Sensi Magazine SoCal - March 2021 by Sensi Magazine

TUNES FOR THE TRIP

Curated playlists for psychedelics

LIGHTING THE PATH Cannabis delivery expands

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MARCH 2021

LKYM NO OTHER Yonatan Elkayam riffs on how COVID-19 has changed music

FOR THE RECORD

Defense of vinyl in the 21st century

Eva Littman, MD, F.A.C.O.G.

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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SENSI MAGAZINE MARCH 2021

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FEATURE

Listen to Your Heart

LA band LKYM continues to make music that penetrates the soul and elevates the community.

DEPARTMENTS

11 EDITOR’S NOTE 20 THE LIFE Contributing to your health and happiness 12 THE BUZZ VINYL APPEAL Dig in to News, tips, and tidbits

the enduring charm of to keep you in the loop our record collections. LA FABRIC Junk Food TRIP TUNES Music for your Clothing makes a psychedelic journey statement. HOROSCOPE What the BUY ME Our favorite stars hold for you in turntable March. ALL ACCESS MUSIC In lieu of live concerts THE SCENE IN THE BAG Enviro friendHot happenings and hip ly options hangouts around town A DRE THING Check out WAITING ON A FRIEND A Beats Solo3. local cannabis delivery LISTEN UP These speakservice makes a big ers and headphones move. will blow your mind. ON THE CALENDAR Don’t THE EQUALITY ACT Why it miss these Southern needs to pass now California happenings. TRAIL MAGIC An outdoor FRESH TUNES Our picks brand for 2021’s best music so far

ON THE COVER

LA’s LKYM is adapting to life during COVID-19. PHOTO COURTESY OF LKYM

50 THE END Support these California record shops.

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EXECUTIVE

Ron Kolb Founder, CEO ron@sensimag.com Stephanie Wilson Co-Founder, Editor in Chief stephanie@sensimag.com Mike Mansbridge President mike@sensimag.com Lou Ferris VP of Global Revenue lou@sensimag.com Chris Foltz Director of Global Reach chris@sensimag.com Richard Guerra Director of Global Reach richard.guerra@sensimag.com Amanda Patrizi Deputy Director of Global Reach amanda.patrizi@sensimag.com Jade Kolb Director of Project Management jade.kolb@sensimag.com Neil Willis Production Director neil.willis@sensimag.com EDITORIAL

Doug Schnitzspahn Executive Editor doug.schnitzspahn@sensimag.com Dawn Garcia Managing Editor dawn.garcia@sensimag.com Robyn Griggs Lawrence Editor at Large robyn.lawrence@sensimag.com Helen Olsson Copy Chief Eli Dupin Contributing Writer DESIGN

Jamie Ezra Mark Creative Director jamie@emagency.com Rheya Tanner Art Director Wendy Mak, Josh Clark Designers PUBLISHING

Rob Ball Market Director rob.ball@sensimag.com Angelique Kiss Market Director angelique.kiss@sensimag.com

Marijuana Business Daily Minority Cannabis Business Association National Cannabis Industry Association Students for Sensible Drug Policy

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Magazine published monthly by Sensi Media Group LLC.

Frank Zappa once said

“Without deviation from the norm,

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progress is not possible.” It seems as we get into the groove of life again, March is a good time to reevaluate our progress and our contribution to the world. It’s also a fine time to realize the power of music and the role it’s played in our lives over the last year. I’m guessing I’m not the only one who has a newfound affinity for my vinyl collection—the crisp, pure sound of listening once the needle hits. There’s nothing quite like it. It takes me back to the days in high school when responsibility meant getting to school or to our jobs at Magic Mountain or the mall on time. I would listen to Led Zeppelin blaring through my dad’s super crappy 1980s speakers and love the sound of a sudden skip due to the scratches. When I left home at 18 to pursue my dreams, the sounds of Afro-Cuban jazz, the Decca recordings, and Bob Marley—peppered with a little Beastie Boys and Cowboy Junkies—became my escape. When bills got overwhelming, I would put on a CD and dance away my worries. When trauma hit, I could put on my headphones and get lost in Chopin. And now, when the pandemic makes me ache for travel and social gatherings with people I adore, it’s the sound of Jim Morrison or Bille Eilish, Conan Gray or Black Pumas bellowing from my record player that reminds me to hang on a little longer. March brings the promise of rain, the end of a strange winter, and two months of sanity back in the White House. Mother Nature has proven her prowess. People have proven their unity—and their rage. Humanity needs a reset. America needs to take a breath and refocus. Music is healing. Creative release is power. Find yours. Be safe. Be kind. Be good to each other.

TWITTER Follow @sensimag for need-to-know news and views from Sensi headquarters.

I N S TAG R A M Pretty things, pretty places, pretty awesome people: find it all on @sensimagazine.

And now, when the pandemic makes me ache for travel and social gatherings with people I adore, it’s the sound of Jim Morrison or Bille Eilish, Conan Gray or Black Pumas bellowing from my record player that reminds me to hang on a little longer.

Dawn Garcia @dawngarcia

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LOCAL SPOTLIGHT

Wear Your Story Founded in a garage in the heart of Venice by Natalie Grof and Blaine Halvorson in 1998, Junk Food Clothing is inspired by old-school music, soft fabrics, all things vintage, and the heritage of Southern California life. The apparel brand (now owned by Delta Apparel) embodies a deep appreciation for wellmade tees and a free-thinking consumer. “Our product is a canvas of self-expression,” reads its mission statement. “Junk Food graphic t-shirts tell a story of a specific time period, a rock band, a 12

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character, or an icon.” With a plentiful collection of tees ranging from Blondie to vintage Disney, Junk Food Clothing is moderately priced with apparel that fits any style. But, really, it’s made for the rebels, the surfers, the skaters, the progressives, the rockers, the moshers—anyone willing to make a statement. In other words, you. EDITOR’S PICK: Womens Classic Wonder Woman Logo Original Tee $44 + Men’s Vintage Tee $34 @junkfoodclothingco / junkfoodclothing.com

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JUNK FOOD CLOTHING

This Los Angeles apparel company is part of the fabric and rich history of LA living.

CONTRIBUTORS

Amelia Arvesen, Eli Dupin, Dawn Garcia

BY THE NUMBERS

286 MILLION Number of monthly active Spotify users SOURCE: Business of Apps

Play It Again, Sam

This record player will feed your need to restock your vinyl collection. Back in the day, most every household had a turntable (a.k.a. record player) but when CDs rose to prominence in the late 1980s, many music fans abandoned those epic vinyl collections. Now we’re all chomping at the bit to get our favorite music in the form of vinyl records again, kicking ourselves for giving away that original Michael Jackson Thriller album. What were we thinking?! Victrola to the rescue! Victrola is a name that has been synonymous with record players since 1906. Introduced to America by The Victrola Talking Machine Company, it’s become the most successful (and largest) turntable manufacturer of its time, and like all good classics, it has withstood the test of time. Now, Victrola is introducing a line of wireless turntables, portable players, and Bluetooth speakers inspired by times past. When you’re ready to admit you were wrong for letting that vinyl go, buy yourself a Victrola and start building up your collection again. And this time, keep it! EDITOR’S PICK: The Austin Turntable, $129 @victrolaplayers / victrola.com

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3.5

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18.6% Revenue growth from Latin music in the first half of 2020 in the U.S.

SOURCE: The Recording Industry Association of America® (RIAA)

ALL ACCESS MUSIC Here’s an app for everyone missing live concerts. Qello Concerts by Stingray Music has created the largest streaming service for full-length concerts and music documentaries available on-demand around the world. With so many concerts canceled this past year thanks to the persistence of COVID, the pressing question of how to support—and see—your favorite bands live hasn’t been answered … until now. Qello is an app designed to bring you those concerts and music documentaries by offering direct access to new and iconic musicians through your digital devices. Like all streaming platforms, it requires a monthly fee with the option to purchase one year at a discounted rate. Check first: this multiplatform music service might also already be a part of your digital cable TV streaming services, satellite, OTT, and IPTV distributors. EDITORS PICK: Nina Simone in Montreux 1976 + Rihanna Live at Made in America $11.99 per month, $99 per year / qello.com/app / stingray.com

Environmentally Friendly Reusable Baggies

Ditch the hard-to-breakdown traditional storage baggies for something better for the planet. Re(zip) is part of the Blue Avocado family of products designed to last as close to forever as possible. Using FDA approved PEVA (PVC, BPA, and lead-free) materials, this upcycled reusable baggy is ideal for leftovers, lunches, and overall food storage, including freezing. These bags can also be utilized to store travel toiletries safely. The company’s pillars of business are practicality, simplicity, compassion, creativity and reusability. All Blue Avocado products are made green, meaning they use recyclable materials to maintain sustainability. A climate conscious company founded by women, Blue Avocado’s commitment to upcycling materials has also led it to team up with Terracyle. Terracyle works with over 100 major brands in the US and across the world, utilizing used packaging and products that would have otherwise ended up in landfills, repurposing them in the products the brands it works with create. Re(zip) bags are affordable, easy to wash, and durable. EDITORS NOTE: I use these baggies for all of my food storage daily. $7-$35 / rezip.com / @rezipofficial

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THE BUZZ

SOUND AND STORIES

Noise canceling headphones by Dr. Dre are a must for music aficionados.

VOX POPULI

Question: What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve spent money on during the pandemic?

Beats Solo3 Dre Headphones, part of the Beats by Dre product line, are the quintessential must-have for every lover of pure sound. These noise-cancelling headphones are the perfect tool to drown out the outside world, and the new line of pink, red, and black Beats Solo3 headphones appeal to the savvy and style-conscious consumer. The sleek design that fits snug and comfortably on your skull and the sound capabilities outperform other brands we have tested when it comes to quality, design, and output. The headphones have the capacity to provide up to 40 hours of music on a single charge, foldable “ears” that make traveling with them space efficient in provided travel case, internal microphone so you can take calls including using voice activation, and a five-minute Fast Fuel battery charge giving you that final push of three more listening hours when the battery is low. Plus, the Beats by Dre website features unique stories that celebrate Black essence and the beauty of Black culture. beatsbydre.com / @beatsbydre

JESSICAL PARRAL

JULIA VANELLA

ANTHONY ARENAS

Community Organizer Los Angeles

Admissions Data Specialist Los Angeles

Tutor San Fernando Valley

___________________

I was obsessed with the Wall Street revolt, so I bought into cryptocurrency called Dogecoin (inspired by Shibu Inu dogs) based on Twitter trends endorsed by Elon Musk. It started as a joke, based on a meme, but the 2 cents share got up to 8 cents.

Clothes. I bought this custom-made jean jacket from Levi’s that was $180, but I got it for $60. It’s a one-of-a-kind. I feel fly in this!

A phone contraption from the 99-cent store that can go around my neck or that I can use on my desk for $2.99. Super cheap but I use it every damn day!

For while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us.”

—Amanda Gorman, National Youth Poet Laureate, Activist

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THE BUZZ

STILL FIGHTING BILITIES FOR EQUALITY

BY STEPHANIE WILSON, EDITOR IN CHIEF

Below is the playlist I had on repeat while making Sensi’s first-ever music edition.

While progress is back on the federal agenda, the push for equality has never been more critical.

1 REBELS by Call Me Karizma 2 MOTOR MOUTH by Kai Straw 3 GRATEFUL by Spencer Sutherland 4 GUILLOTINE by Mansionair x NoMBe

“THE WORLD IS WHAT YOU THINK OF IT, SO THINK OF IT DIFFERENTLY AND YOUR LIFE WILL CHANGE.”

It is the opinion of this particular Southern California editor, the fact that we’re still debating whether or not LGBTQ people should be protected from discrimination is criminal. It’s disheartening to think that after all of the hard-fought battles, racial and gender equality are two human rights consistently under attack. On May 13, 2019, the Equality Act was introduced to Congress. But in spite of so much progress (well, maybe not during the Trump Administration), LGBTQ rights continue to be under attack. The actual verbiage of the legislation reads: “The Equality Act would provide consistent and explicit anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people across key areas of life, including employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service. … The Equality Act would amend existing civil rights law—including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Jury Selection and Services Act, and several laws regarding employment with the federal government—to explicitly include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics. The legislation also amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination in public spaces and services and federally funded programs on the basis of sex.” There’s one big problem. The Act has yet to be passed. Please call your local legislators to demand that The Equality Act is passed immediately.

—Paul Arden, Author

hrc.org/resources/the-equality-act

5 MYSTERY LADY by Masego and Don Toliver 6 TOPDOWN by Channel Tres 7 PURPLE HAT by Sofi Tukker 8 PUMP THE BREAK by morgxn 9 ALL THAT by Emotional Oranges 10 BROKEN PEOPLE by almost monday 11 WHO’S GOT THE WEED by G. Love & Special Sauce

PHOTO COURTESY OF HRC.ORG

12 CAN’T BE HAPPIER by SJ & Sugar Jesus feat. Goldford

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THE BUZZ

LISTEN UP

How much you enjoy your music depends on how you hear it. These are Sensi’s picks for the best speakers and headphones we’ve tested in 2021. HEADPHONES

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 With so many options on the market, it’s tough to say that one single set of headphones rises above the rest—until you try these. Sleek and comfortable on your skull, they deliver sound that’s so full it’s almost tangible. Eleven settings (Nigel Tufnel be praised!) let you dial in the amount of noise canceling you want, from none at all (smart for when you’re walking on city streets) to full-on (perfect for tuning out all the drama of being stuck at home). $380 / bose.com IN-EAR HEADPHONES

NuraLoop These easy-to-wear in-ear headphones are truly in your head—they adapt to your hearing. Say what? That’s right. They actually send sound into your eardrum that then informs the system about the best way to play for your individual hearing. The result is bass that hits the back of your brain and sharp clarity on every note.

TURNTABLE

Crosley Switch II Entertainment System A throwback to the days when a record player was the center of the musical $199 / nuraphone.com experience, Crosley’s practical system oozes retro cool and still cranks out SPEAKER pleasant sound. A belt drive keeps those JBL Party Box 300 45s and LPs spinning, and this set will add This sturdy, portable Bluetooth speaker turns any space into a mini-rave thanks to a groovy feel to any room—even when it’s a light system that synchronizes colors to not playing. the beat—and three settings mean you can $170 / crosleyradio.com pick up or slow down the tempo. Beyond the optics, it pumps out clean sound and runs on a rechargeable battery that keeps the party going for up to 18 hours. $400 / jbl.com

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COMPUTER SPEAKERS

Logitech Z313 Speaker System with Subwoofer This compact speaker and subwoofer set delivers deep, crisp sound and hooks up to a wide range of devices—from your laptop to your smartphone to your TV—as long as they have a 3.5 mm headphone jack. It’s the ideal music system for a workstation if you want to share tunes with your office mates, or, as things go in the days of COVID-19, if you just want to have your own private dance party in between deadlines. $50 / logitech.com

THE BUZZ

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Trail Magic

PHOTOS (FROM TOP) COURTESY OF KELTY, DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

An outdoor brand goes all in with CBD products meant to soothe hikers’ aches and pains. Outdoor activities cause sore muscles. CBD is said to relieve pain. Even though the outdoor industry has dabbled in the cannabidiol market for a few years, it wasn’t until this year that a dedicated outdoor brand contributed its own formulations to the billion-dollar category. In January, Kelty launched a collection of pain-relief salves, after-sun lotions, and antibacterial and itch-relief sprays for outdoorists. The longtime Colorado-based maker of tents, sleeping bags, and other outdoor gear sees the new CBD offerings as a natural brand progression. “At Kelty, we’re all about spontaneous adventures, getting outside, goofing around, and having fun. But playing outside often comes with its own set of

of regulation of cannabidiol, but a new bipartisan bill introduced in the House of Representatives in February would allow hempderived CBD to be marketed and sold as a dietary supplement. If passed, it could also lead the US Food and Drug Administration to establish a regulatory framework. CBD made its debut on a large scale to the outdoor industry—a nearly $800 billion business— in 2018, when manufacturers exhibited at Outdoor Retailer, the industry’s largest trade show, and now numerous athletes, from ultrarunners to surfers, are sponsored by CBD brands. Specialty outdoor retailers stock topicals and capsules. And Kelty has set a direct-to-consumer precedent. Which outdoor brands will enter the market next?

challenges in the form of aches and pains,” says Russell Rowell, Kelty senior vice president and general manager. “Thanks to our new CBD products, we now offer another tool to help you go farther, higher, and faster—and to bounce back more quickly when you do.” To create research-based formulas, Kelty consulted Arizona-based pharmaceutical producer e2e Pharma to formulate the new line of THCfree products. The collection is available at kelty.com/CBD. Financially, it’s a strategic move. The CBD market is currently valued at approximately $4 billion. Market researchers like Grandview Research and BDS Analytics predict it will surpass $20 billion by 2025. Skeptics have been troubled by the lack M A R C H 2021

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Vinyl Appeal A public and personal history of the rise, fall, and resurgence of records.

The Backstory For those of us who remember the day when we got our very first vinyl record, there was something magical about that moment. 20

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We held a perfect square album wrapped (usually) in plastic with a cool cover, the list of songs on the back, and the promise of the music you loved packaged perfectly

in a sleeve inside. Some albums were double records; others were small 12-inch singles or 45s; some had rare photos inside; and some were even colored vinyl.

No matter the format, the idea that something so artfully made could take us away on a musical journey the instant that delicate needle touched the album was epic.

PHOTO BY KORIONOV, ADOBE STOCK

TEXT DAWN GARCIA

When I was growing up, my grandparents owned an old Victrola console. If you don’t know what that is, think of a massive entryway console that is big enough to be a full piece of furniture. It included a record player, speakers on the right, cabinets underneath for storing records and whatever else my grandmother could fit inside. Their collection of albums consisted of Afro-Cuban jazz, Mexican classics, Flamenco, Lawrence Welk, swing, show tunes, and opera. It was an eclectic array that inevitably formulated my love of all music. I imagine my experience with music isn’t dissimilar to many, and once the introduction of 8-tracks, cassette players, and eventually CDs came about, demand for vinyl declined. However, like all things that make a comeback, vinyl found a new surge of interest in the 1990s. That surge has continued to swell even more so now with young artists such as Conan Gray, Billie Eilish, and Andra Day releasing limited edition LPs, creating a new generation of the vinyl-obsessed. The Birth of Vinyl In 1877, Thomas Edison created what was known

as the cylinder phonograph. While wonderful, there was no real way to mass produce it. Emile Berliner created the mass-production flat phonograph record in the late 1880s. Berliner was able to use methods used in a printing press to create audio recordings. As his access to enough funds presented a growth issue. He partnered with Eldridge Johnson, who would inevitably take over, leaving Berliner on the outs. Johnson proved a formidable partner who had strong relationships and access to capital. As a result, Johnson took over Berliner’s patents, pushing out any other competitors. He successfully launched the Consolidated Talking Machine Company, renamed in 1901 as Victor Talking Company, making his phonographs the most successful on the market. Johnson grew the business through aggressive advertising. Inspired by British painter Francis Barraud, he adopted the recognizable iconic dog-and-phonograph logo, purchasing the US usage rights to it. By the end of 1901, the logo became synonymous with innovative listening devices. As the industry became more

Fast forward more than 100 years, and Victrola is still holding strong, adapting to the modern market with retro designs as a nod to its humble beginnings, and implementing technology such as Bluetooth speakers.

inundated with competitors, Johnson (now referred to as Victor after his products) spent a lot of time fighting patent infringements by competing businesses. Those battles however led him to further innovation when, in 1904, he began design on a new, less massive turntable that was sleeker, had clearer sound, and included a cabinet underneath to store records and accessories. By 1906, he was marketing the new Victor-Victrola to the wealthy at a steep price tag of $200 (which in today’s market is around $5,000). To his (and his employees’) surprise, the Victrola was a hit and would be mass distributed by 1907. Having sold 15,000 Victrolas at $200, the company was primed for growth and new models. Fast forward more than 100 years, and Victrola is still holding strong, adapting to the modern market with retro designs as a nod to its humble beginnings and implementing technology such as Bluetooth speakers. And Victrola is not the only company that has kept vinyl alive. Paul Crosley was known for his radios until product sales declined in the 1950s. When Crosley launched its new M A R C H 2021

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THE LIFE

JIM MORRISON ALBUM PHOTO COURTESY OF DAWN GARCIA

portable turntables in 1992 as a tribute to its 1920s founder, Paul Crosley, it started a trend that has continued into the present day. How Vinyl Formed Our (Gen X) Childhood Those who remember the days when going to clubs meant the DJ was spinning records that weren’t plugged into their iPhones or laptops, know that nothing quite compares to the feel and sound of a vinyl record. In spite of 2021 technology that blows our minds with kickass headphones, wireless sound systems, and the like, once upon a time in the 1980s us misfit kids were stoked to get down with LPs and turntables. Yes, we actually used that word. Records were rad and we knew it—even if CD sales were starting to dominate. We listened to our music on our parents’ old record players from the ’60s and ’70s. It gave us ’80’s misfits obsessed with John Hughes movies like The Breakfast Club and bands like the Sex Pistols, Run DMC, and the Beastie Boys, an edge. We were retro before we even knew it was cool. Turntables became our preferred mode of expression and thankfully, our parents

were on board (probably because they felt like their generation was finally appreciated and understood). Our record collections began growing, including classics like Dylan, The Beatles, The Doors, Zeppelin, and a hearty dose of Barbara (hey, Streisand still rules). But bands such as Depeche Mode, The Smiths, Violent Femmes, and of course the killer intro to Ice-T, NWA, Wu Tang Klan, and The Fugees were infiltrating our young minds with full albums, rare singles, and secret finds. Penny Lane in Venice changed our world; Tower Records lured us with crazy collectibles; and Amoeba Music ate up any money we were saving. My parents gave in and let me borrow their albums. My dad introduced me to Black Sabbath and Iron Butterfly. My mom introduced me to Carole King and The Supremes. Music became the one thing I loved more than anything, particularly when played on oldschool turntables. I’d head over to my grandparents where my grandma would introduce me to old Mexican love songs and my grandfather would teach me about the soul of Latin beats. My

Your Pandemic Vinyl Playlist Records make the pandemic a little more listen-worthy. Below is a list of some bands you hopefully haven’t heard too much of and some that you’ll want to incorporate into your personal LP collection (in no particular order). Conan Gray / Kid Krow Black Pumas / Black Pumas Arctic Monkeys / Favourite Worst Nightmare The War and Treaty / Healing Tide Sofi Tukker / Treehouse Nathaniel Rateliff / Fug Yep No. 3 Single H.E.R. / Gatefold Girl in Red / Beginnings Alt J / An Awesome Wave Sault / Untitled (Black Is) Automatic / Signal Interpol / Antics Vaudou Game / Otodi Jim Morrison / An American Prayer Valerie June / The Order of Time

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THE LIFE

other grandparents would listen to the crooners— and I loved every part of it. My sisters and I will never forget when we got Michael Jackson’s Thriller album in 1982 and turned our parents into fans. We played that album so much we literally wore it out. We would watch MTV play the video and we’d hurry to the turntable to keep up the momentum, put on the album, and perfect our best zombie moves.

By the 1990s, record sales were beginning to show signs of waning, but vinyl singles were still dominating. In an article in Billboard magazine, an exec for United Record Pressing comments on the misconception of vinyl sales in the ’90s. “The seven-inch vinyl jukebox was [still] huge. And from my time working at labels at that point, I always had stacks of 12-inch singles behind my desk.

Most radio stations were using 12-inch singles, every birthday party DJ, every roller rink, every discotheque, and record stores in general.” Fast forward. Over the last few years, Gen Z has taken a liking to Crosley and Victrola portable turntables, and young people own LPs. In fact the RIAA Music Industry Revenue Statistics reported that, in 2018, vinyl record sales were up 8 percent with

$419 million in sales. No one imagined that the pandemic would boost vinyl record sales, but, last year, 27.5 million LPs were sold in the US, a 46 percent increase over 2019. It seems vinyl records have indeed made a comeback. As a product of the 1980s with teenage children who asked for turntables and records as gifts this year, I can say that vinyl records are indeed hot. How gnarly is that? M A R C H 2021

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THE LIFE PSYCHEDELICS

Be Your Own Personal DJ Only you know the best soundtrack for your psychedelic journey. TEXT ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE

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THE LIFE PSYCHEDELICS

When you drink ayahuasca in the Peruvian Amazon, the shamans chant songs to orchestrate your experience, in every sense of the word. Known as icaros, the songs amplify your visions and drive the medicine deep into where you need it most. Humans have known for centuries that music is the wind beneath the psychonaut’s wings, a tool that both fuels and helps to navigate sacred plant and fungi journeys. From the music that accompanied ancient Aztec mushroom and cacao ceremonies to Dead shows at the Fillmore, a great playlist is essential to a great trip. Psychedelic therapists have been making playlists for therapy sessions since the earliest LSD experiments, and you can find a lot of them on Spotify and YouTube, along with current offerings from the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Conscious Research and many others (search “psychedelic therapy playlist,” “psilocybin playlist,” “LSD playlist,” or “MDMA playlist”). You can even find recordings of Maria Sabina, the first Mexican curandera to allow Westerners into psilocybin mushroom rituals in the 1950s. A little caution, however: Sabina was exploited by Americans and then persecuted

If you’re ready to take control of your own musical destiny in the cosmos, here are things to keep in mind as you make your playlist.

tions in depression. He found that the wrong music can be distracting and • Lean away from vocals and toward instrumake for a gobstopping mental music, chanting, or a collection of trip, amplifying feelings sounds. If you include songs with words, of resistance and negative look for lyrics in an unfamiliar language. emotions. His app, Wave• Stay away from jarring or discordant paths, allows therapists tunes or songs with unpredictable rhythm and patients to make their changes. own musical sequences, • Use calm music in the early stages to create leaving out anything that a sense of rest and safety. might bring up unwel• Alternate intense and calm tracks during come memories or resisthe peak stages. tance. Triggered by classi• Include emotionally evocative music only cal music? Brahms Sonata during peak stages. in B never has to be a part • Pay close attention to how songs transition of your journey. into each other. Curating your own • Provide continuous music with minimal soundtrack for tripping is interruption. the best way. If you need • Emphasize variety. inspiration or guidance, • Use a high-quality source of music Helen L. Bonny and Walproduction. ter N. Pahnke, researchers at the Maryland Psychiscientist who calls music atric Center in Baltimore, by the people in her vilpublished a template for lage for her generosity, so “the hidden therapist.” selecting and structuring I’m not sure I would bring In an article about the that into my sacred space. playlist, Kaelen explains: psychedelic playlists in 1972 that therapists still “The idea here is to creThe Johns Hopkins follow today. Their seate a sense of ebb and Center’s playlist follows the formula established in flow that the participant quencing flows like this: the 1960s, heavy on West- can feel as a series of ten- • Pre-onset (0 to 1½ hours): quiet, neutral ern classical music. If that sion-and-release expe• Onset (1½ to 2 hours): riences. A playlist with just doesn’t do it for you, melodic, rhythmic the Multidisciplinary As- multiple peaks can also • Building toward peak help to titrate the expesociation for Psychedelic intensity (2 to 3½ rience and keep it from Studies (MAPS) offers hours): long, flowing getting too intense; peritwo playlists for MDphrases and dynamic MA-assisted psychother- ods of relief are built in.” crescendos In his own practice, apy featuring ethnic and • Peak intensity (3½ to Kaelen’s patients didn’t New Age music, and the 4 hours): powerful, Chacruna Institute’s psi- respond well to Western strongly structured locybin playlist on Spotify classical music. He plays • Re-entry (4 to 7 features indie, new wave, music that is personally hours): lighter, familiar meaningful to each perand rock. son, which results in more • Return to normal conThe Chacruna playsciousness (7 to 12 hours): list was developed by Dr. positive experiences and your favorite tunes. Mendel Kaelen, a neuro- more significant reduc-

TUNING IN A recent study published in the Journal of Music Therapy found music integral for meaningful emotional and imagery experiences and self-exploration during psychedelic therapy. “Music could convey love, carry listeners to other realms, be something to ‘hold,’ inspire, and elicit a deep sense of embodied transformation,” the authors wrote. “Therapeutic influence was especially evident in music’s dichotomous elicitations: Music could simultaneously anchor and propel.”

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mona Van Joseph is a professionally licensed intuitive reader in Las Vegas since 2002. Author, radio host, and columnist, she created the Dice Wisdom app and is available for phone and in-person sessions. mona.vegas

HOROSCOPE

MARCH HOROSCOPE What do the stars hold for you? TEXT MONA VAN JOSEPH

friends, body, mind, and place JULY 23–AUG. 22 on your spiritual path. Be fas- LEO You’ve been dancing around cinated with all the events un- There will be a financial a relationship that you know folding for you. Your authentic shift that will get your atis not healthy or committed love is showing you your path. tention. It may be about reto you. This could be work or financing your home or getpersonal or both. It’s time for MAY 21–JUNE 20 ting your taxes done early. you to decide where you want GEMINI Something in that process to be as of July—because it You finally know that some- gets your attention. won’t be where you are now. thing connected with work is not working for you. It’s time AUG. 23-SEPT. 22 MAR. 21–APR. 19 to either let go of the job or VIRGO ARIES let go of the emotional bur- Recent events have given Your power is what you know. den that’s connected with you clear focus about your A project will present itself future. You are willing to do work. You are worth more. that you have earned the abilthe work to make that fiveity to engage and negotiate. JUNE 21–JULY 22 year plan a reality, even if It truly is your preparation that plan surprises the peoCANCER meeting a long-awaited opTell all the people who love ple around you. portunity. You’ve earned this. you that you will be off the SEPT. 23–OCT. 22 radar. This is the month to APR. 20–MAY 20 LIBRA dive totally into a project TAURUS The new beginning without distraction or perAll things are connected sonal critique. Finish the proj- you’ve been waiting for with love, so love your work, ect and refine it afterward. is presenting itself. It’s FEB. 19–MAR. 20

PISCES

PISCES, IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO DECIDE WHERE YOU WANT TO BE AS OF JULY— BECAUSE IT WON’T BE WHERE YOU ARE NOW.

time to place yourself in any area that allows you to employ your unique skills. Use the mantle of your new identity now.

for you to let go of a person who you can no longer help. DEC. 22–JAN. 19

CAPRICORN

You came into this lifetime OCT. 23–NOV. 21 to live your truth. It’s seeSCORPIO ing past the immediate imThis month is the celebrapression and into the aution of meaningful partner- thentic level of things. ships, personally and profes- Your truth will be reflected sionally. Take a few minutes in many ways this month. this month and reach out to the people who have loved JAN. 20–FEB. 18 you and thank them. AQUARIUS Success and karmic reNOV. 22–DEC. 21 wards are the vibration SAGITTARIUS this month. Doubts will There is no question that be washed away, so act as things have been challeng- though every phone call or ing for you. The good news meeting will result in an opis that things can only importunity. This is the time to prove from here. It’s time announce what you want. M A R C H 2021

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KYM LA band L e to mak continues rates t penet a h t c i s u m levates e d n a l u o the s unity. the comm N GARCIA

T R R A YO U H E

PHOTO COURTESY OF LKYM

TEXT DAW

O T N E T S LI

M A R C H 2021

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Fighting for freedom is Join the revolution at norml.org

outhern California has been a place of cultural influx since 1781 when Spaniards claimed the land. The region’s history and relationship to music is rich. In the 1920s and 1930s, the African American music community infused the budding music scene throughout the country and in LA, including Charles Mingus, Gerald Wilson, and Buddy Collette. In the 1950s, Angelenos listened to Chicano music and rock, with legends like Richie Valens leading the way. Over the decade, music would begin its ascent to sounds so enthralling, the world would never be the same.

Enter the 1960s and the evolution of the Sunset Strip: all of a sudden music became a revolutionary movement and Los Angeles gave birth to bands such as The Doors, The Byrds, The Beach Boys, and so many more. Music venues sprung up showcasing a pool of talent so unique, the industry would forever be changed. In the 1970s an East LA band called Los Lobos was making a splash and underground surf punk was rising in the ranks. In the 1980s we had Guns N’ Roses and N.W.A., and in the ‘90s glam rock, grunge, and so much more. No matter the style, Southern California has been home to music greats, and the quest for unique music continues with bands gracing stages from big venues like the Hollywood Bowl to intimate spots like the Piano Bar.

Among those brilliant bands is LKYM. With a lineup of frontman and bassist Yonatan Elkayam, drummer Léo Costa, guitarist Adam Zimmon, and saxophonist David Urquidi, their music can’t be pegged as one thing or another. Elkayam’s voice is gritty and soothing, awakening and soulful and he and his band mates bring original sounds to the SoCal music landscape. Their sound is haunting, with unmistakable influences of the blues and jazz. The tone is so utterly mesmerizing that the moment the music begins and Yonatan starts to sing, you are undoubtedly hooked. The pandemic put a halt to live music. LKYM is no exception, so we talked with Yonatan Elkayam to see how they’ve adapted and adjusted. M A R C H 2021

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TELL US HOW LKYM CAME TO BE. After college, I attended a school in Emeryville called Ex’pression Center for New Media [now called SAE Expression College]. There, I learned engineering and production and quickly immersed myself in studio work. Returning to LA, I began producing albums, mixing and mastering all while still doing sideman work. I was in a few bands that toured the country (and the world) and became really good at supporting other people. I realized however, through many disappointments, that my career was reliant on other people’s choices, mental health, and egos. I also had an overwhelming need to speak my truth and share my stories. That’s when I decided to take the step forward with the help of one of my best friends and first producers Miguel Atwood-Ferguson. He helped me be more sure about what I wanted to do and I began this journey. Pretty soon, I put together a band and started performing around town. Eventually, I secured a residency downtown at a bar called The Escondite. I started putting different bands together every week of musicians that had never played together. I would send them music, we would meet on the band stand for the first time, and begin. I would often not call tunes and challenge them to be spontaneous and be in the moment. There was a lot of improvising and it was exciting, fun, and magical, although somewhat loose and undefined. It taught me how to let go of expectations and to lead in the moment. I built a lot of confidence up over the years from playing with so many incredible musicians and hearing my music reinterpreted weekly. It was a tremendous period of growth.

After one of the performances at the Piano Bar, Léo Costa who was playing drums that night said to me, “this was fun thanks for having me, but you know this could be world class if we put some work into it.” It was an immediate fuck yes to that. Léo’s drumming gave me a foundation to feel free and grounded at the same time. His musical taste and expertise were an immediate asset to the music, and our friendship has been the catalyst for a lot of beautiful creations. The rhythm section was set. We then discussed guitar players and, although we had played with so many incredible ones, Adam Zimmon was our first choice. His sound, approach, and nuanced playing has brought so much depth to the music. His ability to create sonic tapestries one moment and then unleash into an incredible guitar solo the next is a source of much inspiration in the band. When he agreed to join, we were one step closer. Finally, we discussed horns. Over the years I had played with trumpet players, trombonists, and sax players—each one brought something else to the music. But there was something that the baritone saxophone brought to the music that just works beautifully. It’s naturally a distorted sound, and it fit perfectly into the sound we were creating. David Urquidi was our clear choice. We have been friends since college and he was always one of my favorite people with whom to make music. His musical vocabulary, rhythmic sensibilities, and big, luscious tone were everything that we were missing. David is more like the lead guitar player in the band, and he runs his sax through guitar pedals, using distortion and effects to take

“THE SOUND OF THE BAND IS A DIRECT REFLECTION OF THE MEMBERS, OUR MUSICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND OUR PERSONALITIES.” —Yonatan Elkayam

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MORE INFO

Listen to LKYM on Spotify, Soundcloud, YouTube, Apple Music, and lykmtheband.com @lkymtheband

that concept further. Pretty soon after the band was fully formed, Léo also took on the role of producer and, for the most recent album, he became mixer as well. The sound of the band is a direct reflection of the members, our musical contributions, and our personalities. The band has helped me focus the sound. I like to say that it used to be a shotgun blast and now it’s a laser beam. It is so much more powerful, precise, and focused. Since the beginning of my journey as a solo artist and then into forming the band, the act was called Yonatan, but a few years ago when we were ready to release music we found out that there was already a Yonatan on Spotify so we couldn’t use the name. That was tough, and we had to pull back for a while and regroup. After many failed ideas Léo suggested LKYM which is my last name Elkayam without the vowels. All four of us agreed and we became LKYM.

WHERE DOES EVERY BAND MEMBER ORIGINATE FROM? I was born and raised in LA, the first person in my family born in the US. David Urquidi is also an Angeleno, born and raised in East LA. We met at USC. Adam originates from New York. After studying music in Miami, he made his way to LA to continue his musical career. Léo was born and raised in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. After studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston, he moved to LA to continue his career. They have all played with some of the biggest artists in the business. David was in the band War for some years, Adam still plays with Ziggy Marley, and Léo still plays with Sergio Mendes.

where every dollar translates into four meals. We raised over $1,600 for the LA Food Bank in 2020, and we plan Like everyone else, the pandemic has to continue that with every upcoming changed everything for us. We played release this year. a show at the end of January 2020 and haven’t been together since. I’ve HOW HAS MUSIC HELPED YOU IN YOUR OWN LIVES? done two performances over Zoom this year, which was really special, I’m sure that I speak for my bandbut different. I’ve seen Léo twice mates in saying that music has during the year (he performed with saved our lives. Growing up as a me during the second Zoom conyoung man full of angst and fruscert) and the other guys only over tration, music gives you an outlet to channel your feelings, express Zoom. We started working on an alyourself, and find your voice. It’s bum before the pandemic, and have given us community, and a deep had to continue working remotely. appreciation for storytelling … and It’s made everything move much beauty. I might be going out on a slower, but we are still producing. We released a cover of Willie Dixlimb here, but I don’t think it’s a on’s “Spoonful” in May of 2020 and a coincidence that they cut the music cover of Leonard Cohen’s “You Want and art programs from schools 20 It Darker” in September of 2020. years ago, and we just experienced We’ve got another release that just an insurrection against the capital came out on February 12th of an orig- and our democracy. Definitely not a inal song called “Boat Keeps Rockin.” 1-to-1, but by losing art and music I’m so proud of the music that we in our education system, we have are releasing, especially during this robbed a generation of the ability worldwide pandemic. Nothing can to channel their feelings into somestop us from sharing with our fans, thing creative and beautiful. not even COVID-19. We immediMusic is a gift, but it’s much ately recognized that no matter how more than that—it’s healing. Socitough this time was for us, there were eties that don’t value it are doomed people out there hurting much more to suffer in countless ways. Music than us. We’ve used every release to is our only real contribution to the raise money for the LA Food Bank, rest of the universe.

WHAT KIND OF ADJUSTMENTS HAVE YOU HAD TO MAKE TO ADAPT TO “PANDEMIC LIFE”?

IF YOU HAD TO SUMMARIZE WHAT YOUR BANDMATES MEAN TO YOU, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY? These guys are my brothers, some of my greatest teachers, and exactly the humans I want to be with in a band. They make me better, help me grow, and offer me guidance in every decision. I’m a wealthy man with Adam, David, and Léo in my corner. The gratitude is unending.

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Waiting on a Friend If we’ve learned one thing over the past year, we can probably all agree, it’s the value of delivery. Stuck at home and hungry, we placed 500 percent more Instacart orders than we had before the plague, and we paid DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Postmates $5.5 billion in combined revenue to bring us doughnuts, dumplings, and other delights from April through September of last year. Let’s not even talk about the money we’ve given Amazon. 40

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We learned we could get just about anything we wanted, from lightning cords to liquor, left at our doorsteps by masked angels otherwise known as essential workers. All we had to do was hop online and order through one of the many handy apps available to us. We could even get weed. Oh, wait. We could get weed delivered, but only if we lived in a certain dozen of the 50 United States— namely Arizona, Alaska, California, Colorado,

Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont—and even then, maybe not. Among the handful of states where cannabis delivery is allowed, regulation varies wildly, even from city to city and county to county. I spent half of last year in California, where all I had to do was hop on an app to get cannabis delivered, and the other half in Colorado, where delivery is legal but nonexistent—

and I felt the loss hard. Once you’ve enjoyed the convenience of delivery, it sucks to be without it. That’s another reason why cannabis delivery is the new industry darling, expected to provide the industry’s fastest-growing revenue stream by 2024, according to a report by ArcView Market Research and BDS Analytics. It’s ridiculous and weird that Colorado, the pioneer in legal adult use, is so far behind in addressing delivery—

PHOTO BY EVGENIIAND, ADOBE STOCK

Lantern, a Boston-based delivery platform that connects cannabis users to licensed dispensaries, is moving into the virgin Colorado market. It’s about time. TEXT ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE

PHOTO BY KONSTANTIN YUGANOV, ADOBE STOCK

even after COVID-19 made cannabis use an increasingly crucial issue. At this point, though, the problem isn’t really the state. Colorado lawmakers approved medical cannabis deliveries to begin in 2019 and recreational deliveries in 2021 but left it up to local governments whether to allow delivery or not. So far, only a small number of cities are saying yes. Medical deliveries are permitted in Boulder, Superior, and Longmont. Aurora (population 400,000) is the first Colorado city to allow recreational delivery. Colorado might be late to the game, but it will always be a player. Earlier this year, Aurora’s brand-new, wide-open delivery market caught the attention of Lantern, a Boston-based cannabis delivery platform that connects cannabis users to licensed dispensaries in Massachusetts and Michigan. Lantern was developed and funded by Drizly, the largest online marketplace for alcohol in the United States, which saw online alcohol orders spike by 485 percent during the pandemic. Denver is Drizly’s third-largest market, and the data told them (though all they had to do was ask me) that Denver consumers want delivery. “Residents of Aurora, whose city council

passed a vote in favor of recreational delivery in December 2020, will likely be the first in the state to access Lantern’s services once the city finalizes the permitting process,” says Meredith Mahoney, Lantern’s president. “Once Aurora’s local law goes into effect, customers over the age of 21 in Aurora will be able to conveniently place recreational cannabis orders online at lanternnow.com and have products delivered to their doorstep within an hour.” Dispensaries pay Lantern a percentage of sales through the app, which offers users increasingly personalized product suggestions, whether they’re in the mood for gummies, vapes, or topicals. Users, who aren’t charged extra fees for using the app to streamline their searches, are directed to dispensaries that have what they need and trained dispensary personnel deliver their orders within an hour. Business has been brisk, Mahoney says, as (in most states, anyway) the pandemic has accelerated the cannabis industry’s shift to e-commerce and delivery. “We believe that the demand for cannabis delivery will continue to grow and flourish post COVID-19, as an increasing number of customers integrate

“We believe that the demand for cannabis delivery will continue to grow and flourish post COVID-19, as an increasing number of customers integrate cannabis into their daily routines.” —Meredith Mahoney, president of Lantern

cannabis into their daily routines.” In Michigan, where Lantern is available to customers in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, and Battle Creek, delivery orders increased 89 percent three days before Christmas, she adds. In February, Uber announced its acquisition of Lantern’s sister company, Drizly, but Mahoney says that will not affect Lantern’s operations or mission. Lantern, which had been an independent subsidiary of the Drizly Group, will now operate as a fully autonomous private company. “Lantern’s consumer-centric ethos was born out of Drizly’s founding vision to create a more streamlined e-commerce experience, and Lantern will continue to build its best-in-class logistics technology platform, which has already transformed the emerging cannabis retail industry,” Mahoney says. “The company was first-tomarket in Massachusetts and Michigan and is optimally positioned to continue expanding into new legal markets. The next few years will be consequential not only for the cannabis industry but also for the entire digital retail sector. Lantern is eager to set new standards for what is possible in both spaces.” M A R C H 2021

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Sound/Stage Presented by the LA Philharmonic Now thru 2021 FREE (Editors suggestion: Donate to the LA Phil) soundstage.laphil.com/ episodes

Listen to a collection of concert films, interviews, artwork and essays, including “Love in the Time of COVID,” “Power to the People,” and “Andra Day.”

Street Food Cinema Now thru Apr. 3, Santa Monica Airport $25 per car, $8.50 per person streetfoodcinema.com/ schedule/los-angeles

On the Calendar

Here’s how to find your groove this month.

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TEXT ELI DUPIN + DAWN GARCIA

We made it through the first months of 2021 with a new administration in the White House. Now, as we wrap our heads around finally getting back to making societal progress, music and more meaningful virtual events are on the menu. Find new ways to celebrate, dance, listen, learn, escape, and feel connected.

One of the most fun ways to watch a movie is with Street Food Cinema and their March lineup is sublime.

Tightrope: Americans Reaching for Hope

16th Annual Final Draft Awards

Now thru May 31 Free skirball.org/exhibitions/ tightrope-americansreaching-for-hope

Mar. 2, 6 p.m. $8–$22 averagesocialite.com/virtual1/2021/3/2/16th-annual-finaldraft-awards-virtual

This virtual exhibition explores the hardships for Americans in the labor market, what individuals and families face in diminishing opportunities.

Final Draft, the screenwriting software company, recognizes outstanding achievement in storytelling and will be presenting awards to Aaron M A R C H 2021

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LEFT: OFF THE ROAD EVENT RIGHT: STREET FOOD CINEMA

Sorkin, Ramy Youssef, Radha Blank and more.

Art at Coda Gallery

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Mar. 5-31 FREE 7340 El Paseo, Suite B-1, Palm Desert codagallery.com/about

Get your museum fix with neuroscientist, Dr. Yewande Pearse in a lively discussion, DJ sets, and live music performances.

SoCal Etsy Guild Market Orange

View the works of contemporary artists at a Palm Desert fixture. Gallery is limiting number of guests and masks are required. March exhibitions include paintings by Michael Steirnagle and sculptures by Todd Gray.

Mar. 7-27 FREE The Outlets, City of Orange SoCalEtsyGuild.com

First Fridays, Home x Habitat

11th Annual Storytelling Festival

Mar. 5 FREE NHM YouTube Channel Live nhm.org/calendar

Join Etsy for this outdoor shopping experience every Sunday. Explore local artisans and support local businesses of Southern California.

Mar. 18-20 FREE storytellersofsandiego.org

Family-friendly sto- who had to publish rytelling concerts their work under and workshops. a man’s pseudonym, San Diego’s Jean-Michel non-profit, AmaBasquiat – The teurPianists will be Radiant Child celebrating women Mar. 11 composers with an FREE all-women recital. discoverpalmdesert.com/ events/list

Discover the story behind the brilliant works of Basquiat in a virtual film series presented by City of Palm Desert Public Art Department and the University of California, Riverside Palm Desert Center.

Women Composers Recital Mar. 20 FREE amateurpianists.org/eventinfo/women-composersrecital-2

In honor of women composers throughout history

Off the Road Event Mar. 21 FREE Westminster Mall Eventbrite.com, ID 121650352479

Enjoy cottage food, live music, creators, upcycled goods, artisan shopping in an open-air market.

dia outlets, organizations, and more.

Real Cannabis Entrepreneur Conference Mar. 26-28 TICKETS $27-$60 realcannabisentrepreneur.com

Connect with industry leaders, and find business models, strategies, and solutions for cannapreneurs.

Brunch By The Bay Mar. 28 $249 eventbrite.com, ID 138491906019

Enjoy San Diego Crew’s virtual Virtual Emerge gourmet brunch Virtual Cannabis delivered to your Conference San Diego hotel Mar. 23-25 door. Indulge with $20-$50 sparkling wine, a https://emergecanna.com/ special gift, and an get-tickets unforgettable virtuTake part in netal meal with Olymworking, education, pian Tom Peszek business leads with while watching leading industry me- the Regatta. M A R C H 2021

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Julien Baker

Fresh Tunes

Check out the best new albums of 2021 so far.

TEXT JEDD FERRIS

Although brighter days are on the horizon, the timeline for when musicians can safely resume touring is still hazy. The situation has forced many artists to stay productive by focusing

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on studio projects, with many being released in the early part of the year. From indie upstarts to established legends, here’s a look at 10 new albums coming by spring.

debuted Bonny Light Horseman, a new side project with fellow folk innovators Anaïs Mitchell and Josh Kaufman that earned two Grammy nominations. Not slowing his pace, JohnFruit Bats son is celebrating the The Pet Parade (Merge 20th anniversary of the Records) Fruit Bats by releasing Fruit Bats leader Eric D. the band’s eighth overall Johnson has been on a studio album, The Pet hot streak lately. In 2019, Parade, in March. Johnhe hit a creative peak son brought Kaufman with his main band’s onboard to produce the soulful album Gold Past album, and although it Life, and last year, he was made during quar-

antine with supporting players adding their parts remotely, it doesn’t sound like an isolated effort. Lead single “Holy Rose” is a powerful poprock song with orchestral sonic textures. Same Spark: In February, Brooklyn upstart trio Wild Pink will release its anticipated next album, A Billion Little Lights. The effort blends earthy roots songcraft with indie inventiveness that will please fans of The War on Drugs. The Hold Steady Open Door Policy (Positive Jams) The Hold Steady is back with more heavy riffs and vivid tales on its eighth studio al-

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RELEASES

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RELEASES

bum, Open Door Policy. Frontman Craig Finn’s narrative lyrics still dig into the dark side of the party, but with keyboardist Franz Nicolay permanently back in the mix, the band’s tight rock arrangements provide anthemic swells of cathartic redemption. “Open Door Policy was very much approached as an album vs. a collection of individual songs, and it feels like our most musically expansive record,” Finn says of the new album, which was released on February 19. Same Spark: Another stalwart rock act with a loyal following, roots heroes Lucero made its new album When You Found Me at the famed Sam Phillips Recording studio in the band’s hometown of Memphis. Willie Nelson That’s Life (Legacy Recordings) The great news first: Willie Nelson, 87, has been vaccinated. Now the good news: the country legend is releasing his 71st album this year. That’s Life is Nelson’s second collection of Frank Sinatra covers,

following 2018’s My Way. Nelson has said that Sinatra had a big influence on his singing style, and he made part of his latest tribute to the late crooner at Hollywood’s Capitol Studios, where Sinatra recorded many of his beloved standards. The songs of Ol’ Blue Eyes sound relaxed and comforting through the mellow voice of the Red Headed Stranger, especially the well-known title track and the breezy “Cottage for Sale.” It’s a record perfect for chilling out during our remaining days of hunkering down at home. Same Spark: Singersongwriter Pete Yorn also went the covers route on his new LP, Pete Yorn Sings the Classics, a Bandcamp exclusive release that features takes on the Pixies, Bob Dylan, and The Beach Boys. Julien Baker Little Oblivions (Matador) Julien Baker is known for her confessional indie rock songs usually delivered with sparse guitar arrangements and disarming vocal crescendos. Following a long touring cycle supporting her acclaimed 2017 album Turn Out the Lights, she took a break from music to finish college and reassess her

priorities. When she returned to the studio to record Little Oblivions, Baker’s vision expanded, and new tracks like the standout “Hardline” feature crashing drums and emotive keyboard layers. The full sound adds new depth to her unflinching lyrical revelations. Same Spark: Danielle Durack offers similar intimately intense songcraft on her new album No Place. Valerie June The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers (Fantasy) Valerie June’s breakout album, 2017’s The Order of Time, was a roots-driven project, with tracks featuring the singer-songwriter’s alluring voice placed among primitive banjo tunes and jangly blues cuts. The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers—the muchawaited follow-up made with producer Jack

Splash (Kendrick Lamar, Alicia Keys)—finds June honing her stylistic leanings into celestial R&B that fits the record’s searching themes. The album’s opening threesong sequence, “Stay” / “Meditation” / “You and I,” is a sublime astral-soul suite that contemplates relationship dynamics. “With this record, it finally became clear why I have this dream of making music,” June said in a statement previewing the new album. “It’s not for earthly reasons of wanting to be awarded or to win anybody’s love— it’s because dreaming keeps me inquisitive and keeps me on that path of learning what I have to share with the world.” Same Spark: Lake Street Dive went into the studio with Mike Elizondo (Dr. Dre, Fiona Apple), who helped shape the band’s next set of retro-minded soul-rock tunes. Obviously will be out March 12.

M A R C H 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

P R O M OT I O N A L F E AT U R E WA N A B R A N D S

Available Now: Wana Delta-9 Gummies Looking for a delta-9 fast-acting vegan edible? The wait is over for Californians.

ext-generation fast-acting edibles offer an experience similar to inhalable cannabis, but without the smoke. Edibles make it easier to tailor the experience to the moment, whether that’s an energizing microdose before a midday hike, a quick boost during an impromptu gaming session, or a fast-onset dose for relaxation at bedtime. Wana Brands launched its Quick Fast-Acting Gummies in Colorado last year. In less than four months, Wana Quick ranked #4, #6, and #7 out of the top 10 most popular edibles in the state’s adult-use market. Word-ofmouth buzz spread regarding the flexibility of these new products, and the

brand began hearing from consumers in other states, eager to find out when Wana would expand availability of rapid-onset gummies in their area. For California consumers, the wait is over. Launching exclusively with MedMen dispensaries in March, Wana Quick Fast-Acting Gummies will be available widely in April. The Quick line includes happy hour–inspired flavors CBD/THC 1:1 Strawberry Margarita, Sativa Peach Bellini, and Indica Piña Colada, all featuring fast-acting technology paired with a class-specific, terpene-enhanced distillate. “We believe that advances in one area should not require compromises in others. We searched for a year to find the best fast-onset technology,”

said Nancy Whiteman, CEO of Wana Brands. “We think we found the most effective technology in the industry while maintaining our high standards for overall great taste and quality.” How do Wana’s fast-acting edibles work so quickly? With a traditional edible, THC absorption is slow. It must work its way through the digestive system, where the liver converts delta-9THC into 11-hydroxy-THC. This not only takes a while, but the resulting high has a different, heavier body-feel with effects lasting for up to eight hours. Wana Quick Fast-Acting Gummies use Azuca’s groundbreaking TiME (Thermodynamic Individual Molecular Encapsulation) technology to encapsulate THC in water-soluble particles. Water-encapsulated THC is readily absorbed into the bloodstream before it hits the digestive system, resulting in a fast-onset delta-9-THC high similar to smoking. Rapid-onset effects occur in less than 15 minutes for most people and can last from 2 to 4 hours. Effects also fade more quickly, in line with a smoking or vaping experience. As such, Wana Quick is the only gummy in California offering the trifecta of a quick onset (5–15 minutes), a rapid offset (2–4 hours), and a delta-9 smoker’s experience. “Wana Brands infused-edible products always have been a good choice for health-conscious and active consumers,” Whiteman continued. “Now that we have removed high-fructose corn syrup from our gummies, consumers have one more great reason to experience our cannabis-infused gummies.”

Wana Brands North America’s No. 1 cannabisinfused product manufacturer. www.wanabrands.com M A R C H 2021

S E N S I M AG .C O M

THE END

The Quest to Save Music Supporting local record stores is in our best interest.

“If I was a billionaire and had my time all over, I would invest all of my money in setting up a factory to produce vinyl records again.” –Roger Daltrey Music can save a person from going into darkness or from going mad, especially when we’re still under orders to limit social gatherings. That is why supporting local joints serving up old-school vinyl and new artists that recognize their appeal is paramount. Going through the history of Southern California as a transplant who now calls this region of sunshine home, I’ve spent many a day toiling the hours away thumb50

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ing through rows and rows of LPs at music stores. In an effort to support local business and do our part to keep these rare and beautiful stores open, below is a look at where to buy when it’s safe. Some are open and some are selling online or through social media. No matter how you do it, support them. Los Angeles: Going Underground on Melrose, High Fidelity Records downtown, Timewarp Records in Venice, Mount Analog in Highland Park, Record Jungle in Montebello. Orange County: Left of the Dial Records in Santa Ana, Port of

Sound in Costa Mesa, Vinyl Solution in Huntington Beach, Black Hole Records in Fullerton, Moldy Toes in San Clemente. San Diego: Vinyl Junkies in South Park, Beat Box Records in Barrio Logan, Cow Records in Ocean Beach, Red Brontosaurus in North Beach, Soul Shack in Normal Heights. Coachella Valley: Record Alley in Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs Vinyl, Hungry Heart Records in Hemet, Revivals Stores in Palm Desert, Hunky Dory in Idyllwild. No matter what you do, never let vinyl die. It’s the purest form of music listening.

PHOTO BY SAÚL GRANDA VIA TWENTY20

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TUNES FOR THE TRIP

Curated playlists for psychedelics

SPRING FLINGS

Fruity (or veggie) cocktails

LIGHTING THE PATH

Expanding cannabis delivery

TUNES FOR THE TRIP

Curated playlists for psychedelics

Lighting the path

Cannabis delivery expands

FOR THE RECORD

Defense of vinyl in the 21st century

TUNES FOR THE TRIP

Curated playlists for psychedelics

N E VA DA

MICHIGAN

NEW ENGLAND

MARCH 2021

LIGHTING THE PATH Cannabis delivery expands

WICKED IRISH

Where to celebrate St. Patty’s Day

TAKING ROOT

MOTHER NATURE PROVIDES

Cannapreneur April Arraste founds a new brand in Jamaica Plain

Hunt to Eat initiatives support Earth and equity

WINK WORLD The latest project from the founder of the Blue Man Group

TUNES FOR THE TRIP

Curated playlists for psychedelics

LIGHTING THE PATH Cannabis delivery expands

FOR THE RECORD

Defense of vinyl in the 21st century

TUNES FOR THE TRIP

Curated playlists for psychedelics

LIGHTING THE PATH Cannabis delivery expands

FOR THE RECORD

Defense of vinyl in the 21st century

TUNES FOR THE TRIP

Curated playlists for psychedelics

NORCAL

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

C O LO R A D O

MARCH 2021

LIGHTING THE PATH

Expanding cannabis delivery

FOR THE RECORD

A defense of vinyl in the 21st century

SPRING SPA-CATION Area resorts bring CBD to your self-care day

LKYM NO OTHER Yonatan Elkayam riffs on how COVID-19 has changed music

SEE ALL THE MARCH EDITIONS NOW AVAILABLE!