Honored to be the first guest DJ that @tfalpodcast invited to talk about DJing amongst other things! Thanks for inviting me, Producer Mike! Good chatting with you, Joe, Ryan, and one of our #OPMSundays regulars Lainey!
Let me know if you give it a listen! I apologize ahead if I was too magulo. I was a bit hyped up from DJing 4x that day.
Listen here: ThisFilipinoAmericanLife.com or wherever you get your podcasts.
This Filipino American Life - New Episode!
Episode 145 - Les is More: Mixing It Up with "Les The DJ" Talusan
Can you believe that, in the five years that we’ve been doing this podcast about Filipino American Life, somehow we have neglected to talk to a DJ about DJing?! Neither can we, especially since Producer Mike is a collector and curator of vinyl himself!
Though DJing may be as old as vinyl records themselves, the artform as we know it today really came together through the efforts of Black and Latinx pioneers, whose sound selections, skills, and techniques were rooted in long-standing rhythmic traditions and were honed for the masses in backyards, at block parties, and underground clubs. And as with many forms of popular art that originated with those communities, those styles were were adopted and adapted the world over, including by DJs in the Philippines and throughout the diaspora.
Which brings us to our guest for this episode, Les Talusan, aka Les the DJ. Based out of Piscataway Land / Washington, DC, originally from Caloocan City, Manilla, Philippines, Les Talusan is a DJ, photographer, curator, teaching artist, and organizer whose practice immerses people in the joy of discovery, empowerment, and community. And most importantly (for us anyways), Les is the opening half of our favorite weekly ritual, #OPMSundays on Twitch, where she and past (first!) guest of the podcast Joel Quizon play Original Pilipino Music from the Philippines and throughout the diaspora.
Listen to this episode at ThisFilipinoAmericanLife.com or wherever you get your podcasts.
You can catch #OPMSundays and Les’ other sets on her Twitch page at https://www.twitch.tv/lestalusan. Also, check out @lestalusan for info on other events and gigs.
And show your love for OPM by picking up our Chicken Joy Division shirt at our storefront!
