

Live on KEXP
KEXP
Live on KEXP brings you the very best of KEXP’s world-renowned live in-studio and remote performances. Each week, we’ll bring you a new live session, from emerging artists to well-established acts, spanning styles, genres and cultures. Full video of all Live on KEXP performances available at youtube.com/kexp.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 26, 2025 • 27min
Chicha Libre
On the show this time, it's the Peruvian-influenced, rock n roll-cumbia, of Chicha Libre. Chicha Libre is the Brooklyn-based psychedelic-cumbia band, formed by Olivier Conan in the early 2000’s. They are non-traditional, avoiding claims to specific authenticity. Instead they borrow what sparks interest, absorbing not only Peruvian chicha, but also Afrobeat, Cuban danzón, and parts of North American country music. They’ve released an EP - Cuatro tigres, and two studio albums - Sonido Amazonico! and Canibalismo - all available on Bandcamp and their own Barbés Records imprint. Recorded May 6, 2025 Tres Pasajeros Danza De Los Simpsons Danza Del Millonario El Borrachito Popcorn Andino Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 26, 2025 • 32min
Chicha Libre [Performance & Interview Only]
On the show this time, it's the Peruvian-influenced, rock n roll-cumbia, of Chicha Libre. Chicha Libre is the Brooklyn-based psychedelic-cumbia band, formed by Olivier Conan in the early 2000’s. They are non-traditional, avoiding claims to specific authenticity. Instead they borrow what sparks interest, absorbing not only Peruvian chicha, but also Afrobeat, Cuban danzón, and parts of North American country music. They’ve released an EP - Cuatro tigres, and two studio albums - Sonido Amazonico! and Canibalismo - all available on Bandcamp and their own Barbés Records imprint. Recorded May 6, 2025 Tres Pasajeros Danza De Los Simpsons Danza Del Millonario El Borrachito Popcorn Andino Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 19, 2025 • 26min
Yukimi
On the show this time, it’s the R&B-electronica solo record of Little Dragon front-human Yukimi. Yukimi is a Swedish singer and songwriter, known for starting the band Little Dragon with her high schoolmates and for her collaboration with Gorillaz on their Plastic Beach album. Her stunning vocals have been featured on tracks by DJ Shadow, De La Soul and Odesza. She’s performed with Jose Gonzalez, with whom she shares a hometown - they are both from the city of Gothenburg. She’s recorded a solo record titled For You and released it on Ninja Tune in 2025. Recorded April 30, 2025 Elinam Stream of Consciousness Sad Makeup Rules of School Runaway Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 19, 2025 • 28min
Yukimi [Performance & Interview Only]
On the show this time, it’s the R&B-electronica solo record of Little Dragon front-human Yukimi. Yukimi is a Swedish singer and songwriter, known for starting the band Little Dragon with her high schoolmates and for her collaboration with Gorillaz on their Plastic Beach album. Her stunning vocals have been featured on tracks by DJ Shadow, De La Soul and Odesza. She’s performed with Jose Gonzalez, with whom she shares a hometown - they are both from the city of Gothenburg. She’s recorded a solo record titled For You and released it on Ninja Tune in 2025. Recorded April 30, 2025 Elinam Stream of Consciousness Sad Makeup Rules of School Runaway Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 12, 2025 • 37min
Bab L’ Bluz [Performance & Interview Only]
On the show this time, it’s the Guembri driven Moroccan rock of Bab L’ Bluz. Bab L’ Bluz is at its core a duo: singer/guitarist Yousra Mansour and producer/guitarist Brice Bottin. A shared love for Moroccan Gnawa music led them to learn how to play the Guembri – a kind of 3 stringed bass instrument – and its smaller relative the Awisha. They started a rock band, using those instruments to take the roles respectively of bass and guitar. They released their first album Nayda! in 2020. Their latest is called Swaken and it is available on Real World Records. Recorded May 5, 2025 Ila Mata Imazighen IWAIWA FUNK AmmA Hezalli Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 12, 2025 • 28min
Bab L’ Bluz
On the show this time, it’s the Guembri driven Moroccan rock of Bab L’ Bluz. Bab L’ Bluz is at its core a duo: singer/guitarist Yousra Mansour and producer/guitarist Brice Bottin. A shared love for Moroccan Gnawa music led them to learn how to play the Guembri – a kind of 3 stringed bass instrument – and its smaller relative the Awisha. They started a rock band, using those instruments to take the roles respectively of bass and guitar. They released their first album Nayda! in 2020. Their latest is called Swaken and it is available on Real World Records. Recorded May 5, 2025 Ila Mata Imazighen IWAIWA FUNK AmmA Hezalli Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 5, 2025 • 25min
Maribou State
On the show this time, it’s the hook-laden, R&B chill-groove of English electronica producers Maribou State. Chris Davids and Liam Ivory have been releasing music as Maribou State since 2011. They grew up just north of London, and started making music together when they met in school. In addition to creating their own music, they have had success as remixers for artists like Lana Del Ray and Fatboy Slim. They’ve built a community of musicians and collaboration is a large part of their process. Their latest offering is their third full-length album, Hallucinating Love, out now via Ninja Tune. Recorded April 4, 2025 Otherside Bloom All I Need Blackoak Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 5, 2025 • 23min
Maribou State [Performance & Interview Only]
On the show this time, it’s the hook-laden, R&B chill-groove of English electronica producers Maribou State. Chris Davids and Liam Ivory have been releasing music as Maribou State since 2011. They grew up just north of London, and started making music together when they met in school. In addition to creating their own music, they have had success as remixers for artists like Lana Del Ray and Fatboy Slim. They’ve built a community of musicians and collaboration is a large part of their process. Their latest offering is their third full-length album, Hallucinating Love, out now via Ninja Tune. Recorded April 4, 2025 Otherside Bloom All I Need Blackoak Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 29, 2025 • 39min
maya ongaku [Performance & Interview Only]
On the show this time, it’s motorik psych-rock from a Japanese beach, with maya ongaku. They hail from the island of Enoshima, famed for a shrine to Buddhist deity Benzaiten. They play long-form psych rock, sometimes meditative, sometimes folky, sometimes jazzy. Their debut Approach to Anima features quiet singing, fingerstyle guitars, ambient recordings of bird calls, acoustic percussion, flute and saxophone, and spoken word. Their latest EP Electronic Phantoms leans more towards drum machines for the rhythm samples, and rich synth-tronica to balance the guitars. Both are available on Guruguru Brain. Recorded April 8, 2025 Anoyo Drive Melting Iyo no Hito Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 29, 2025 • 28min
maya ongaku
On the show this time, it’s motorik psych-rock from a Japanese beach, with maya ongaku. They hail from the island of Enoshima, famed for a shrine to Buddhist deity Benzaiten. They play long-form psych rock, sometimes meditative, sometimes folky, sometimes jazzy. Their debut Approach to Anima features quiet singing, fingerstyle guitars, ambient recordings of bird calls, acoustic percussion, flute and saxophone, and spoken word. Their latest EP Electronic Phantoms leans more towards drum machines for the rhythm samples, and rich synth-tronica to balance the guitars. Both are available on Guruguru Brain. Recorded April 8, 2025 Anoyo Drive Melting Iyo no Hito Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.