Novena Carmel was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area surrounded by her mother’s record collection, classical music books atop her piano, and a deeply rooted musical legacy. Her father, Sly Stone of Sly & The Family Stone, instilled in her the love of the funk and the brilliance of “everyday people.” Her family’s decades-long connection to Brazil along with her Japanese-bilingual elementary schooling, further expanded her world view. Inspired by the guidance of one of her best friends and mentors, her grandfather, she moved to Los Angeles at 18, to attend UCLA. She has been a proud LA resident ever since with a deep appreciation for the city’s contributions to the global cultural landscape. For the past 14 years, Novena has worked in entertainment booking for Temple Bar Concepts, which owns and operates live music venues and cultural havens throughout the LA area. During this time she was also a member of multiple music groups, leading to the opportunity to perform at Lollapalooza, Warped Tour, Abbey Road and Coachella. She launched her DJ career six years ago, which quickly took off, fueled by her lifelong love of sharing the music she loves with people, infectious energy, and ability to read a room. In 2018 Novena was invited to join the DJ team at KCRW, and has quickly become popular through her quirky sense of humor, energetic spirit, and expansive and personalized music collection.
Novena Carmel on KCRW
More from KCRW
FREAKS ONLY playlist: Cellophane rips: Justice, Bullion, Museum Of Love
Best New MusicWe’re digging deep into Justice’s “Hyperdrama” and more.
Metropolis playlist, April 27, 2024
Best New MusicJason Bentley captures the hypnotic pulse of modern city life on Saturday night.
Eclectic 24
Best New MusicKCRW's all-music channel blending the collected talents and tastes of all KCRW's DJs into a single voice streaming 24 hours a day.
KCRW’s 5 Songs to Hear This Week: Nilüfer Yanya, A Certain Ratio, YG Marley
Best New MusicNilüfer Yanya ups her ‘90s-leaning guitar goddess game.
Ro "Wyldeflower" Contreras' playlist, April 24, 2024
Best New MusicMusic to lift your spirits. An expansive sonic journey featuring new and classic rhythms from all over the globe.
MBE playlist April 25: Dr. Dog returns to remind us that ‘Talk Is Cheap’
Best New MusicPhilly-bred soft-psych band deliver the freewheeling romp of a single “Talk Is Cheap” ahead of their forthcoming self-titled LP (due July 17).
Today’s Top Tune: Lizz Wright - ‘Your Love’ (Feat. Meshell Ndegeocello and Brandee Younger)
Best New MusicDulcet-toned vocalist Lizz Wright celebrates 20 years as a recording artist with a new career-defining album, Shadow.
Today’s Top Tune: South Hill Experiment - ‘Little Monk’ (Feat. Karriem Riggins)
Best New MusicNot gonna lie, we are HUGE fans of the LA-based band of brothers The South Hill Experiment, born at the end of 2022 and named after their studio on South Hill St. in DTLA.
Today’s Top Tune: Yot Club - ‘Human Nature’
Best New MusicBrooklyn-based indie-popping Yot Club , the creation of Ryan Kaiser, has a new album, Rufus, filled with inner thoughts turned into melodies like “Human Nature,” a toe-tapping earworm…