Hello, my name is Naz Kawakami. I’m the Editor in Chief of Monster Children, based in New York City. Did you know that for a number of years, I was a radio DJ? You probably did because I never shut the fuck up about it. My show was called Night Drive, every Thursday from midnight to 3AM. Those were good times. A lot of sex, drugs, and partying were done in that little Honolulu radio studio. None of it done by me, but it’s still cool to think about. 

Anyway, since taking this Editor job, I spend most of my day the way I spent my days as a DJ: listening to music. Some good, some bad. Some old, some new. Every Friday, I compile the week’s worth of music into a playlist. Songs we’ve been enjoying, songs we’ve just (re)discovered, and songs that offer a preview into what features we have coming out soon. Not the newest, not the rarest, just good music. The mood of the week over at the MC New York City office for you to judge and enjoy. 

Last weekend, I flew to Salt Lake City to do a bunch of press at Kilby Block Party. I hate festivals, and believe them to be the worst format in which to see live music. Why would you want to see your favorite band at 1pm in the blistering sun in a dusty field somewhere in the middle of fucking nowhere, sipping your $10 bottle of water, eating a giant hot dog, all from a quarter mile away from the stage and behind five thousand people who only know one song? I made an exception for Kilby Block Party because the line up could easily be described as inexplicable. The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Walkmen, Run The Jewels, Deerhoof, Pixies, Frankie Cosmos, Momma, Pavement, Alex G - the list goes on and on and on. It was as though festival organizers read this website as well as my diary and crafted a lineup specifically tailored to our taste.

All of that being said, this weeks playlist features those listed above. A little taste of Kilby for those who couldn’t make it. We did a heck of a lot of press while we were there, so this playlist also works as a forecast of the sort of content, artists, and coverage we will be rolling out throughout the summer. Good times. Have a good weekend.

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