE WHILE STAYING PUT, SO
HOW DO WE SEE EACH OTHER
WITHOUT SEEING EACH OTHER? HOW
DO YOU MAKE A MUSIC VIDEO INTO
A GROUP EXERCISE? HACKING MY
WAY BACK TO EXCITEMENT, I
REACHED OUT TO ABOUT 30 OF MY
FRIENDS AND CO-CREATED THE
"STRUCK" MUSIC VIDEO, AND THIS
IS THE WORLD PREMIER...
[IMITATES AIR HORN]
SO SHOUT-OUT TO HOMIE ZHAO, WHO
PRODUCED THE SONG, AND KELLEN
MALLOY, WHO EDITED THE MUSIC
VIDEO, AND IF YOU LOOK REALLY
CLOSE, YOU MIGHT SEE SOME
PEOPLE YOU KNOW.
♪ REMEMBER WHEN
WE COULD PRETEND
REMEMBER WHEN
WE COULD PRETEND
REMEMBER WHEN
WE COULD PRETEND
REMEMBER WHEN
WE COULD PRETEND
REMEMBER WHEN
I GOT MY GROOVE
YOU ARE MY CRUSH TONIGHT
YOUR BODY I MEMORIZE
BULLY THE BULLSH--
LET'S TAKE A LOOK TONIGHT
WE CAN MAKE, WE CAN MAKE
WE CAN MAKE MOVES
I NEED YOUR KISS TONIGHT
DON'T GIVE A ... TONIGHT
KIND OF ALOOF
YOU ARE A FAST MACHINE
I MEAN, YOU ARE THE TRUE THING
KRYPTONITE
YOU ARE MY KRYPTONITE
I WANT TO LIVE TONIGHT
TILL WE ARE LIVING LIFE
I THINK YOU'RE CUTE
CUTE? NO
I THINK YOU'RE MORE THAN THAT
I CAN'T IGNORE THE PAST
SEE THROUGH MY MONOCLE
DOWN TO YOUR PARTICLES
I READ YOU LIKE ARTICLE
MM-HMM, GOOD SHARE
MAKE YOU FIND FREE TIME HERE?
RARE, WISDOM IS WEAPONRY
WE NOT SO SEPARATELY
PROBABLY PROBLEMATIC
BUT I'M ALL IN, YEAH
CRESTFALLEN, YEAH
I REALLY LIKE, REALLY LIKE
I REALLY LIKE--YEAH
HA, REALLY LIKE, YEAH
REALLY LIKE YOU, UH-HUH
KEEP IT ON ROUTE 3, YEAH
I LIKE YOUR STAMINA
WE CAN MAKE DANCES UP
MY MOVES ARE CANCER, HUH?
MY MOVES ARE CANCER, HUH?
THAT MEANS I'M EMOTIONAL
THAT MEANS I'M REALLY EMOTIONAL
I LIKE YOUR STAMINA
WE CAN MAKE DANCES UP
MY MOVES ARE CANCER, HUH?
HUH, GEMINI SUN
LIBRA MOON
SCORPIO RISE
I NEED YOU
GEMINI SUN
LIBRA MOON
SCORPIO RISE
I NEED YOU
GEMINI SUN
LIBRA MOON
SCORPIO RISE
I NEED YOU
GEMINI SUN
LIBRA MOON
SCORPIO RISE
I LIKE YOU
THIS IS WHAT LIFE
FEELS LIKE, LIGHTNING
IN A BOTTLE SOMETIMES
LITTLE MAMA, I'M STRUCK
THIS IS WHAT LIFE
FEELS LIKE, LIGHTNING
IN A BOTTLE SOMETIMES
LITTLE MAMA, I'M STRUCK
THIS IS WHAT LIFE
FEELS LIKE, LIGHTNING
IN A BOTTLE SOMETIMES
LITTLE MAMA, I'M STRUCK
THIS IS WHAT LIFE
FEELS LIKE, LIGHTNING
IN A BOTTLE SOMETIMES
REMEMBER WHEN
WE COULD PRETEND
REMEMBER WHEN
WE COULD PRETEND
REMEMBER WHEN
WE COULD PRETEND
REMEMBER WHEN
REMEMBER WHEN
THIS IS WHAT LIFE
FEELS LIKE, LIGHTNING
IN A BOTTLE SOMETIMES
LITTLE MAMA, I'M STRUCK
LA LA LA LA LA
LA LA LA LA LA
STRUCK, STRUCK
THIS IS WHAT LIFE
FEELS LIKE, LIGHTNING
IN A BOTTLE SOMETIMES
LITTLE MAMA, I'M STRUCK
LA LA LA LA LA
LA LA LA LA LA
LA LA LA LA LA
LA LA LA LA LA
THIS IS WHAT LIFE
FEELS LIKE
THIS IS WHAT LIFE
FEELS LIKE, LIGHTNING
IN A BOTTLE SOMETIMES
I'M STRUCK ♪
[INDISTINCT]
♪ MAYBE YOU CAN SPEND
THE WEEKEND HOW YOU WANNA
FEELINGS ON THE DEEP END
DO YOU WANNA?
MARY J., MARIGOLD
NO MORE WITH THE DRAMA
HERE WE GO, MAYBE FOR A MOMENT
WE SIGN AWAY THE TRAUMA
MAYBE ♪
♪ DOO DOO DOO DOO
IF YOU'RE LIKE ME, MANY OF YOU
ARE MISSING GETTING OUT TO
EXPLORE THE STREETS OF LOS
ANGELES. LUCKILY, YACHT HAS
CREATED A TOUR SHOWCASING
ICONIC L.A. LANDMARKS IN THEIR
VACANT QUARANTINE STATE. THEY
MADE THIS UNIQUE VIDEO ON
THROWBACK MAC PAINT SOFTWARE,
AND IF I MADE THIS, I'D BE
PROUD OF IT, SO LET'S CRUISE.
SPACE NEEDLE: ♪ DON'T KNOW
WHO YOU ARE
YOU
GET YOUR LIFE FROM A STAR
BUT I
I CAN SEE IN THE DARK
AND I AM
LIVING IN THIS WORLD DAY TO DAY
NOTHING CAN BE SO STRANGE
AS TO MAKE YOU WANNA STAY
I FOUND OUT A LONG TIME AGO
THERE'S A VOICE IN MY HEAD
I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IT SAID
IT SAID, "OOH, OOH, OOH
OOH, OOH, OOH
OOH, OOH, OOH
OOH, OOH, OOH"
YOU ALWAYS ANSWER THE PHONE
YOU NEVER GO OUT ALONE
BUT I'M NEVER LONELY ALONE
OH, I'M NEVER LONELY ALONE
OH, I'M NEVER LONELY ALONE
NO, I'M NEVER LONELY ALONE
OH, I'M NEVER LONELY ALONE
NO, I'M NEVER LONELY ALONE
OH, I'M NEVER LONELY ALONE
NO, I'M NEVER LONELY ALONE ♪
SOUND: THIS LOCKDOWN CAN TIP
EVEN THE MOST CREATIVE AND
GENTLE MINDS INTO A FRENETIC
NEED FOR EXPRESSION AND
RELEASE, SO LET'S SEE WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN AN EXPERIMENTAL
JAZZ TRIO REACTS TO A MUSICAL
COMPOSITION MADE BY A TALENTED
PET COCKATOO. Y'ALL ARE GONNA
LOSE IT OVER THIS COCKATOO,
Y'ALL. I'M SERIOUS. THEN WE'LL
GET ENERGIZED BY A GROUP OF
YOUNG MUSICIANS WHO, LIKE MOST
OF US, HAVE BEEN COOPED UP IN
THE HOUSE MISSING OUR FRIENDS.
[PLAYING "COMPOSITION FOR TOY
PIANO"]
>> HA HA HA! HA HA!
YO, HO HO HO!
ELOISE: ♪ THE LIGHT
COMES STREAMING IN
THROUGH MY WINDOW
PRETTY GULLS DANCE
IN THE BREEZE
BUT I'M JUST STUCK IN MY HOUSE
ALL DAY LONG
I CAN'T GO AND
DO WHAT I PLEASE
YEAH, I COULD FACETIME
OR DO HOMEWORK ONLINE
BUT IT JUST AIN'T THE SAME
I WANNA SEE MY FRIENDS
AND PLAY WITH MY BAND
I WANNA EAT DINNER
AT MY GRANDMOTHER'S
HERE I SIT IN MY HOUSE
FEELING SO BLUE
I'M MISSING YOU
BIRDS SING THEIR SONG
AND FLY UP BY MY WINDOW
I SEE THE SQUIRRELS PASSING BY
BUT I JUST SIT HERE
IN MY BEDROOM THROUGH THE PLAGUE
THEY PLAY OUTSIDE
WHY CAN'T I?
YEAH, I COULD FACETIME
OR DO HOMEWORK ONLINE
BUT IT JUST AIN'T THE SAME
I WANNA GO TO SHOWS
PLAY PAINTBALL, EAT NACHOS
I WANNA GO TO MY GRANDMOTHER'S
HERE I SIT IN MY HOUSE
FEELING SO BLUE
I'M MISSING YOU ♪
♪ YEAH, NOW I'LL HAVE
TO BE LEARNING CROCHET
READING ALL THE BLOGS
[INDISTINCT]
AND KEEP PEOPLE AT BAY
EVEN WRITE A NEW SONG
YES, I COULD FACETIME
OR DO HOMEWORK ONLINE
BUT IT JUST AIN'T THE SAME
I WANNA SEE MY FRIENDS
AND PLAY WITH MY BAND
I WANNA EAT DINNER
AT MY GRANDMOTHER'S
HERE I SIT IN MY HOUSE
FEELING SO BLUE
I'M MISSING YOU
HERE I SIT IN MY HOUSE
SINGING TO YOU
STILL MISSING YOU ♪
[SCISSORS BUZZING]
[PLAYING "ISO JAM #77"]
SOUND: AND THAT WAS ANOTHER
DOPE ISO JAM FROM THE
BEAUTIFULLY TALENTED MONEY
MARK, AN ARTIST THAT HAS USED
HIS PLATFORM TO FOSTER A SENSE
OF SOLIDARITY AND SHINE LIGHT
ON SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES, SO
LET'S TUNE IN AND TALK WITH HIM
NOW. YO, MONEY MARK, WHAT'S UP?
MARK: HEY, HELLO. HOW ARE YOU?
SOUND: YOU KNOW, IN THIS TIME
OF THE QUARAN-TIMES, THE
QUARANTINE LOCKDOWN, I FEEL
LIKE YOU HAVEN'T LET EVEN THAT
TERM "LOCKDOWN" HOLD YOU DOWN,
SO SOMETHING I'M REALLY CURIOUS
ABOUT, MARK, IS HOW THAT
FIRST--THE VERY FIRST ISO JAM
CAME TO BE.
MARK: I HAD BEEN TRAVELING, AND
MY FAMILY WAS SAYING, "WELL,
YOU BETTER JUST STAY AT THE
STUDIO, QUARANTINE AT THE
STUDIO." LIKE, THAT ISN'T
REALLY MY FAVORITE THING TO DO,
IS, LIKE, TO BE IN MY STUDIO,
YOU KNOW, 24/7, BUT I DID, AND
I WAS LOOKING AT ALL THE
INSTRUMENTS, LIKE, "OK. I'LL
JUST-- I HAVE AN INSTAGRAM
ACCOUNT. I'M GONNA MAKE A
LITTLE POST," AND I HAD THIS
LITTLE KEYBOARD. YOU KNOW, IT'S
LIKE A LITTLE--
[BEEPING]
SOUND: SOUNDS LIKE MORSE CODE.
MARK: YEAH, EXACTLY. YEAH...
[PLAYING ISOLATION JAM #1"]
SO MARCH 15 WAS MY FIRST POST,
AND I STARTED GETTING ENERGY
FROM IT AND JUST KEPT GOING AND
GOING AND GOING.
SOUND: YEAH. I LOVE HOW MUCH
YOU'VE EMBRACED THIS TIME AND
JUST MADE A DECISION THAT IT'S
LIKE, LET'S BE PRESENT IN IT
ALL THE WAY, AND SO WHAT HAS
BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING ISO
JAM, YOU'D SAY, LIKE, YOU HAVE
AN IDEA, AND YOU'RE LIKE, "OK.
THIS IS GONNA TAKE THE MOST
STRATEGIC PLANNING"?
MARK: HA HA HA! THERE WERE A
FEW OF THEM, THERE WAS A LOT OF
MECHANICAL THINGS INVOLVED WITH
PULLEYS AND STRINGS, AND THINGS
WERE TIMED IN A CERTAIN WAY,
BUT IT WAS JUST FUN JUST TO
BE-- I WAS-- YOU KNOW, I'M NOT
ALONE WHEN I'M WITH THESE TOOLS
BECAUSE THOSE ARE AUTHORS. YOU
KNOW, PEOPLE INVENTED TOOLS,
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
SOUND: I LOVE THAT, AND TO KNOW
THAT WE'RE SURROUNDED BY, LIKE,
LIVING THINGS AND WE GIVE
ENERGY TO THESE THINGS, I THINK
THAT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL
REMINDER. I DO WANT TO KNOW,
HOW MANY ISO JAMS UP TO TODAY
HAVE YOU MADE?
MARK: RIGHT, SO I MADE 79
ISOLATION JAMS IN A ROW, AND,
OF COURSE, WE ALL PAUSED ON MAY
22 WHEN GEORGE FLOYD WAS
MURDERED. YOU KNOW, THAT'S
STAYING WITH ME SO, SO MUCH,
IT'S NOW PART OF MY--IT'S PART
OF MY THINKING AND MY ETHOS,
AND NOW MOVING ON FROM HERE, I
HAVEN'T ACTUALLY POSTED ANOTHER
ONE. I PROMISED TO GO TO A
HUNDRED, SO I HAVE 21 MORE TO
DO, AND I'M TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT HOW WE CAN NOW MERGE THESE
THINGS AND HAVE IT INGRAINED,
AND EVERY THOUGHT THAT I HAVE
NOW FROM NOW ON, IT'S GONNA BE
PART OF THIS BLACK LIVES MATTER
IDEA, AND IT'S NEVER GONNA GO
AWAY FOR ME PERSONALLY, SO AND
AS I WAS DOING THE ISOLATION
JAMS AND ALL OF THESE THINGS
HAPPENED, I REALLY FELT VERY
CONNECTED TO IT BECAUSE OF THE
PEOPLE WHO WERE FOLLOWING MY
POSTS WERE EMBRACING ALL OF THE
SAME THINGS THAT I WAS
EMBRACING. IT FELT LIKE A
BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY.
SOUND: YEAH. I THINK IT'S-- I
THINK IT'S HONEST TO TAKE A
PAUSE AND TO SEE WHO WE ARE
WITHIN THIS CONTEXT, AND WHAT
DO YOU BELIEVE, IN 2020, THE
ARTIST'S DUTY IS RIGHT NOW?
MARK: THE ARTIST IS ALWAYS
REFLECTING WHAT IS GOING ON IN
THE TIMES, WHETHER IT'S THEIR
OWN VICINITY, THAT LITTLE SPACE
THAT THEY'RE IN, SOMETIMES IT'S
A GIANT SPACE, AND SO ARTISTS
ARE AMPLIFYING WHAT IS GOING ON
RIGHT NOW, AND I THINK THAT'S
PART OF THE DUTY NOW THAT WE
HAVE GOTTEN TOOLS AND IDEAS,
AND NOW WE'RE STARTING TO MIX
NEW COLORS. WE'RE MIXING NEW
COLORS RIGHT NOW, MAKING NEW
SHAPES. WE'RE CREATING NEW
PROCESSES. WE ARE AMPLIFYING
ALL THOSE IDEAS. WE HAVE NEW
WAYS, NEW VENUES TO TRAVEL
DOWN. MUSIC SPECIFICALLY, TO
ME, IS SO POWERFUL, SO I WANT
TO BE CONNECTED. ARTISTS NEED
TO BE MORE CONNECTED, TOO, SO
THERE YOU GO.
SOUND: I LOVE THAT. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR GENEROSITY AND FOR
YOUR TIME, MONEY MARK, REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU AND JUST THE
TIME SITTING AND JUST
CONNECTING, EVEN THROUGH THIS
SCREEN.
MARK: ALL RIGHT, MAN. SOUNDS
GOOD TO ME.
[PLAYS RHYTHM]
SOUND: HA HA HA!
MARK: WHOO HOO!
♪ TAKE CARE
OF EACH OTHER
TAKE CARE
OF EACH OTHER
YOU GOT TO KNOW
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE
EVERYBODY NEEDS A HELPING HAND
YOU DON'T THINK TWICE
IT'S A FACT OF LIFE
YOU GET ON YOUR BIKES AND RIDE
AND DO WHAT YOU CAN
TAKE CARE
OF EACH OTHER
TAKE CARE
OF EACH OTHER
NOW
NOW
NOW ♪
SOUND: THERE'S NO DENYING THAT
WE ARE LIVING IN A HISTORIC
MOMENT. HOW DO WE STILL STAY
SAFE AND USE OUR VOICE AND
PLATFORMS FOR ELEVATION?
"WHAT'S GOING ON" BY THE
LEGENDARY MARVIN GAYE FEELS
LIKE A MOTIF FOR WHERE WE ALL
ARE RIGHT NOW. ALTHOUGH THE
SONG WAS RELEASED IN 1971, I
HATE HOW RELEVANT IT STILL
FEELS RIGHT NOW. THE LOCKDOWN
HAS GIVEN US A TIME TO QUESTION
WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON. THE
SPIRIT OF THIS PROTEST SONG IS
BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE
BEAUTIFULLY BY THE B-SIDE
PLAYERS, WHO BLEND AN INSPIRING
ENSEMBLE OF VOICES INTO A
DIGITAL CHORUS, SO LET'S DIVE
INTO THAT RIGHT NOW.
[PROTESTERS SHOUTING]
[PLAYING "WHAT'S GOING ON"]
PAEZ: ♪ MOTHER, MOTHER
THERE'S FAR TOO MANY
OF YOU CRYING ♪
LOCKETT: ♪ AND, BROTHER
BROTHER, BROTHER
THERE'S FAR TOO MANY
OF YOU DYING ♪
FERRER: ♪ WE KNOW WE GOT
TO FIND A WAY
TO BRING SOME LOVIN'
HERE TODAY ♪
LOCKETT: ♪ HERE TODAY
DIOUF: ♪ AND FATHER, FATHER
WE DON'T NEED TO ESCALATE ♪
MOSBACHER: ♪ WAR IS NOT
THE ANSWER ♪
ARAGON: ♪ ONLY LOVE, LOVE, LOVE
CAN CONQUER HATE ♪
DIOUF: ♪ WE GOT TO FIND A WAY
ARAGON: ♪ TO BRING SOME LOVIN'
HERE TODAY ♪
PAEZ: ♪ PICKET LINES
LOCKETT: ♪ AND PICKET SIGNS
DIOUF: ♪ DON'T PUNISH ME
WITH BRUTALITY ♪
MOSBACHER: ♪ TALK TO ME
PAEZ: ♪ SO YOU CAN SEE
ARAGON: ♪ OH, WHAT'S GOING ON
LOCKETT: ♪ WHAT'S GOING ON
MOSBACHER: ♪ WHAT'S GOING ON
DIOUF: ♪ WHAT'S GOING ON
MOSBACHER: ♪ YEAH, WHAT'S
GOING ON, AH... ♪
[ALL SCATTING]
SANDOVAL: ♪ MOTHER, MOTHER
D'ALMA: ♪ EVERYBODY
THINKS WE'RE WRONG ♪
SAMUEL: ♪ WHO ARE THEY
TO JUDGE US ♪
PACHECO: ♪ SIMPLY 'CAUSE
OUR HAIR IS LONG ♪
SAMUEL: ♪ YOU KNOW WE'VE
GOT TO FIND A WAY ♪
D'ALMA: ♪ TO BRING SOME LOVING
HERE TODAY ♪
SAMUEL: ♪ HERE TODAY
D'ALMA: ♪ PICKET LINES
SAMUEL: ♪ AND PICKET SIGNS
DON'T PUNISH ME ♪
D'ALMA: ♪ WITH BRUTALITY
SAMUEL: ♪ JUST TALK TO ME
TALK TO ME SO YOU CAN SEE
WHAT'S GOING ON ♪
SANDOVAL: ♪ WHAT'S GOING ON
PACHECO: ♪ WHAT'S GOING ON
SANDOVAL: ♪ WHAT'S GOING ON
SAMUEL: ♪ WHAT'S GOING ON
D'ALMA: ♪ WHAT'S GOING ON
SAMUEL: ♪ WHAT'S GOING ON
OH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH
AH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH ♪
[ALL SCATTING]
LOCKETT: ♪ WHAT NOW, NOW, NOW
IS GOING ON ♪
[LOCKETT AND DIOUF VOCALIZING]
SOUND: DOMINIQUE PURDY OF THE
KOREATOWN ODDITY IS A LOS
ANGELES PRODUCER, MC, AND
RAPPER. HE JUST RELEASED HIS
NEWEST ALBUM ON JUNETEENTH, AND
HIS MUSIC VIDEO "KIMCHI,"
PRODUCED DURING THE LOCKDOWN,
OFFERS A PERSPECTIVE OF GROWING
UP BLACK IN KOREATOWN AND BEING
A FATHER.
[MAN SHOUTS]
PURDY: ♪ THE PLACE WHERE I BE
IT AIN'T ALL KIMCHI
SEEING TAGS ON THE WALL
JUST TO REMIND ME
SAME PLACE WHERE THEY SHOT UP
ROBERT F. KENNEDY
IS THE SAME PLACE
THAT BROUGHT UP
A YOUNG NIGGA LIKE ME, YA
BUILDINGS GET BOMBED ON
IMMEDIATELY WHEN ABANDONED
BY EVERY KIND OF GRAFFITI PIECE
MARKETS, APARTMENTS
RESTAURANTS, AND STORES
SINCE I CAME INTO THIS WORLD
IN 1984
SEE MY MOMS CRYING
ON THE HOUSE PHONE
WITH THE CORD
BEFORE WE WAS ABLE TO SWITCH IT
FOR THE CORDLESS
SEE MY POPS CHOPPING UP GAME
ON THE PAY PHONE
CHECKING HIS PAGER
RESPONDING TO THE CLIENTS
THAT WERE IMPORTANT
SOMETIMES I GOT THE SHORT END
OF THE STICK
WHEN IT CAME TO ME
BUSINESS OR WOMEN
AND HE HAD TO PICK
I WOULDN'T CHANGE A BIT
IT HELPED ME GROW THICK SKIN
DIDN'T SEE A MARTYR TIME
BUT, YO, WHEN I DID
CONSTANTLY DROPPING GEMS
NEVER TALKED TO ME LIKE A KID
EVEN THOUGH THEY NEVER LIVED
UNDER THE SAME ROOF
SEPARATELY, WHAT MY PARENTS
BOTH TAUGHT ME WAS TRUE
DISCOMFORT AS A YOUTH
IS SOMETHING THAT I GOT USED TO
DOING DEATH-DEFYING ACTS
IN MY EARLY PURSUITS
'CAUSE THE PLACE WHERE I BE
WASN'T ALL KIMCHI
SEEING TAGS ON THE WALL
JUST TO REMIND ME
SAME PLACE WHERE THEY SHOT UP
ROBERT F. KENNEDY
IS THE SAME PLACE
THAT BROUGHT UP
A YOUNG NIGGA LIKE ME, YA ♪
SOUND: KOREATOWN ODDITY, WHAT
UP, MAN?
PURDY: MAN, I'M JUST OVER HERE,
GOT MY DAUGHTER OFF TO "SESAME
STREET" RIGHT NOW.
SOUND: OOH, THAT'S THE GOOD
STUFF. THAT'S THE--
PURDY: OH, YEAH.
SOUND: I FEEL LIKE THIS TIME
HAS GIVEN US SO MUCH MORE TIME
WITH FAMILY, AND THAT'S A
BEAUTIFUL THING. JUST KNOWING
HOW PERSONAL THE RECORD IS...
PURDY: MM-HMM?
SOUND: HOW HAS BEING A BLACK
FATHER, LIKE, IN 2020--HOW DOES
THAT AFFECT YOUR PERSPECTIVE OF
YOUR WRITING?
PURDY: EVERY TIME WHEN I'M
RECORDING, WHAT'S ALWAYS GONNA
CONNECT TO THE TIMES IS JUST
SPEAKING ON THIS CITY AND KIND
OF, YOU KNOW, HOW I FEEL
GROWING UP AS, YOU KNOW, A
BLACK MALE IN LOS ANGELES AND
IN THE WORLD, SO THOSE THINGS
ARE ALWAYS GONNA BE IN THERE.
LIKE, I'M GLAD THAT I'M THE
TYPE OF PERSON TO NOTE MY
EXPERIENCES AS A PART OF MY
MUSIC BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, NOW
SHE HAS THAT TO LISTEN TO. SHE
HAS IT TO BE LIKE, "AW, MAN,
THIS IS WHAT YOU TALKING ABOUT.
I CAN KIND OF, LIKE, CATCH UP
TO THE SPACE THAT YOU WERE IN."
I MEAN, YOU COULD TELL SOMEBODY
ABOUT, LIKE, HOW YOU WERE
LIVING, BUT ALSO, HER BEING
ABLE TO HEAR ME IN THAT FORM,
YOU KNOW, IS, LIKE, PRETTY
TRIPPY, TOO. IT'S LIKE, YOU
KNOW, THINGS JUST BECOME A PART
OF THE MUSIC NATURALLY. LIKE, I
HAD A VERSE I RECORDED WHERE I
SAID, YOU KNOW, "AND YOU KNOW
MY DAUGHTER NEEDS THESE
DIAPERS, SO AFTER THE SHOW,
HAVE MY DOUGH AFTER I BURN THIS
MIC UP"--YOU KNOW WHAT I'M
SAYING?--LIKE, SO JUST THINGS
JUST COME INTO A PART OF THE
MUSIC, YOU KNOW?
SOUND: YEAH. YEAH. YEAH. IT'S
LITERALLY DISTILLING LIFE. I
THINK IT'S BEAUTIFUL, THE WAY
THAT YOU BRING PEOPLE IN WITH
THE DETAILED WRITING THAT
YOU'RE DOING. WHAT HAS SHIFTED
PERSONALLY FOR YOU MOST DURING
THIS COVID-19 TIME? THIS
QUARAN-TIME IS WHAT I'VE BEEN
CALLING IT.
PURDY: QUARAN-TIME. YEAH.
IT'S KIND OF, LIKE, COOL FOR,
LIKE, EVERYBODY TO KIND OF,
LIKE, TAKE A CHILL PILL RIGHT
QUICK AND JUST, LIKE, YOU KNOW,
ABSORB AND, LIKE, YOU KNOW,
HANG OUT IN A KIND OF DIFFERENT
WAY. IT'S JUST LIKE PREPPING
FOR A NEW CYCLE OF ENERGY
THAT'S HAPPENING.
SOUND: IT'S WILD. IT'S
DEFINITELY-- I KNOW THAT WE'RE
LIVING IN A HISTORIC TIME.
LIKE, I KNOW. I'M LIKE, "THIS
IS-- I NEED TO--" I DON'T NEED
TO CREATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE,
BUT I NEED TO BE PRESENT AND AS
POTENT AS POSSIBLE WITH WHAT
I'M SAYING AND NOT SO DETACHED
FROM EXACTLY-- LIKE, WHAT I'M
SAYING NEEDS TO BE ATTACHED TO
WHAT I'M DOING, AS WELL. I
DON'T DISCONNECT WITH THAT.
PURDY: YEP, YEP.
SOUND: I FEEL LIKE THERE'S TWO
SHIFTS THAT HAPPEN IN THIS
QUARAN-TIME, RIGHT? THERE'S US
HAVING THE PATIENCE AND HAVING
TO STAY HOME AND RETHINK HOW WE
MOVE THROUGH THE WORLD, BEING
SAFE, WEARING MASK, ALL THESE
THINGS, AND THEN THERE'S THIS
MOMENT OF...
THERE'S A SOCIAL JUSTICE
UPRISING, AND I DON'T WANT TO
JUST TIE IT TO ONE PERSON'S
UNTIMELY ASSASSINATION OR DEATH
BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE
NOW CANNOT IGNORE...
PRUDY: RIGHT.
SOUND: AND I'M LIKE, "HOW DO WE
KEEP UP THAT ENERGY, AND, YOU
KNOW, WHAT DO WE DO TO CONTINUE
TO KEEP THAT MOMENTUM OF CHANGE
MOVING FORWARD?
PURDY: I'M HOPING THAT IT'S NOT
ALL JUST BEING SOME TRENDY
THING--YOU KNOW WHAT I'M
SAYING?--BECAUSE YOU GO ON,
LIKE, ALL THE STREAMING
SERVICES AT ONE POINT, AND
IT'S, LIKE, OH, YOU KNOW,
"BLACK MOVIES, Y'ALL, RIGHT UP
FRONT," AND IT'S LIKE, "OK. IS
THIS, LIKE, BECAUSE IT'S, LIKE,
HOT, OR IT'S, LIKE, THIS IS,
LIKE, WHERE WE AT NOW, LIKE WE
GONNA MOVE FORWARD LIKE THIS?"
IF IT'S LIKE THAT, THEN ALL
RIGHT. COOL. HONESTLY, MY THING
IS, LIKE, I WAS THINKING. I WAS
LIKE, "MAN, THEY SHOULD JUST
GIVE A MILLION DOLLARS TO EVERY
BLACK PERSON IN THE WORLD." YOU
KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? IT
WOULDN'T EVEN BE ABOUT THE
MONEY. IT'D BE, LIKE, THE
ACTUAL ACT OF DOING IT WOULD BE
CRAZY. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M
SAYING? WE NEED SOMETHING LIKE
THAT, LIKE, SOMETHING, LIKE,
THAT'S LIKE, "WOW. THIS IS
REALLY, LIKE, HEALING RIGHT
HERE. LET'S GET PEOPLE IN THE
SPACES AND THE POSITIONS SO
THEY CAN SHARE THEIR ABILITIES
ON WHAT THEY DO, YOU KNOW?
SOUND: SOMETHING SUSTAINABLE,
SOMETHING TANGIBLE.
PURDY: YEAH, SOMETHING REAL.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?
I TRY IN EVERYTHING THAT I DO
IN THE MUSIC TO TRY TO NOT
WASTE ANY SPACE. IF I'M GONNA
DO SOMETHING, IT'S GONNA BE FOR
A REASON, AND I'M NOT JUST
MAKING SONGS FOR NO REASON. I'M
NOT JUST DOING VERSES FOR NO
REASON. EVERY TIME YOU HEAR A
VERSE, IT'S GONNA HAVE SOMETHING
FOR YOU TO TAKE OFF OF IT. IT'S
GONNA BE LIKE A SCENTED CANDLE.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IT'S
GONNA LIKE YOU COULD LIGHT THIS
VERSE UP AND SOME AROMA IS
GONNA COME OFF TILL YOU GO,
LIKE, "HMM. OH, AH, I LIKE
THAT." YOU KNOW WHAT I'M
SAYING? "AH, THAT SMELLS GOOD."
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?
SOUND: THIS HAS BEEN SUCH A
DOPE MOMENT, KOREATOWN ODDITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
PURDY: NO. THANK YOU, BRO.
I APPRECIATE YOU.
JOHNNIE WILDER JR.: ♪ FOREVER
ER
ER
ER ♪
♪ ER
ER
ER
ER ♪
♪ ER
ER
ER
ER ♪
GORDON: HA HA HA!
WHAT'S UP? HEE HEE!
SOUND: COME ON, Y'ALL. DIDN'T
TAYLOR GORDON, THE POCKET
QUEEN, JUST KILL THAT, THEN HEAL
THAT? THE ENERGY SHE BRINGS TO
EVERY INSTRUMENT IS CONTAGIOUS,
AS IS THE ENERGY OF YOUNG
PEOPLE ACROSS LOS ANGELES AND
THE REGION, SO LET'S PAUSE FOR
A SECOND AND TAKE IN ANOTHER
SPECTRUM OF BEAUTIFUL SOUNDS.
>> ♪ EVERYBODY'S FREE
EVERYBODY'S FREE
EVERYBODY'S FREE
EVERYBODY'S FREE
EVERYBODY'S FREE
TO FEEL GOOD
TO FEEL GOOD ♪
>> ♪ BROTHERS AND SISTERS
TOGETHER, WE'LL MAKE IT THROUGH
OH ♪
>> ♪ SOMEDAY A SPIRIT
WILL TAKE YOU
AND GUIDE YOU THERE ♪
>> ♪ I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN HURTING
BUT I'VE BEEN WAITING
TO BE THERE FOR YOU ♪
AND I'LL BE THERE
JUST HELPING YOU OUT
WHENEVER I CAN ♪
>> ♪ EVERYBODY'S FREE
>> ♪ OH, EVERYBODY'S FREE
>> ♪ EVERYBODY'S FREE
>> ♪ OH, EVERYBODY'S FREE
>> ♪ TO FEEL GOOD
>> ♪ OH, EVERYBODY'S FREE
YEAH, YEAH ♪
[PLAYING "VLADAMIR'S BLUES"]
WOOD: ♪ SOMETIMES IN OUR LIVES
WE ALL HAVE PAIN
WE ALL HAVE SORROW
BUT IF WE ARE WISE
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S
ALWAYS TOMORROW
LEAN ON ME
WHEN YOU'RE NOT STRONG
AND I'LL BE YOUR FRIEND
I'LL HELP YOU CARRY ON
FOR IT WON'T BE LONG
TILL I'M GONNA NEED
SOMEBODY TO LEAN ON
PLEASE
SWALLOW YOUR PRIDE
IF I HAVE THINGS
YOU NEED TO BORROW
FOR NO ONE CAN FILL
THOSE OF YOUR NEEDS
THAT YOU WON'T LET SHOW
LEAN ON ME
WHEN YOU'RE NOT STRONG
AND I'LL BE YOUR FRIEND
I'LL HELP YOU CARRY ON
FOR IT WON'T BE LONG
TILL I'M GONNA NEED
SOMEBODY TO LEAN ON
JUST CALL ME
CALL ME
CALL ME ♪
SOUND: THAT WAS, OF COURSE,
"LEAN ON ME" BY THE LATE, GREAT
BILL WITHERS AS PERFORMED BY
DORIAN WOOD. SOUL MUSIC LEGEND
WITHERS IS JUST ONE OF MANY
ARTISTS WE'VE HAD TO SAY GOOD-
BYE TO THIS YEAR. AS UNCERTAIN
AS THESE TIMES ARE, WE DO KNOW
THAT WE ARE WITNESSING AND
EXPERIENCING A TIME TO HEAL,
THINK, AND RECONNECT WITH WHAT
MATTERS MOST. WE HAVE ONLY
SHOWN YOU A FEW OF THE ARTISTS
AND MUSICIANS THAT HAVE BEEN
CREATING WORK IN THIS TIME, BUT
IF YOU GO TO KCET.ORG, YOU'LL
FIND MANY MORE VIDEOS,
ARTICLES, AND PERFORMANCES FROM
ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. IN
THIS EPISODE, WE'VE SEEN HOW
CREATORS OF ALL AGES, RACES,
AND IDENTITIES HAVE CONTINUED
TO FIND WAYS TO SING THEIR WAY
BACK TO SOLACE. MUSIC IS AND
HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE MEDICINE,
SO LET'S TAP BACK INTO OUR
INNER RHYTHM AS AKUA'S VISUAL
FOR HER SONG "IF" TAKES US BACK
HOME.
>> [INDISTINCT VOCALIZING]
AKUA: [VOCALIZING]
♪ YOU TORE IN LIKE A RIPTIDE
NO TIME TO DECIDE
IF I COULD MAKE TIME
YOU CAUGHT ME SINGING
STALE LOVE SONGS
LONELY ON MY NIGHTS LONG
WONDERING IF I COULD MAKE TIME
THEN YOU GRABBED MY SHEETS
AND MADE THEM SILK
AS TO BUILD A COCOON FOR ME
IF THIS IS MAKING LOVE
I WILL
I WILL MAKE TIME
IF THIS IS MAKING LOVE
THEN I WILL
THEN I WILL MAKE TIME ♪
ANNOUNCER: MAJOR FUNDING FOR
THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY
THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES
DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING WAS PROVIDED
BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR
THE ARTS AND THE LOS ANGELES
COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ARTS &
CULTURE.
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