This morning the Los Angeles Times put the recent KCRW DJ layoffs on the cover of its
Entertainment section.
There’s a lot in this piece - and a lot that isn’t. It scratches the surface of what’s really been unfolding.
I’ll link the article in my bio and the stories so you can read it for yourself.
@unmutehumanity 💪🏽🌹
See you all tomorrow at Jeremy’s! 💪🏽🎶🌹🇵🇸
#losangeles #losangelestimes #unmutehumanity #kcrwdj #kcrw
Hey Everyone,
A lot of you have reached out asking me to make a statement about what happened on Friday. I wanted to take a moment to clarify a few things — and to do so in my own time...
Although I wasn’t mentioned by name, I was indeed among the four DJs recently laid off from #KCRW — alongside @jeremysole , @dj_josegalvan , and @kcrwkramer . The station cited budget cuts and restructuring in an email to its top donors.
I can’t speak for anyone else’s situation, but I can share that I wasn’t surprised. I had a weekly Monday night show right up until March 2020, when the pandemic began, and I haven’t had a regular weekly slot since. When the station resumed its full schedule in September 2021, I turned down the late-night shift I was offered (midnight to 3 a.m. on Saturdays) due to health reasons. After a decade of late-night radio, the schedule had taken a serious toll on my health. I requested an accommodation, but KCRW wasn’t open to it, so I declined the offer and remained on the roster as a fill-in DJ. I knew, deep down, that this moment would eventually come.
And yet, I feel nothing but gratitude. It’s been an honor to share music with you for nearly 15 years (minus the year and a half I wasn’t on-air). I’ll always cherish the community, the artists, and the countless moments of connection that radio made possible.
Over the past two years, my focus has shifted toward my collective, @unmutehumanity Humanity — an ongoing effort to amplify Palestinian voices, challenge anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian bias in the media, and raise awareness about the ongoing genocide that did not begin on October 7th, but has persisted since 1948. I’ve poured my heart into this work, and when my fill-in shifts quietly stopped coming after my last show in March 2024, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it might be connected to my advocacy. (continued in comments…)
Here goes….I hope you dig…If you do, please spread 💙🗣💜
Add this nugget to your “to get down to” playlist…😉💋
#onfire #imadethis 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽
#daytimedisco #dreampop #synthwave #chillvibes
On May 1st, I said goodbye to my Venice home of 31 years and began a journey back to the land that lives in my bones.
With my bff Andrew by my side, two bewildered cats in tow, and my heart wide open, we crossed the Atlantic toward family, memory, and the familiar ache of belonging.
I don’t know how long I’ll stay.
But for now, I am surrendering to the rhythm of this place:
the call to prayer drifting over old stone,
the scent of strong coffee,
the mountains,
the rivers,
the wildflowers,
and the quiet miracle of being home with friends and family:
1. Mostar’s timeless Old Bridge, forever arching between worlds.
2. Bosnian coffee served with a heart-shaped sugar cube—love in its simplest form.
3. Vrelo Bosne, where the River Bosna begins in silence and emerald light.
4. Sunshine on Mount Igman, feeling cute in new sunglasses and grateful to be here.
5. Mostar’s facades, each wall holding centuries of stories.
6. Lunch with a view of the Stari Most—one of those “wish you were here” moments.
7. Cockta, the beloved Balkan cola and a delicious boycott-friendly favorite.
8. With my dad at Vrelo Bosne, making memories I will treasure forever.
9. The evening adhan rising over Baščaršija, carrying peace through Sarajevo’s night.
10. A gallery window where flowers, watermelon, and a beret-wearing bear mirrored my own reflection. (Continued in comments)
DJs: @valida + @officialshneaky + @officialshneaky + @labellatini + @captain_bully + @danieltroberg + BIKE RIDES + MUTUAL AID + FOOD This Sunday, April 26th 12-7PM @boomtownbrewery 700 JACKSON ST, LOS ANGELES, CA 90012
Ride Details:
3 meetup locations (12PM):
* LEIMERT PARK PLAZA
* HIGHLAND PARK METRO STATION
* MARSH STREET NATURE PARK
📌All rides roll-out 12:30PM
All rides arrive at Boomtown (1:30-2PM)
(Or come after @ciclavia !)
Link in bio for turn by turn maps and in each route map post
Boomtown generously donated the space, and mutual aid organizations are free to set up tables, accept donations, and talk about what they’re doing. DJs and everyone involved are joining us for the community. We are friends, neighbors, and grassroots organizers throwing a welcoming community ride & place to gather on a day when the whole city is on bikes. Ride or roll through for a beer together and good music starting at 12 PM!
The event is completely FREE and you don’t need to register or rsvp for shit.
*Under 21 welcome accompanied with parent or guardian
*Pet friendly
*There will be coffee too
@djsagainstapartheid
LA SOLIDARITY RIDE & COMMUNITY FEST 🎉
Bike Rides + Mutual Aid + DJs + Food 🎶🥘 🤝
DJs: @labellatini + @captain_bully + @officialshneaky + @valida + @danieltroberg
SUNDAY APRIL 26th 12-7PM
BOOMTOWN BREWERY
700 JACKSON ST, LOS ANGELES, CA 90012
Ride over or just show up to the Community festivities. A chance to roll through, hang out, and connect in the spirit of community and solidarity. It’s also a moment for local orgs doing real, on-the-ground work to share what they’re building and invite people in.
🚴🏽♀️Ride Details:
📍3 MEET UP LOCATIONS (12PM): A. LEIMERT PARK PLAZA B. HIGHLAND PARK METRO STATIONN C. MARSH STREET NATURE PARK
ALL RIDES ROLL-OUT 12:30PM
RIDE ARRIVES AT BOOMTOWN (1:30PM)
🆓 FREE ENTRY!
UNDER 21 WELCOME
ACCOMPANIED BY ADULT✅
PET FRIENDLY🐶✅
🛑 🧊❌ANTI ICE - ANTI WAR ✌🏽☮️🕊️ - ANTI IMPERIALISM - ANTI ZIONISM - ANTI FASCISM - ANTI-EXTRACTIVISM - SOCIAL SUNDAY FOR ALL
@lasrcf 💪🏽
#LosAngeles #fuckice #nowarwithiran #freepalestine🇵🇸 #antifa
I feel really lucky to be here.
Costa Rica has slowly become one of my homes, and every time I’m here I’m reminded how beautiful and grounding it is—the air, the green, the pace of life… all of it.
At the same time, I know so many aren’t moving through life this way right now, and I don’t forget that.
Just trying to stay grateful, stay present, and not take any of this for granted. 🌿
#puravida #costarica #puertoviejo #puntauva #costaricawildlife
In february we gathered for a special edition of @lefriquesonique — a night that became a celebration, a release, and a long-overdue moment for five of us who never got to play our final shows on #KCRW: @travisholcombe , @kcrwkramer , @dj_josegalvan , @jeremysole and yours truly, @valida .
it sold out. it was electric. it reminded us why we do this.
tonight — APRIL 9 — we do it again.
but this one carries a little more feeling…
we’re celebrating the (b)earthday of JEREMY SOLE, and I’m gently stepping into my next chapter — not a goodbye, just a shift in orbit ✨
🎟️ ticket link in bio
if these voices have ever brought you music, memories, or a sense of belonging — come through, repost, bring your people. let’s fill the room again.
• LE FRIQUE SONIQUE is a monthly ritual — bodies moving, sweating, releasing. all are welcome. intolerance is not. a global sound, untamed and free.
no opener. no slow build.
we begin together.
9:30–10pm in the front bar
just after 10, the doors open
and we step into the journey — from the very first record
@moroccanlounge — DTLA Arts District
@nativesol pop-up
Jamaican food by @oziskitchen
#losangeles #losangeleslove
🪩 I’m sending love to everybody out there.
I wanna invite you out TONIGHT, THURSDAY 4/9 - We’re doing a special edition of @LeFriqueSonique tonight For the five of us radio hosts on KCRW who never got to do our final shows before we were let go.
🎟️ TICKET LINK IN BIO - Last time we did this party, it sold out. It was such a blast all five of us playing together, and to celebrate with all of yall who have been on the receiving end of the music transmission all these years, So we’re doing it again tonight.
It’s also my (b)earthday in a couple days and I would like nothing more than to be able to just listen to good music with some good people.
Tonight also serves as a farewell to @VALIDA - Who has serenaded so many of us for so long here in Los Angeles and around the world. She’s gonna be moving away from LA. As a bookending of the chapter of us here in Los Angeles being blessed by her presence and her selections - we’re gonna do it for VALIDA tonight and all come together for her.
…and of course @TRAVISHOLCOMBE , @dj_JOSEGALV ÁN & JASON @KCRWKRAMER !
It’ll be great to see everybody out for this one! Whether or not you can come out tonight, if you could spread the word about it, repost it… That’s basically how this whole community stays alive and thriving
you know what I mean?
I’ve been wanting to say this for a while - It really means a lot when people come to other events like on First Saturdays I do The rooftop at Petit Ermitage. It means a lot when everyone comes out But, I get paid a flat fee from the establishment. Le Frique Sonique is the one that I invest in, that I curate, that I promote as my full-time job, so this would be the one if you support what I do that you could come out or tell people about it or both, and we’ll see you all tonight.
Doors at 9:30 sharp and since it’s a weeknight, come out right from the get, right when the doors open and we’ll just get downer than down together. It’ll be good to see everybody.
@moroccanLounge DTLA arts district
@nativesol pop-up
@oziskitchen Jamaican food
We are confronted daily with the devastating reality of “israel’s” ongoing genocide against Palestinians—but we cannot ignore the wider pattern of violence carried out by “israel” across the region.
Even after a so-called temporary ceasefire with Iran, “israel” continues its attacks elsewhere. Just this morning, “israel” bombed over 100 locations in Lebanon—massacring and injuring hundreds. This is not isolated. It is expansionist, relentless, and devastating.
If we want real peace, “israel” must stopped.
Yesterday, I stood with Code Pink at their weekly protest outside the Zionist consulate. They’ve been showing up—every Tuesday and Friday—refusing to normalize the ongoing apartheid and genocide.
My sign read: War is making you poor.
Because the truth is, many Americans feel distant from these wars. They’re fought far away, out of sight, and most people here have never felt them on their own bodies. And when something feels distant, it’s easy to disconnect. So we have to bring it home—highlight how these wars impact people…even if “only” materially, here and now—because meeting people where they are can be the first step toward waking up.
It’s a difficult truth, but indifference thrives on distance.
Join them. Show up. Speak out.
codepink.org
The #lebanon destruction videos caused by “israeli” bombs were taken from @eye.on.palestine
#gaza #palestine #iran #istandwithiran🇮🇷
Hey frique, yeah you... in February we threw a special edition of @LeFriqueSonique - an evening that served as a live performance for (and celebration of) all 5 DJs that didn’t get the chance to do their final shows on KCRW - @VALIDA , @TRAVISHOLCOMBE , @KCRWKRAMER , @di_JOSEGALVAN & @JEREMYSOLE - the party sold out and an epic time was had.
Join us on THURSDAY APRIL 9TH as we do it all over again, but this time we also join together in bidding farewell and safe travels to @VALIDA , and happy (b)earthday to @JEREMYSOLE .
🎟️ Ticket link in @JeremySole ’s bio, get tickets now for early bird pricing. It’s days away so grab them quick!
IF THESE RADIO HOSTS HAVE PLAYED MUSIC YOU LOVE AND GIVEN YOU A SENSE OF CONNECTION THROUGH THE YEARS, please help REPOST THIS and tag your friends in the comments to invite them out with us, blessyawl sincerely!
• LE FRIQUE SONIQUE recurs monthly - bodies of every shape and shade moving together, sweating out the toxins of the day - absolutely all are welcome here and intolerance is not tolerated. Celebrating the bold, untamed styles of every culture and genre worldwide.
LFS nights are unique in that THERE IS NO OPENING ACT. From 9:30-10pm guests gather in the front bar. Just after 10 the doors to the main room open, everyone walks in to begin the 4-hour journey together from the very first record.
LFS goes down at @MoroccanLounge , DTLA Arts District. @NativeSol pop-up. Jamaican food cooked fresh by @OzisKitchen .
