Usapang OPM EPISODE 1: The Origins of OPM (Original Pilipino Music) with Roger Rigor of VST & Company and Emmie Joaquin

Yesterday, Joel Quizon and I had the pleasure of talking story with Roger Rigor (of VST & Company) and Emmie Joaquin on the first episode of Usapang OPM!

Emmie and Roger were the organizers/pioneering staff for the Metro Manila Popular Music Festival and they had very thoughtful insights on the origins of Original Pilipino Music.

We are truly honored to have them both on our show! Check out the first episode below!

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Usapang OPM features conversations on OPM (Original Pilipino Music) with artists and key players from its origins through today.  

Join DJ’s/Music Curators Les Talusan and Joel Quizon, along with special guests to talk about the roots of the movement, the creators, the songs, the untold stories, and the lasting influence. 

Flyer: Katrin Davis

SAMASAMA x Red Scarf Revolution: Chul Ch’nam Tmei

Flyer: Les Talusan

Chul Ch’nam Tmei literally meaning “enter the new year” in Khmer is a 3-day celebration of the solar new year. Also known as Sonkran, this new year is shared with many countries including Thai, Laos and Burmese neighbors. It’s a time to honor our ancestors, eat, and reflect on our blessings. 

Join SAMASAMA and Red Scarf Revolution for this year’s virtual Ch’nam Tmei celebration.

Les The DJ will be playing a live, all-vinyl set of Asian music including vintage Khmer pop, rock, and roll.

SAMASAMA & Red Scarf Revolution Presents
"Chul Ch’nam Tmey"
New Year, Same Thoughts, New Action
April 15, Thursday
5PM PT / 8PM ET
twitch.tv/lestalusan⠀⁣⁣


You don’t need a Twitch account to tune in, just click on twitch.tv/lestalusan when the event is happening but feel free to create a Twitch account to join in the chats and follow Les Talusan!

OPM Sundays // USAPANG OPM

Flyer: Katrin Davis

THIS SUNDAY, Joel Quizon and I will be debuting the first episode of USAPANG OPM with a sobrang special guest - ROGER RIGOR of VST & COMPANY and EMMIE JOAQUIN! Please save the date and join us!

USAPANG OPM features conversations on OPM (Original Pilipino Music) with artists and key players from its origins through today.  

Join DJ’s/Music Curators Les Talusan and Joel Quizon, along with special guests to talk about the roots of the movement, the creators, the songs, the untold stories, and the lasting influence. 

OPM SUNDAYS // USAPANG OPM
w/ Les Talusan and Joel Quizon
EPISODE 1: The Origins of OPM (Original Pilipino Music) with Roger Rigor of VST & Company and Emmie Joaquin
April 18, 2021, Sunday
6PM PT / 9PM ET
Tap in: twitch.tv/lestalusan

You don’t need a Twitch account to tune in but you do need one to get in the chats!

Tell your kapitbahay / neighbor!

OPM Sundays “Araw Ng Mga Puso” / Valentine’s Day Special

This Sunday’s Bahala Na! OPM Sundays (Original Pilipino Music +) happens to fall on Valentine’s Day so I will be paying tribute to some of the best 🇵🇭 love songs!

I’ll be taking song requests in advance until Saturday. Make sure you include a dedication, or better yet, a love letter for your minamahal / loved one that I’ll be reading out loud during the stream 🖤

CLICK HERE FOR SONG REQUESTS / DEDICATIONS!

Bahala Na! OPM Sundays
Araw Ng Mga Puso / Valentine’s Day Special
February 14, 2021, Sunday
6-8PM PT | 9-11PM ET
twitch.tv/lestalusan

First OPM Sundays of 2021

Tomorrow//SUNDAY is the first OPM Sundays of 2021! @joelquiz and I will be playing back to back sets of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) and covers! Here’s a dope cover of a Hollies song by Yoyoy Villame and The Embees✨⠀
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OPM SUNDAYS RAID TRICYCLE!⠀
January 3, 2021, Sunday⠀
6PM PT / 9PM ET twitch.tv/lestalusan⠀
8PM PT / 11PM ET twitch.tv/joelquizon⠀
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Tell your neighbor/kapitbahay!⠀

Last OPM Sundays of 2020

Tomorrow//SUNDAY is the last OPM Sundays of 2020! @joelquiz and I will be playing back to back sets of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) and covers!
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OPM SUNDAYS RAID TRAIN! (But just me and @joelquiz 😆)⠀
December 27, 2020, Sunday⠀
6PM PT / 9PM ET twitch.tv/lestalusan
8PM PT / 11PM ET twitch.tv/joelquizon⠀
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Tell your Lola!⠀
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Bahala Na Global Pandemic Episode No. 12

Check out the last Bahala Na episode of 2020!

Bahala Na Global Pandemic Episode No. 12 by Les The DJ

Mammani Sani Et Son Orgue "Lidda" (Sahel Sounds)
Admas "Anchi Bale Game" (Frederiksberg Records)
Transs "Kalangan Dusta" (Groovyrecord)
Cortex "Troupeau Bleu" (Trad Vibe)
Susana Estrada "¡Gózame Ya!" (Espacial Discos)
Marcos Valle "Estrelar" (Vampi Soul)
Garfield Fleming "Don't Send Me Away" (Becket Records)
Saint Etienne “Spring (Air France Remix)" (Heavenly)
Bobby Reed "The Time Is Right For Love" (Expansion)
Plustwo "Stop Fantasy" (Mothball Record)
Freeez "Can't Keep My Love" (Virgin/Beggars Banquet)
Shakatak "Maldicion A Los Chicos = Bitch To The Boys" (Polydor)
Pino D' Angio "Ma Quale Idea" (Flarenasch)
Sharon Prabhakar "Aaj Ki Raat" (Outernational Sounds)

https://www.mixcloud.com/eatonradio/bahala-na-w-les-the-dj-eaton-radio-dc-20201210

Pop-Up Fun Photo Picks!

This past Sunday, I had my first photo mini-session pop-up ever! It was a fun collab with my beautiful elf friend, Sadira - hit her up for a cut! ⠀
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Thanks for having us at Shopkeepers, Seda! Love you and your little family.⠀
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Check out a few of my favorite photos from the session and let me know if you need photos - I have a long lens and am always wearing a mask!

Holiday Photo Mini Session Pop-Up

Illu

To view Les’ work, please visit https://lestalusan.com/family-portraits and https://proofs.lestalusanphoto.com

If you need a safe outdoor haircut before your session, please contact Sadira: https://www.instagram.com/stylesbysadira

Hataw Na!

Early in the summer, I was thinking about making a mix of 🇵🇭 pop and dance hits from the late ‘80s-early ‘90s. Some of them tv and radio hits from when I was growing up in Pinas.

Vex Ruffin invited me for a guest slot on his show with possiblemusic, “Manila Times” on NTS Radio and I thought it would be a good time to finally finish and share this mix.

Check it out and let me know what you think!

Hataw Na! by Les The DJ for Manila Times

Geneva Cruz “I Like You”
Archie D. “Pakita Mo”
FOJ “Crush Kita”
Viktoria “Dance With Me (Tayo’s Magsayaw)”
Gary Valenciano “Sa Yahweh Ang Sayaw”
Ogie Alcasid ”Dito Sa Puso Ko (Pogi Remix Version)”
Rachel Alejandro “K.S.P. (Kulang Sa Pansin)”
Manilyn Reynes “Feel Na Feel”
Jamie Rivera “Sige Na Nga (Crush Din Kita)”
Randy Alejandro “Siguro”
Regine Velasquez ”Promdi”
Donna Cruz “Kapag Tumibok Ang Puso”
Ogie Alcasid “Sumayaw, Sumunod”
Gary Valenciano ”Tara Na”
Archie D. ”Kasayaw”

https://www.mixcloud.com/NTSRadio/manila-times-w-les-the-dj-30th-october-2020

ASTIG 2 Year Anniversary | A Fundraiser for Typhoon Survivors in the Philippines⠀

So stoked to be invited to participate in @astig.sound’s 2nd-year anniversary! @et_iv asked, so of course I’m down. I’ll be playing an all-vinyl set of Original Pilipino Music. Details below:⠀
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ASTIG 2 Year Anniversary A fundraiser for typhoon survivors in the Philippines⠀
November 28, 2020, Saturday⠀
6PM (ET) / 3PM (PT) / 7AM (MNL/Sunday)⠀
TAP IN and FOLLOW: twitch.tv/astigsound⠀
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Join us as we enter another musical journey through the eras and genres of sounds from the Philippines & the diaspora. This lineup is special and believe us when we say you don’t want to miss this.⠀
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Featuring sets by:⠀
@vexruffin8888⠀
@parallel_uno⠀
@lestalusan⠀
@immuzikation⠀
@tallteesound⠀
@cocomachetz⠀
#ovrrsrrr⠀
@mister_rey.beats⠀
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Plus residents DJs:⠀
@et_iv⠀
@joogmac⠀
@djhellal⠀
@lilthowwow⠀
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Donations will be collected during the stream and sent to @kidsforkidsph and to @sabokahan. Please visit their pages to find out more ways to support their efforts on the ground. Follow @astig.sound for more information about the event.

Bahala Na Global Pandemic Episode No. 11

📷 : taken by me, at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens

Check out my Bahala Na episode from November 12!

Bahala Na Global Pandemic Episode No. 11 by Les The DJ

Helen & The Horns "Footsteps At My Door" (RCA)
Altered Images "See Those Eyes" (Epic)
Bow Wow Wow "Fools Rush In" (EMI)
Miaow "When It All Comes Down" (Factory)
Veronica Falls "Bad Feeling" (Slumberland Records)
Motorcycle Boy "Big Rock Candy Mountain" (Rough Trade)
Chefs "24 Hours" (Graduate Records)
Dolly Mixture "Everything and More" (Respond Records)
The Siddeleys "My Favourite Wet Wednesday Afternoon (demo)" (Firestation Records)
The Flying Lizards "Money" (Virgin)
Dislocation Dance "Show Me" (Rough Trade)
Siouxsie & The Banshees "Cities in Dust" (Polydor)
Carol "Breakdown" (Weyrd Son Records)
Explode Into Colors "Sharpen The Knife" (M'lady's Records)
The Slits "Typical Girls" (Antilles)
Mo-Dettes "White Mice" (Mode)

https://www.mixcloud.com/eatonradio/bahala-na-w-les-the-dj-eaton-radio-dc-20201112

Bahala Na Global Pandemic Episode No. 10

📷 : taken by me, at Punalu'u Black Sand Beach

Check out my Bahala Na episode from October 22!

Bahala Na Global Pandemic Episode No. 10 by Les The DJ

Toshiki Kadomatsu "Off Shore" (Air Records)
Nohelani Cypriano "Lihue" (HanaOla Records)
Nina Atsuko "Kalapana Black Sand Beach" (Invitation)
Izumi Kobayashi & Flying Mimi Band "フルーツ・パフェ One Note Samba" (Philips)
Phase 7 "Could It Be Love" (Aloha Got Soul)
Kalapana "The Hurt" (Abattoir Records)
Haruko "You're Young" (HMV Record Shop/Tokuma Japan Corporation)
Mackey Feary Band "It Takes Two" (Rainbow Records)
Tatsuro Yamashita "Love Space" (RCA)
Lemuria "Hunk of Heaven" (Worldblend Music)
Eri Ohno "Skyfire" (Better Days)
Yurie Kokubu "スノッブな夜へ" (Great Tracks)
Kaoru Akimoto "Dress Down" (HMV Record Shop)
Tomoko Aran "I'm In Love" (Warner Bros. Records)
Epo "いつか" (Dear Heart)

https://www.mixcloud.com/eatonradio/bahala-na-w-les-the-dj-eaton-radio-dc-20201022

HFR 3 - The Manila Sound by Les The DJ

HFR 3 - The Manila Sound by Les The DJ
Cover Art by Sacha Carlos-Raps

This past May, Filipino/American Artist Directory & Aloha Got Soul tagged me on Happy Family Market’s open call to participate in curating a mix for Happy Family Radio, a monthly series highlighting the Asian diaspora. I finished the mix in mid-September and I’m super excited to share it with you for Filipino American History Month!

Thanks for creating space for our community, Happy Family Market, and maraming salamat for introducing me to my new kaibigan, Sacha Carlos-Raps! Maybe I can DJ for your night market in the future?

The Manila Sound by Les The DJ for Happy Family Radio

Hotdog “Di Na Kita Iiwan Muli”
Cinderella “Superstar Ng Buhay Ko”
Rico J. Puno “You Don't Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show)”
Pat Castillo “Aso’t Pusa”
Rainmakers “Ok Sa Akin”
The New Minstrels “Smile”
Leah Navarro “Totoo Bang Lahat Ito?”
APO Hiking Society “Heto Na”
VST & Company “Ayos Ba”
Hajji “Inggit Lang Sila”
Celeste “Pag-Ibig Ng Lubos-Lubos”
Ray-An Fuentes “Saying Goodbye”
The Boyfriends “Oras-Oras”
Ella del Rosario “Shake It Baby”

“Manila Sound is an era of Filipino music that started in the mid-70s. It is considered as the golden age of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) and will always be remembered as one of the few good things that came out during Ferdinand Marcos’ martial law regime. Groups like Hotdog, VST & Company, Boyfriends, and Cinderella ruled the airwaves and also helped shape what OPM is now. As a kid growing up in the Philippines—specifically, Kalookan City in the 80s—I was surrounded by music from the moment I woke up to the AM radio, to lunchtime variety shows with lots of song and dance, to the tunes played by jeepney and bus drivers. 

I’ve been in Washington, DC for over 20 years now, but the songs I heard growing up made an impression on me. I play all sorts of music when I DJ but I wanted to share a mix of songs that lifted some of my people during those dark times.” - Les Talusan

If you enjoyed this mix and want to hear more, hang out with me twitch.tv/lestalusan for Bahala Na OPM Sundays, 9-11PM ET // 6-8PM PT, I’ll be playing a live, all-vinyl set of OPM for you and the whole barangay!

https://www.mixcloud.com/happyfamilymkt/hfr3-the-manila-sound

Bahala Na - OPM Sundays!

Illustration: Katrin Davis

Starting this Sunday, from 9-11PM ET // 6-8PM PT, hang out with me on twitch.tv/lestalusan for Bahala Na OPM Sundays! I’ll be playing a live, all-vinyl set of Original Pilipino Music (OPM).

TONIGHT, Friday, I’ll be on mixcloud.com/live/lestalusan from 8-10PM EDT // 5-7PM PDT playing 80’s records. There may or may not be some rick-rolling happening.

ISTAMBAY With Us!

📸: me, of my family members and our family home in Tondo, Manila.

Hoy! It’s Filipino American History Month! It’s also the day I moved to America.⠀

ISTAMBAY: In the Philippines, ISTAMBAY means to hang around, a state of inactivity.⠀
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ISTAMBAY with us and some friends live on twitch.tv/lestalusan on October 31st! Hosted by me and my kaibigan, Joel Quizon.

Featuring Vex Ruffin, DJ Rubydoobies, ET IV, DJ Lillie Smalls, Sammay Dizon, Jamie Garcia, a cooking demo by the Macapinlac-Rockefeller kids, and more!

Follow me, @lestalusan and @joelquiz on IG for more info and updates.⠀
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Celebrate the conclusion of FAHM (Filipino American History Month) with us! The event is free but we are encouraging tips that we will donate to an organization helping Filipino/FilAm frontliners.⠀

ISTAMBAY: A Filipino American History Month Hangout
Saturday, October 31, 4-9:30PM EDT / 1-6:30PM PDT (hang out with us anytime!)
RSVP: http://bitly.com/istambay2020
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HERITAGE iRL: Ruby Ibarra & The Balikbayans in Performance and Dialogue, hosted by Les The DJ

Hoy! Set your alarms! Tomorrow, I’ll be hosting Heritage iRL, a Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center and National Museum of American History web series engaging Asian American heritage "in real life," in progress, across a range of media and communities.⠀
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We will be kicking off the series with the SUPER ASTIG Ruby Ibarra! She will be performing her first, full-length virtual concert with her band, The Balikbayans. Also featuring special guests, Liaa Melissa, ET IV, and Ann One!
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I will be in conversation with Ruby in between performances and you get to meet her band as well and join in during the q+a. Maraming Salamat to Theo Gonzalves for inviting me!
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Heritage iRL w/ Ruby Ibarra & The Balikbayans, hosted by me, Les The DJ!
Saturday, September 25, 6PM EDT/3PM PST⠀
Watch: https://youtu.be/BOwoMmHlc6A ⠀

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Bahala Na Global Pandemic Episode No. 8

📷 : taken by me, in Göteborg

Check out my Bahala Na episode from September 24!

Bahala Na Global Pandemic Episode No. 8 by Les The DJ

Saint Etienne "Lover Plays The Bass" (Kung Fu Fighting Recording)
Birdie "Spiral Staircase" (Summershine)
Even As We Speak "Bizarre Love Triangle" (Sarah Records)
Vic Godard & The Subway Sect "Stop That Girl" (Rough Trade)
The Loft "Up The Hill & Down The Slope" (Creation)
Brideshead ”Sincerely Yours" (Shelflife Records)
Arabesque "Boy From Brazil" (Siesta)
Juniper "Anna Thema" (A Turntable Friend Records)
Call and Response "Rollerskate" (Shelflife Records)
Blueboy "Clearer" (Sarah Records)
The Mad Scene "Merge Records" (Merge Records)
The Radio Dept. “Closing Scene” (Every Conversation Records/Labrador)
Frankie Rose "Know Me (Le Chev Remix)" (Slumberland Records)
The Primitives ”Thru The Flowers" (Optic Nerve Recordings)
The Jesus and Mary Chain "Taste Of Cindy (Recorded Live In Detroit)" (Blanco Y Negro)
Veronica Falls "Teenage" (Slumberland Records)
Velocette "Bitterscene" (Wiiija Records)
The Girl Who Stole The Eiffel Tower "Untitled" (Winter's Mist/Swing Set Records)
Violens "True" (Slumberland Records)

https://www.mixcloud.com/eatonradio/bahala-na-w-les-the-dj-eaton-radio-dc-20200924/

Bahala Na Global Pandemic Episode No. 7

📷 : taken by me, on a flight from DC to Atlanta

Check out my Bahala Na episode from September 17!

Bahala Na Global Pandemic Episode No. 7 by Les The DJ

Pale Saints "Sight of You" (4AD)
My Bloody Valentine "Soft As Snow (But Warm Inside)" (Creation)
Secret Shine "Suck Me Down" (Sarah Records)
Chapterhouse "Pearl" (Dedicated)
Ride "Vapour Trail" (Sire/Ride Music)
Adorable "Homeboy" (Creation)
The Boo Radleys "Does This Hurt" (Creation)
My Bloody Valentine "Soon" (Creation)
Pale Saints "Half-Life, Remembered" (4AD)
Velocity Girl "Crazy Town" (Sub Pop)
Rocketship "Carrie Cooksey" (Slumberland/Nonstop Co-op)
Ride "Dreams Burn Down" (Ride Music)
Lilys "High Writer at Home" (spinART/Frontier)
Slowdive "Blue Skied An' Clear" (Creation)

https://www.mixcloud.com/eatonradio/bahala-na-eaton-radio-dc-20200917/

NextNOW Fest 2020

I’m so excited to be a part of NextNOW Fest 2020! I’ll be playing a set after mxmtoon’s performance on Thursday, September 10. Thanks for the invite, Megan!

NextNOW Fest 2020
Venue: Mixcloud
September 10, Thursday, 10-11PM
RSVP: NNF.UMD.EDU

Looking forward to playing an all-vinyl set of Asian and Asian American and Pacific Islander artists!