Murals Radio mixes

This mix of house music is in appreciation of the timeless artistry of Larry Heard (aliases: Mr. Fingers, Loosefingers, Trio Zero, ... ). Joyful music tinged with vulnerability, empathy and emotional depth... perhaps well suited to provide comfort as a plant uproots itself from tropical terrain and attempts to root again in unaccustomed earth that has both rocks and nourishing soil. Inspired by the kind words of a friend ~ a second room, a second chance. Really grateful I have an opportunity to stitch these tracks together for the one year anniversary of Murals.

I don't really have a very intentional track list for this mix, but i pulled from the following albums by Larry Heard and mixed them in the flow in one session:
Alien
Black Oceans
Dance 2000
Dance Tracs
Genesis
Glancing at the Moon
Ice Castles
Love's Arrival
Sceneries Not Songs
Virtual Emotion/Supernova
Where Life Begins

Really enjoy listening to an album through in order to appreciate it as a cohesive work. Please feel free to email murals.radio@gmail.com for suggestions and inquiries.

Murals 12: Mr. Fingers/Larry Heard mix

I put together this 2 hour mix of garage house ~ a crucial and recurring stop in my appreciation of American dance music over the years. Completely inspired by moments of real joy, energy and pure sublimation on the dance floor. This particular mix contains tracks produced by Blaze, Kerri Chandler, George Morel, Louie Vega, Todd Edwards and others. Happy to share the playlist as I figure it out. Mixed by ear on digital controllers so there is a human touch a discerning ear will definitely detect. I will broadcast a section of this mix for the next episode of the radio show on Lower grand (Nov 4th).

As you enjoy this mix, please consider contributing to the secure housing fund for my friend Kevin. They are loving, gracious, a talented drag queen and a resourceful fashionista:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-secure-housing-for-kevin

Murals 13: Garage House Special

"My youth inspired this music set. Growing up in my home was a musical journey. My parents had an eclectic ear for music and a collection of vinyl records they loved to play. Something was always on in the background, from country and western, classic rock to soul, jazz, and everything in between. As a child, I remember being surrounded by the sound of music, and it created a warm and inviting atmosphere that I will always cherish.

I remember my mom and dad dancing to Latin beats in the living room and sitting in the garage with my dad as jazz played on the cassette player. I remember going to an outdoor music festival with one of my cousins, dancing to Cal Tjader and Mongo Santamaria in the grass, cruising in a friend's Lowrider, and listening to oldies. I love it when you hear an old song playing, bringing back a flood of memories."

- Juanita

For the two year anniversary of this mix series, I have the immense pleasure of inviting Juanita MORE! She is a beacon of warmth, familial love, community and consideration in the San Francisco queer community. I was drawn to her work benefiting those who are at the fringes of the queer and trans community in the bay area, all with a panache for playfulness and glamor. I approached her with much trepidation during a book signing event at a small local book store. It's with incredible gratitude that I am able to present this mix that Juanita has created for us. You can find the detailed tracklist and a few more links to learn about her work and her commitment to the local queer community in the substack article here: https://frescoes.substack.com/p/when-you-understand

The mixtape was played on the October 6th episode of Murals and can also be heard on the lower grand radio mixcloud here:
https://www.mixcloud.com/lowergrandradio/murals-w-juanita-more-10062023/

Murals 24: Juanita MORE!

“On my kitchen wall hang four snapshots of graffiti art I first saw on construction walls as I walked to my teaching job at Yale University years ago. The declaration, “The search for love continues even in the face of great odds,” was painted in bright colors. At the time, recently separated from a partner of almost fifteen years, I was often overwhelmed by grief so profound it seemed as though an immense sea of pain was washing my heart and soul away. Overcome by sensations of being pulled underwater, drowning, I was constantly searching for anchors to keep me afloat, to pull me back safely to the shore. The declaration on the construction walls with its childlike drawing of unidentifiable animals always lifted my spirits. Whenever I passed this site, the affirmation of love’s possibility sprawling across the block gave me hope.” 

bell hooks, from the introductory chapter to ~All About Love: New Visions~ titled “Grace: Touched by Love”

Full tracklist and more info here on substack: https://frescoes.substack.com/p/afterglow

Much gratitude to lower grand radio in Oakland for hosting my monthly radio show on first Fridays each month. Thank you for letting me play exactly what I want to play.

Murals 26: All About Love (House mix)

I don’t love you as if you were a rose of salt, topaz,   
or arrow of carnations that propagate fire:   
I love you as one loves certain obscure things,   
secretly, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that doesn’t bloom but carries   
the light of those flowers, hidden, within itself,   
and thanks to your love the tight aroma that arose   
from the earth lives dimly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,   
I love you directly without problems or pride:
I love you like this because I don’t know any other way to love,
except in this form in which I am not nor are you,   
so close that your hand upon my chest is mine,   
so close that your eyes close with my dreams.

- Pablo Neruda
One Hundred Love Sonnets: XVII
(translated by Mark Eisner)

I recall a summer afternoon spent on the beach in a golden haze with a good friend I love with all my spirit. And in this specific instance of real love, I find in myself the ability to experience love and gratitude for everything. What does 'agape' mean to you?

https://frescoes.substack.com/

Murals 27: Ocean Beach

The places we frequent or find refuge in have a way of staying with us. Cafe (caffe?) mediterraneum was one of those cozy cafes in the east bay that had a life of its own. The Telegraph avenue area and south side of the UC Berkeley campus has always been a neighborhood with beautiful murals, bookstores, record shops and a public park. Cafe mediterraneum added to the charm by hosting a gathering place for different communities and sometimes would turn into something quite different from a quiet cafe. In the memory of this institution, I find a lot of joy and warmth that I can summon in my quietest moments. Channeling some of this energy into a mix full of love and warmth has been a delight.

Read more: https://frescoes.substack.com/p/infinitesimals

Murals 28: Cafe Mediterraneum

Grains of sand filtering through our fingers and blown away by the wind: an image that recalls the inexorable passage of time. It is undeniable human nature to seek guidance, hope, a light or a sense of direction. This mix captures some of these feelings while trying to remind ourselves that we must fully inhabit each present moment. These moments can also include fun, joy and celebration.

Perhaps some thoughts to keep in mind as we let our actions guide us to the future:
~ What are the invariants of our lives? What values do I hope to conserve as time goes on?
~ What generates movement? What energizes us into action?
~ What is the proper sequence of activities that leads to a certain meaningful outcome?
~ How can we appreciate the seasons and natural oscillations of life and the earth (of which we are an integral component)?

Reference: J. J. Sakurai, Modern Quantum Mechanics, Chapter 2: Quantum Dynamics

Murals 29: Divination

It's very hard to describe the mindful experience of dancing, engaging with art or even being fully immersed in understanding a concept. We may go so far as to say 'you either get it or you don't' (you either got it or you don't?) However, we make a valiant attempt - we entice a listener with beautiful art, the promise of energy, fun and perhaps even a moment of enlightenment on the dancefloor. This mix is dedicated to warmth, energy and such ineffable feelings that the more we try to describe them, the more amorphous they become. The words lose meaning and we are left even more confused than we began. I hope you overcome this, accept the limitations of our attempts and still thoroughly enjoy the listening experience.

Read more here: https://shorturl.at/X6Yg2

This particular mix has 81 tracks. I am infinitely grateful to the artists who produce this music.

Murals 30: Complementarity

"I was angry with my friend; 
I told my wrath, my wrath did end."

A mural is any piece of graphic artwork that is painted or applied directly to a wall, ceiling or other permanent substrate.

Murals is also a live radio show aired first Friday afternoons (3:30-4:30 pm PST) on the Lower Grand Radio website in real time. The mix series is approximately synchronized with radio broadcasts.

Hosted on lower grand radio by @mayajaal-indrajaal

Murals radio pays respect to elders both past and present. 

Read more here: 
https://frescoes.substack.com

Hope you enjoy listening

San Francisco Bay Area

Murals

Pinned to spotlight

Popular tracks