May 16, 2022 I VOL. 51 I #20
‘To Protect and
Serve’ Watts legend shares new biography
Coady Culha New mom’s career and personal life sparkle
+ ‘SHO-TIME:
The Inside Story of Shohei Ohtani’
DTLA SUMMER GUIDE May 23, 2022
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REAL ID to be enforced next year By Department of Motor Vehicles LA Downtown News Contributing Writer he REAL ID federal enforcement date is just one year away. Beat the rush. Starting May 3, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will require a valid passport or other federally approved identification, like a REAL ID driver’s license or identification card, to board flights within the United States and access secure federal facilities like military bases. Start your online application today and get REAL ID ready in three simple steps: 1. Gather your identification documents. 2. Complete your online application and upload your documents. 3. Visit the DMV office to complete your REAL ID application. Visit dmv.ca.gov/realid for a complete list of acceptable documents and to begin your online application.
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Question: What type of documents are required to apply for my REAL ID? One original or certified proof of identity and two printed proofs of California residency are required.
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Downtown News wants to hear from people in the community. If you like or dislike a story, let us know, or weigh in on something you feel is important to the community. Participation is easy. Go to downtownnews.com, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the “Letter to the Editor” link. For guest opinion proposals, please email christina@timespublications.com.
One original or certified proof of identity* • Examples: valid passport, birth certificate, valid permanent resident card. • *If your name on your proof of identity is different from the name on your other documents, you will need a legal name change document (examples: marriage certificate, adoption papers). Two printed proofs of California residency • Examples: utility bill, bank statement, insurance documents, tax return, rental or lease agreement, school documents. EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Question: Do I have to wait for my current license or ID to expire before I get a STAFF WRITERS: Andrew Checchia, Andres De Ocampo, Julia Shapero REAL ID? CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Sara Edwards, Kamala Kirk No, you can apply forArman the REAL IDStephanie beforeTorres your current driver’s license or ID exART DIRECTORS: Olivares, STAFF that PHOTOGRAPHER: Luis Chavez pires. Be aware your new REAL ID will hold the same expiration date as your CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Myriam Santos current license or ID. Keep in mind that as the enforcement date gets closer, wait ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Michael Lamb times are estimated to get longer. FOUNDER EMERITUS: Sue LarisDon’t delay, and apply today to beat the rush!
For more information, visit dmv.ca.gov/realid.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski DEPUTY EDITOR: Luke Netzley CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jeff Moeller, Bridgette M. Redman STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER: Chris Mortenson CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Austin Hargrave, Danny Jungslund ART DIRECTORS: Arman Olivares, Stephanie Torres ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway (213) 308-2261 Michael Lamb (213) 453-3548 FOUNDER EMERITUS: Sue Laris
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MAY 16, 2022
BUSINESS
New mom’s career and personal life sparkle By Bridgette M. Redman LA Downtown News Contributing Writer ontana Coady’s life sounds like a young girl’s fairy tale. Living in Santa Monica, she is surrounded by diamonds, horses, dogs, a man she loves and their first baby. It’s a life she’s built from enduring passions and a commitment to a business that provides people with unforgettable experiences. Her mom was also a horseback rider, and Coady was born on a property with ponies and horses in Malibu. “I started riding before I could walk,” Coady said. “It’s always just been in my blood and a part of my life. When I was about 6 years old, I started competing on the circuit.” In the world of showjumping, there are “hunters” and “jumpers.” Coady leaned toward the world of hunters and has continued in that her entire life — with short breaks for attending college at USC and having a baby in 2021. “Hunters are where you’re judged on the accuracy, the grace and the elegance,” explained Coady, a ranked equestrian. “Everything has to be in stride. The amount of strides in between each jump has to be a certain number. If you’re given a course, the elegance, the beauty, the scope of the horse as well as the horse’s athletic ability to jump (is judged). The rider is traditionally supposed to be effortless looking.” Jumping wasn’t a world that appealed to Coady as much as the elegance of hunters. Love is something that opened her other worlds as well — a partner and co-founder of Coady Culha, a custom diamond jewelry line in Downtown LA. It specializes in engagement and wedding rings. Coady partnered with Bert Culha in 2012 to become diamond dealers. Culha came from a family of diamond dealers and had the relationships they needed to form a business. They started sourcing stones for clients and creating engagement rings, then it turned into a one-stop shop of bespoke jewelry. “I have a very discerning eye, so a lot of people come to us for that,” said Coady, who competes with her 1-year-old Russell terrier in dog shows. “Then we have an incredible craftsman that we work exclusively with, and he’s incredible. People come to us when they want jewelry and ask us how we would design it. Then I go through the process with our clients, and Bert helps us find the stones. Then we have our craftsmen create everything bespoke — everything we make is custom, and our clientele is solely based on word of mouth.” While they do everything from earrings to necklaces and bracelets, Coady
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Coady Culha does everything from earrings to necklaces and bracelets. Chris Mortenson/Staff Photographer
still finds engagement rings exciting. “It’s such a special purchase for someone. It’s so sentimental,” Coady said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience working with the groom or whoever is purchasing the engagement ring and finding that perfect stone for that relationship and coming up with a design that is uniquely theirs, knowing that it is going to make the bride happy and be a surprise.” Their relationship with their clients doesn’t end at the wedding, though. Their brand is focused on building and curating a jewelry collection that is specific to each client. They’ll continue to work with them to create jewelry for special occasions such as an anniversary, Mother’s Day or birthdays. They want to make special, creative pieces for each of those occasions that goes with the rest of their collection. “The most exciting thing about creating jewelry is creating a piece for someone that is meaningful, special and unique, but also a classic and staple item,” Coady said. “So, nothing that is too trendy or is going to be out of style or too out there that you wear for a year and then isn’t relevant anymore. (We design) pieces that can hold the test of time and that you want to pass down to your family, but also you’re able to wear on an everyday basis.” Like her equestrian career, Coady Culha fits in with her passions. She said she’s a very social person who’s creative and a lover of beauty and dressing up. “I love fashion, and I’ve always loved jewelry,” Coady said. “So, for me, every day it’s fun because I get to kind of dip into all the different parts of myself — my creative side, my social side, my networking side.” Coady and her partner, Benjamin Randall, met in January 2020, after being set up by her mother. He was then living in New York but visited Coady as the pandemic hit. He stayed and they eventually moved in together, soon after deciding to start a family. It was this life change that led Coady into the world of dog shows. “I’ve always been fascinated by and loved dogs,” Coady said. “It’s a similar kind of person involved in the horse world and in the dog world.” She had an Irish terrier who wasn’t a show dog, but one of the country’s top dog handlers groomed her. She met his show dog and realized she’d love to have one. When she and Randall started their relationship, he said he wanted a dog, and they thought a show dog would be fun. A breeder connected them with a Russell Terrier, and they started the process of learning how to be dog show parents. Their pup, who is almost 2 now, won her major at the Kennel Club of Palm Springs and has qualified for Westminster in November. It also helps that their son, Coady, also loves the dog. She has high praise for her boyfriend and business partner, both of whom she were supportive during her pregnancy and early motherhood. With a supportive community, Coady continues to pursue her dreams — as a romantic partner, a business partner, a mom, an equestrian and a dog show competitor.
Coady Culha coadyculha.com
Montana Coady is a partner and co-founder of Coady Culha, a custom diamond jewelry line Downtown. Chris Mortenson/Staff Photographer
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MAY 16, 2022
Covered NEWS California will help
Watts legend shares new biography, ‘To Protect and Serve’ By Luke Netzley LA Downtown News Deputy Editor fter the chaos and destruction of the 1965 Watts Riots, tension was at an all-time high between the Los Angeles Police Department and residents. As a Watts resident for nearly 80 years, Ozie Bell Gonzaque has played an integral role in easing racial tensions and conflict between law enforcement and her local community. She served as a volunteer with the LAPD for 25 years and as a housing authority commissioner for 20 years. At a May 11 Downtown event, Ozie Bell Gonzaque shared her new biography, “To Protect and Serve: The Volunteer World of Ozie Bell Gonzaque,” in which writer Stanley Williford recounts the ways she helped change the LAPD’s tone. “It was a journey all the way,” Gonzaque said. “I had a lot of fights, but I feel that I did make a difference. And as long as I could make a difference, that’s all that mattered.” While the book recalls myriad stories throughout Gonzaque’s life, highlighting the impact of her work, one of the core remembrances is her relationship with past LAPD Chief William Parker.
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Ozie Bell Gonzaque published a new biography, “To Protect and Serve: The Volunteer World of Ozie Bell Gonzaque.” She helped changed the LAPD’s tone. Chris Mortenson/Staff Photographer
MAY 16, 2022
When Gonzaque and Parker met, Parker had been labeled a racist and had an abysmal relationship with minority communities across Los Angeles. Parker’s views and reputation did not deter Gonzaque, though, who was determined to influence the way that the police and her community interacted with one another by working alongside Parker. “I said, ‘I don’t care whether he likes me or not. He’s the chief of police,’” Gonzaque said. “I want to know what we can do to work together, and he doesn’t have to like me as long as we can work together.” She maintained an unlikely friendship with Parker and still meets regularly with LAPD members. After Parker died, Gonzaque was gifted a portrait of him from the police department. She was the first member of the community to work with him and did so throughout the remainder of his life. Along with her connection to Parker, Gonzaque is known for coining the term “To Protect and Serve,” which she wrote during the McCone Commission that investigated the Watts Riots and its root causes. Before testifying in the commission, Gonzaque was asked what the LAPD represented to her and submitted her response in a suggestion box on the wall. “I said, ‘They’re supposed to protect and serve, but that’s not what it’s doing right now,’” Gonzaque explained. “They were asking me why I felt there was so much anger between the police and the minority
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community. I said because there’re no minorities involved in hiring police officers, and until you change that it’s not going to change because everybody’s looking at everybody else with suspicion.” Six weeks after she testified, Gonzaque was called Downtown and asked if she would serve on the oral board for the police department. She was the first minority to serve on the board. She did so for 25 years. Though public safety remains a pressing issue across the county, Gonzaque hopes that the lessons of the past can help inspire the voices of the future. “I wanted to write this book because young people really think they can’t make a difference,” Gonzaque said. “The world is here for them. I want them to know they can make a difference if they’re willing to get up and work and try. “We need to put our differences aside and say, ‘How can we work together in spite of the differences?’ That’s what I tried to do, and that’s why I started working with the police. … You have to go and meet with the people that you’re going to work with, and you can make a difference.”
“To Protect and Serve: The Volunteer World of Ozie Bell Gonzaque” amzn.to/3Mf9inU
Ozie Bell Gonzaque worked with controversial past LAPD Chief William Parker to change the department’s relationship with the community. Chris Mortenson/Staff Photographer
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MAY 16, 2022
SPORTS
New book recalls Ohtani’s climb to the top By Jeff Moeller LA Downtown News Contributing Writer ngels two-way star Shohei Ohtani has accumulated a variety of awards following his magical 2021 season in which he piled home runs at the plate and strikeouts on the mound. He was awarded American League Most Valuable Player, Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award, Louisville Silver Slugger Award, All-MLB First Team as a Designated Hitter, All MLB Second Team as a Pitcher, Sporting News MLB Player of the Year, MLB Players Association Player of the Year and American League Outstanding Player of the Year, in addition to All MLB Network. While it would likely make a good movie, it surely could make for a great book. That was the bet of veteran baseball writer Jeff Fletcher. He started penning a book on the global baseball sensation a few years ago. As he witnessed Ohtani’s historic 2021 season, the project got revived in October. The timing was perfect. “Those of us who watched Ohtani all season could get to a point where we took him for granted, so I tried to often take a step back and remind myself how incredible his season was,” Fletcher said. “Sometimes it was as simple as tweeting something like, ‘Yesterday’s starting pitcher just hit his second homer of the game.’ “I have been lucky to see all of Ohtani’s career with the Angels, from the first day in 2018. That’s helped me appreciate his greatness in 2021 and the hard work it took to get him there.” Fletcher spent the MLB lockout researching and putting the finishing touches on “SHO-TIME: The Inside Story of Shohei Ohtani and the Greatest Baseball Season Ever Player,” which is set to hit shelves in July. “The simplest description is to say that he did something that no one in baseball had done in more than 100 years, but it’s actually even better than that,” Fletcher said. “When Babe Ruth was a two-way player in 1918 and 1919, he was really only a pitcher about half the time. Ohtani pitched and hit from wire to wire. “It’s safe to say that the depth of talent in the majors was much higher in 2021 than 1919, so performing at that level for a full season as a two-way player was much harder for Ohtani than it was for Ruth. The title of the book refers to Ohtani’s season as ‘the greatest baseball season ever played,’ and I don’t believe that’s hyperbole.”
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Shohei Ohtani has won numerous awards, leading to his upcoming book. Angels/Submitted
What Fletcher covered daily as the Angels beat writer for the Orange County Register/Southern California News Group was unreal, he said. Despite what Ohtani was already doing being anything but normal — considering he hits and pitches at the game’s highest level — what he did last year was profound. Ohtani blasted 46 home runs, and his .965 OPS mark was the second highest in the American League. In addition to the power, he brought speed in the form of 26 stolen bases. And, of course, he pitched — which included him toeing the rubber as the starting pitcher at the All-Star Game at Coors Field in Colorado. Ohtani compiled 130 1/3 innings on the mound with the Angels with a 3.18 ERA and provided plenty of swing and miss en route to 156 strikeouts. All of this led to him leading Major League Baseball in Wins Above Replacement, or WAR, at 9.1. Fletcher knows a lot of the attention on his book will focus on the 2021 campaign, and the headlines Ohtani initially made when he left his native Japan and signed with the Halos. “A lot of people knew about the Ohtani
hype when he came over in 2018, and then everyone saw what he did in 2021, but in between a lot of things happened in his career that created a lot of skeptics,” he said. “I wanted to take people along the whole roller coaster ride to see just how he accomplished what he did in 2021.” In 2018, the eyes of the baseball world were on Anaheim. Ohtani’s arrival generated a lot of fanfare and hoopla. Due to his unrivaled skill set, the comparisons to Ruth were inevitable. After arriving in the United States, however, Ohtani’s pitching career looked to be in jeopardy. After showing early flashes of brilliance, he had Tommy John surgery, which led to 15 months of rehab. Then, in 2020, the COVID-19-shortened season limited him to just two starts. There was a lot of doubt if Ohtani would see his dual role all the way through. Fletcher knew there was a great story to tell. “The first step was thoroughly researching his upbringing in Japan and his career in Nippon Professional Baseball,” he said. “I did all of that when I began the book back in 2018. I still had that material when I resumed the project in 2021. At
that point, I mostly needed to go back through the hundreds of stories I had written about Ohtani for the Southern California News Group from 2018 to 2021. “All of that told, (that is) about 75% of the story. The final piece was to go back and do additional interviews with people to fill in the gaps in the narrative, and also to add some historical context. I learned a lot about Babe Ruth and the great twoway players in the Negro Leagues. I also dug into the modern methods that Driveline uses to help major leaguers maximize their talent.” Fletcher has covered hundreds of baseball players. Being in and around the 27-year-old Ohtani, he said, is different. After all, he has a corps of 20 to 30 reporters who follow him daily, and his English is limited. “The amount of detail the Japanese media wants about Ohtani is fascinating,” Fletcher said. “They will record each swing he takes in batting practice. They will note every time he uses a different bat or holds his glove in a different way. Even among the United States media, there is intense interest in what Ohtani does, probably more than with any other player in the majors. “The access is obviously difficult.
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“SHO-TIME: The Inside Story of Shohei Ohtani and the Greatest Baseball Season Ever Player” will be released in July. Submitted
Ohtani only conducts group interviews, and they are usually only after he pitches or has a particularly big game offensively. Reporters don’t have the opportunity to casually chat with him at his locker and get to know him the way we would with a player like Mike Trout.” Ohtani’s teammate, Trout is widely regarded as one of the game’s greatest players, yet he doesn’t have the most media scrutiny. Despite the success and fame, Ohtani is popular within the structure of the team. He is known for his easygoing demeanor and his innate ability to always have fun. Ohtani’s manager, the affable Joe Mad-
don, penned the book’s foreword. “His joy for the game cannot be overstated,” Maddon said of Ohtani. “With all of the success he’s had, he still has that joy.” Fletcher said he takes great satisfaction in the final product. “I had never written a book before, so it was quite a feeling to actually see it and hold it in my hands,” he said. “I am grateful that I was in the right place at the right time to be able to chronicle this story. Hopefully years from now, people will still refer to the book to learn about that remarkable season.”
“SHO-TIME: The Inside Story of Shohei Ohtani and the Greatest Baseball Season Ever Player” jefffletcherwrites.com
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MAY 16, 2022
SPORTS
Dodgers add special events to calendar By LA Downtown News Staff he Los Angeles Dodgers are celebrating Pride and adding a second night to Pups at the Park this season. Pups at the Park sold out its first date on May 14, thereby encouraging the staff to add a second event on Monday, Sept. 5. Presented by Lucy Pet Foods, Pups at the Park will see the Dodgers taking on their rivals the San Francisco Giants at 7:10 p.m. Dodger fans can purchase a ticket package for the right field pavilion and bring their dog to the game. Prior to the game, fans will be able to parade their dog for a walk around the warning track. On both dates, the Lucy Pet Foods dog, Macho, will lead the parade. Macho set the Guinness World Record for the fastest dog touching all the bases at a Major League Stadium at Dodger Stadium in 2021. Seats in the right field pavilion are limited and must be purchased through dodgers.com/pups after signing a waiver. The first 40,000 fans attending the game on May 14 will also receive a bonus, as the Dodgers will honor one of their Hall of Fame pitchers in the late great Don Drysdale with a bobblehead night. On Friday, June 3, the Dodgers will don custom on-field pride caps as the organization celebrates its ninth LGBTQ+ Night, presented by Blue Shield of California, at Dodger Stadium on June 3. These special caps will also be sold at the Top of the Park and the Left Field Team store, while supplies last. Eight days later, history will be made in San Francisco on June 11 as both the Dodgers and Giants take the field at Oracle Park in San Francisco wearing their respective team’s pride caps. “The Los Angeles Dodgers are proud to stand with and recognize the LGBTQ+ community in Los Angeles and globally,” said Stan Kasten, president and chief executive officer, Los Angeles Dodgers. “The Dodgers have a history of breaking barriers, and we’re proud to be a part of another chapter in MLB history as the Dodgers and Giants each wear their team’s pride caps on June 11. While our organizations have a long-storied rivalry on the field, we stand together when it comes to equality for all.” Erik Braverman, senior vice president of marketing, communications and broadcasting, added, “The Dodgers annual Pride Night has become one of the most anticipated nights of the season. I am incredibly proud to have the added element of the on-field caps this year. I look forward to sharing these historic games with members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies.” Fans who purchase a special ticket package to the June 3 game will receive an exclusive commemorative Dodger LGBTQ+ game jersey. Special guests and activities will take place prior and during the game. For the complete list of events and to purchase tickets, visit dodgers.com/lapride. Additionally, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation will donate 50% of the proceeds of the 50/50 raffle to the Los Angeles LGBT Center, the world’s largest provider of programs and services for LGBT individuals. For a complete list of special events and theme games, please visit dodgers.com/events. For more information, or to purchase 15 or more tickets, email grouptix@ladodgers.com.
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The first few years of a child’s life are critical for their development. Children at risk of a developmental delay, or showing any signs of delay, may qualify for intervention and services through the Early Start program of California. Across the state of California, the Early Start program is coordinated by all 21 regional centers. With the guidance of service coordinators, an individualized plan for services and supports can make a difference in a child’s development. For individuals over the age of 3, the regional centers also provide lifelong services and supports from the school age years through adulthood, including service coordination, individual service planning, education related advocacy and training In partnership with the Family Resource Centers, parents and family members may receive parent-to-parent support, guidance, information and referrals to community resources. Due to the decline in referrals during the COVID-19 State of Emergency, it is important to know that your local regional center remains open and is accepting referrals. Although some regional center staff may be working remotely, they continue to work hard to ensure your child is receiving the services they need. To find out exactly which regional center would serve your family, please visit dds.ca.gov/services or dds.ca.gov/listings Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center 3303 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90010 (213) 383-1300 or (213) 252-5600 kyrc@lanterman.org | www.lanterman.org
MAY 16, 2022
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It’s time to VOTE It’s once again time to show your favorite DTLA businesses some love! From May 23rd to June 23rd, you can vote for your favorite DTLA businesses simply by going to ladowntownnews.com – look for the Best of DTLA “VOTE” button. You can vote one time per device per day! Voting starts at noon on May 23 and closes at noon on June 23. If you have a business and would like to be involved in the Best of DTLA this year, please contact Catherine Holloway at 213-308-2261 or Michael Lamb 213-453-3548
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The Los Angeles Dodgers are adding a second night to Pups at the Park due to demand. Dodgers/Submitted
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MAY 16, 2022
ARTS & CULTURE
Alice Merton shares her truthful ‘S.I.D.E.S.’ on new album By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor Singer-songwriter Alice Mer ton cares about truth in music. With her upcoming sophomore effort, “S.I.D.E.S.,” she continues that message. “I write songs that are very honest to my life,” she said via Zoom from her London home. “I feel like if I continue to do so, then I’ll always have fun doing it. I’ll always feel like I’m helping myself understand certain things and sometimes even having others love something that I love. I like sharing music with people.” Merton’s “S.I.D.E.S.” is set for a June 17 release. As indicated by previous singles — “Same Team,” “Vertigo” and “Hero” — Merton’s upcoming record hints at her style and sound evolution since her debut. Sonically, it’s darker, drawing on angsty modern pop, altrock and other abrasive sounds, while its themes are deeper and more introspective but with a twinge of hope. “It’s definitely different from the first album (‘Mint’),” Merton said. “I would say it’s a little bit darker. It’s a little bit more introspective. It talks a lot about what I experienced during COVID — not just viewing how everything was affecting people’s lives, but also kind of going into my very own personal experience of what happened in that time to me.” Fans can hear select songs from “S.I.D.E.S.” and “Mint” when she opens for Bastille on Friday, May 20, at the YouTube Theater. “ The songs will be tested for the first time in America,” she said. “We have had the chance to play some of them in Europe last year, when things opened up a little bit. We still couldn’t travel to the States. “It’ll just be interesting to see how many people enjoy the songs and the music.” Mer ton has more than 1 billion global streams, with her breakthrough debut single “No Roots” becoming a hit with 825 million-plus streams, more than 1 million sales worldwide, and the same number of creations on TikTok. After 2018’s “Mint,” she was the No. 4 most Shazamed artist that year. Fast forward to May 13 when she released one of her most personal songs from
“S.I.D.E.S.,” “Loveback.” “It’s about that feeling you get when you give someone something and you want it back,” Merton said. “ That’s how I viewed love at one time. I felt like I was giving something to someone, and I just wasn’t receiving it. I imagined it being like the Philosopher’s Stone and Harry Potter and you want it back.” D u r i n g t h e CO V I D - 1 9 q u a r a n tine, Merton wanted her life back. A self-proclaimed hypochondriac, Merton didn’t want to leave her apartment. “In the beginning, we just didn’t know how dangerous it was,” she said. “I felt very nervous the whole time, and it was so sad to see what was going on. I just couldn’t believe my eyes, to be honest. I read the news every day, and I just didn’t want to get up. I stayed in bed and felt awful for about a month. Then, I realized I couldn’t do that for the rest of my life.” Seeing the news of elderly people dying and then finding out peers could get COVID-19, too, was troubling for Merton. “In the end, I feel like everyone is going to have it,” she said. “I had it a few months ago, but the problem is I have asthma. It took my lungs about five weeks to normalize. I couldn’t sing during that time. I couldn’t. I had problems breathing. Even with being vaccinated, it was really scary to me because, for the first time, I thought, ‘Wow, I could literally lose my job because of this.’ That made me feel awful.” Telling her story is nothing new to Merton. When she was younger, she enjoyed writing poems. She was shy, but she enjoyed playing others’ works on piano. At age 5, Merton started taking classical piano lessons and practiced daily. Singing lessons came next, dabbling in musicals, arias and classical music. When she was 17, she discovered the joy of songwriting. “It was a course at my school that they offered,” she said. “I signed up, and I wrote my first song. I didn’t even know how to write songs back then. “But I could share my emotions, my experiences, and write for a public who’s going to understand. That is the real joy.”
German English Canadian singer-songwriter Alice Merton is touring in support of her forthcoming album, “S.I.D.E.S.” She’ll open for Bastille on Friday, May 20, at the YouTube Theater. Danny Jungslund/Submitted
Bastille w/Alice Merton WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday, May 20 WHERE: YouTube Theater, 1011 S. Stadium Drive, Inglewood COST: Tickets start at $38 INFO: ticketmaster.com
MAY 16, 2022
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CLASSIFIEDS
New Kids on the Block will perform at Crypto.com Arena on Friday, May 27. Austin Hargrave/Submitted
Microsoft Theater, Crypto.com Arena announce new shows By LA Downtown News Staff he Microsoft Theater and Crypto.com Arena are hosting a slew of shows in the next couple of months, proving that concerts are back. For tickets, visit cryptoarena.com or microsofttheater.com.
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Microsoft Theater • Pedro Fernandez: Friday, May 20 • Dragon Ball Symphonic Adventure: Saturday, May 21 • Alejandra Guzman and Paulina Rubio: Sunday, May 22 • Volver Juntas: Saturday, June 4 • Gerardo Ortiz: Saturday, July 9 • Funk ‘N Soul Fest: Saturday, July 16 • Eden Munoz: Friday, July 29 • Your Real-Life Playlist: Saturday, July 30 • Bud Light Seltzer Sessions with Teo Gonzalez and Rogelio Ramos: Saturday, Aug. 6 • Los Inquietos Del Norte: Friday, Aug. 12 • Russell Peters: Saturday, Aug. 13 • ’70s Soul Jam: Friday, Aug. 26 • Distant Worlds: Saturday, Sept. 24 • Salt N Pepa, Bell Biv DeVoe and Ginuwine: Saturday, Oct. 1 • Prince Royce: Friday, Oct. 7 • Intocable: Saturday, Oct. 8 • Camilo: Friday, Oct. 14 Crypto.com Arena • New Kids on the Block: Friday, May 27 • Pancho Barraza: Saturday, June 18 • Nick Cannon Presents: MTV “Wild ‘N Out :” Sunday, June 26 • Bronco: Friday, July 22 • Miel San Marcos: Saturday, July 23 • Maverick City Music x Kirk Franklin: Sunday, July 24 • James Taylor: Thursday, July 28 • The Lumineers: Friday, July 29 • Shawn Mendes: Friday, Sept. 10, to Saturday, Sept. 10 • Michael Buble: Friday, Sept. 23 • Morgan Wallen: Saturday, Sept. 24 and Sunday, Sept. 24 • Roger Waters: Tuesday, Sept. 27, and Wednesday, Sept. 28 • Pepe Aguilar: Friday, Oct. 14, and Saturday, Oct. 15 • Karol G: Friday, Oct. 21, and Saturday, Oct. 22 • Wisin Y Yandel: Saturday, Nov. 26
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