Rahill: KCRW Guest DJ Set

NYC multi-disciplinary musician, DJ, and avid record collector Rahill is in the building for a guest DJ set, and (twist!) she’s spinning all vinyl. With her debut solo LP Flowers At Your Feetcurrently making waves with its assured blend of folk, jazz, pleasing pop chords, and the tilted post-punk shapes she’s most accustomed to throwing with her primary project Habibi — Rahill’s presence behind our decks couldn’t be more welcome.

She also makes time for a chat with Novena and Anthony where she calls out her youth basketball coach (Mr. S) for diminishing her athletic ambitions, reflects on family life, and extolls the virtues of literature. As for that wax she’s slinging? It’s extremely cool. Ready your ears for Ray Barretto, Donald Byrd, and the one to file away for future cool points — Bronx-based “singing cousin” roots reggae duo Love Joys. Get down to the sounds, and mark your calendar for her appearance as part of The Getty Center’s Off the 405 series on Saturday, July 29.

Donald Byrd – “Wind Parade”

A classic cut from Byrd’s 1975 album Places and Spaces. Rahill tells us that she prefers to begin as many of her DJ sets as possible with the sounds of Donald Byrd.

Ray Barretto – “Acid”

“Living in New York,” says Rahill, “you’ve gotta respect the salsa.” To that end, she selects Ray Barretto’s seminal 1968 Fania records release “Acid.”

Love Joys – “Chances Are”

“Love Joys never leave my personal record table,” Rahill states as she cues up “Chances Are” from the Bronx-based roots reggae duo’s 1983 LP Lovers Rock Reggae Style. “It’s cool cause they’re a female roots group, and I don’t know of that many roots groups that are all female. And they’re cousins so shout out to family!”