This excellent mini-documentary, directed by Tom MacVicar, takes you inside a corner of LA’s music scene where boundaries are pushed and new sounds are invented.

Freddie Gibbs releases his latest, ESGN on July 9th. For now here’s a preview with this hard track called “One Eighty Seven”. First spotted on Passion of the Weiss which has a great writeup of the track.

Edrina Martinez, better known as Astronautica, has emerged as a rising artist in LA’s globally-recognized beat scene. She’s found a home at Alpha Pup records, played Low End and Coachella already this year, and is getting amazing reviews for her debut record. Please enjoy this Q&A with someone you’ll want to keep your eye on…

What’s your favorite taco spot in LA?
I have a couple- my friend recently took me to El Chavo in Silverlake, I LOVE potato tacos, and they did a pretty good job there, plus they have really awesome margaritas. I’m a big fan of patio dining and they have a really cool spot.

I also really like Guisados.

Where did you grow up? Where did you go to High School?
I grew up in San Dimas and went to an all girls Catholic High School called St. Lucy’s in Glendora.

(Continued)

Antonio Luis Mendez AKA Lindsey Lowend, has been putting up tracks on Soundcloud for about year. All of them are free downloads and some of them are bound to make people ask you “ahh who did that tune?” (especially Bar Harbor) next time you put it on a mix or play it at a party. His latest is “Sevens” and its got the same mystical vibes as his earlier releases; video game music influences are a bit more obvious on this one, but it’s got the requisite amount of bass and more then its fair share of skittering hi-hats.

We love the Dodgers and consider Harry Nilson one of the great L.A. songwriters of the 1970′s, so it’s a wonder we’ve never heard of this song until today. Channeling the rock ‘n’ roll energy of a tune like “Jump Into the Fire” this simple Yo Dodger Blue / LA Loves You refrain is catchy and should be played in the Stadium and on TV. You can download the track via MediaFire here. Via this excellent Harry Nilson blog and Craig Robinson.

We know at least three things about BANKS: her voice will get your attention from the very first note, she works with some of the most interesting producers around, and she lives in Los Angeles. Here’s her latest video for the slow-jam Warm Water produced by Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs.

Kaytranada is on a remixing tear, check out everything on his soundcloud for some fun times. This summery remix of Snakehips‘ On and On is sadly not available as a free download, but it does come with the single version of the tune on itunes. Kaytranada is signed to LA’s Huh, What & Where.

Kingdom is the LA-based boss of record label Fade to Mind, who put on quite a display in their live takeover of the Boiler Room on Wednesday night. Here’s a free download (which Kingdom played in his BR set) of his edit of Cassy’s All My Love from her mixtape released earlier this month.

Ozomatli represent Los Angeles worldwide like no one else on the planet. Check out 4 questions with Ozo, a video interview conducted by RYO1. Meet the band, find out what they’re working on at East West Studios, hear some inside stories, and more…

Ray Manzarek, keyboardist for The Doors, has passed away at the age of 74. Manzarek, instrumental in giving the group its distinct sound, founded the band with Jim Morrison in 1965 after the two had a chance encounter in Venice, reuniting the two UCLA film school friends. Following Morrison’s passing, Ray performed with Iggy Pop, wrote two novels, and produced the first four albums by another iconic Los Angeles band, X, among his many other artistic accomplishments. Manzarek is survived by his wife, son, and grandchildren, and will live on in perpetuity through the dozens of riffs, melodies, and solos he created and performed via piano, electric keyboard, and Vox Continental organ on The Doors’ most legendary songs. Rest in power, Ray, we’ll miss you.