As a product of Oakland, the SFV, and the Mojave Desert I’m always looking for sounds that take me far but hold me close. As a teenager, I listened to everything ranging from KEXP live sessions, burned Bauhaus CDs from my art teacher, and drum and bass booming out of my tìo’s bedroom. In college, I started my musical journey at UCSC’s magical student station KZSC 88.1FM where I got to really dig into the rich history of Northern California music and tap into the Bay music scene. Once I moved back to Oakland as an adult I got heavily involved in online radio stations such as Lower Grand Radio and Hyde FM where I explore “the threads of sound” on my show Garment and the textural beauty of ambient on my show Fool’s Cavern, respectfully.
When not digging through the “likes” of Mexican ambient labels or Oakland private presses I’m: getting lost in the woods, losing to child prodigies (or maybe they are just really good) on chess.com, and droning on about how cool bugs are at the show.
As part of KEXP’s expansion in the Bay I hope to honor and showcase both the history and prescient newness of NorCal music. Expect to hear Berkeley new age records, Vallejo slaps, Frisco rippers, and everything in between on Vinelands!
NorCal artists send me your music at gabrielc@kexp.org or hit my IG: @gabrielkexp
