Back in May I finally made it out to Channel Islands National Park , a collection of four islands off the Southern California coastline. After an hour boat ride past dolphins, seals, and even a venerable old sea lion, I reached Santa Cruz Island , the largest island in the park. The entire area had been a working ranch for about a hundred years before the park service took over and began reclaiming the land for native plants. Ranch ruins and rolling fields that ran right up to shear cliffs above cerulean waters lay shrouded in fog, until afternoon sunshine managed to break up the clouds. This was my first time out with my new point-and-shoot, a Nikon Coolpix AW100. I hate hiking with bulky equipment, but many of my previous point-and-shoots have succumb to the brutal natural forces I've inflicted upon them: sand, snow, cliff drops, etc. The Coolpix AW100 is designed to withstand water, sand, freezing temperatures, and drops. Hopefully, it will last a little longer. It also has a

Don't miss this episode of Down In The Valley with Mountain Momma. It's chock full o' new releases from Bob Dylan, The Avett Brothers, and Sea Wolf, as well as music from bluegrass legends the likes of Ralph Stanley. Not to mention a chance to win tickets to see The Head And The Heart at The Wiltern 10/5. Listen live on Mondays from 7 to 8pm PT on KXSC Radio, a service of the University of Southern California. Down In The Valley 013 by Orsosachisays on Mixcloud Playlist Soon After Midnight - Bob Dylan February Seven - The Avett Brothers Splitter - Calexico Sure 'Nuff 'N Yes I Do - Ralph Stanley Fire and Brimstone - Ralph Stanley White Light / White Heat - Ralph Stanley Love Is A Beast - Neil Halstead Disappear - Patterson Hood Priscilla - Sea Wolf Free Born Man - Jimmy Martin Uncle Pen - Bill Monroe & The Bluegrass Boys Little Birdie - Chance McCoy & The Appalachian String Band Peace In The Valley - Dawes

Presenting the best new releases of September 2012, Sachi Subterranean spins tracks from Grizzly Bear, Seapony, The Helio Sequence, and How To Dress Well. Treat your ears, and tune in to Make More Noise this semester to win tickets to events like Los Angeles, like Menomena live at the El Rey 9/27. Listen live 1 to 2pm PT on KXSC.org, a service of USC. Make More Noise 027 by Orsosachisays on Mixcloud Playlist Leaving - Pet Shop Boys Swept Away - The xx Cold Nites - How To Dress Well Downward Spiral - The Helio Sequence Catalina - Allah-Las Prove to Me - Seapony Runaways - The Killers Knock Knock - Band of Horses AA warm breeze - Thee Oh Sees Watch the Corners - Dinosaur Jr. Yet Again - Grizzly Bear Give Your Light Off - Woods Pique - Menomena 2 bit Blues - Kid Koala Dinner For Two - David Byrne & St. Vincent

Featuring a special set from DJ Intern Urban Cowboy, we present the first Down In The Valley episode of the fall semester. Tune in to hear tracks from the Smithsonian Folkways Project, Americana releases from the summer, jug band revival music, and Sun Records recordings. Down In The Valley airs live on Mondays from 7 to 8pm PT this semester. Thanks to KXSC.org and the University of Southern California. Down In The Valley 012 by Orsosachisays on Mixcloud Playlist Sugar Baby - Dock Boggs Cuckoo Bird - Clarence Ashley Streets of Glory - Old Reliable String Band Our Last Goodbye - The Johnson Mountain Boys There's No Leaving Now - The Tallest Man On Earth We Don't Grow Tobacco - Old Crow Medicine Show Past Lives - Langhorne Slim Walk Right In - The Rooftop Singers The Original Colossal Drag Rag - The Even Dozen Jug Band Ukelele Lady - The Jug Band Intern Set - DJ Intern Urban Cowboy Dixie Fried - Carl Perkins Drinkin Wine - Gene Simmons Go! Go! Go! - Roy Orb

Once the vacation getaway of Hollywood stars, now a natural misstep tampered by human error, the Salton Sea is not a hospitable place. A few hours to the east of Los Angeles, it lies baking in the desert sun ringed by abandoned buildings and the carcasses of sea life. The smell of death hangs heavy in the air. But, I find it strangely beautiful, and at sunset this spring it was illuminated by all my favorite colors: rose petal pink, navy blue, cerulean dreams, and the palest of yellows. A seemingly desolate land, yet lush with colors and stories, the kind that make me eat my heart out. This is the last set of photos from my Superheadz Golden Half camera that I'll be updating for awhile. Enjoy the half-frames, dear readers! Photos from my new digital point-and-shoot are forthcoming.

Even a fire drill can't stop the awesomeness on this edition of Make More Noise with Sachi Subterranean. Listen to the best tracks from new releases as well as preview singles from forthcoming albums: Tame Impala, Bat For Lashes, and more! Make More Noise airs live on KXSC Radio from 1 to 2pm PT this semester. Much thanks to USC. Make More Noise 026 by Orsosachisays on Mixcloud Playlist Cali In A Cup - Woods Tallboy - The Soft Pack Elephant - Tame Impala October - The Helio Sequence 6 bit Blues - Kid Koala Laura - Bat For Lashes Angels - The xx Who - David Byrne & St. Vincent Duquesne Whistle - Bob Dylan Magpie - Beth Orton Para - Calexico Live And Die - The Avett Brothers Cry for Judas - The Mountain Goats The Descent - Bob Mould Lord Knows - Dum Dum Girls Warm Night Home - Hands

You've probably never heard of Niland, California, but it's home to one of the most impressive folk art pieces in America: Salvation Mountain . On the wasted shores of the Salton Sea, a man with a vision spent the last several decades building a monument to universal love and his god. Out of the desert rose his technical dream made of clay, hay, paint, and found objects. I find it to be one of the most inspirational things I've ever seen. I have so much respect for those people, who dedicate their entire lives to building something far greater than themselves for no reason besides an internal drive to create. These photos were taken with my Superheadz Golden Half camera. I've gotten better at planning out my shots so the two photos taken per 35mm frame directly complement each other.

Last Friday I was lucky enough to guest host The Live Show on KXSC, since our usual lovely host, Candice, couldn't make it. Our featured artist that week was King Washington , L.A. natives dedicated to the fine craft of songwriting. Though their rock n' roll influences are clear, King Washington make music that is entirely their own with adventurous themes and arresting vocal harmonies. After tumultuous label negotiations, the band self-released their album, The Gears , with the support of a highly successful Kickstarter campaign. Hear King Washington play a full, live set at our studios, and then stay tuned for my interview with them. "(The Gears LP is) a fine new flavor for fans who think indie-rock is too indie for its own good." - BUZZBANDS.LA King Washington play The Live Show on KXSC by Orsosachisays on Mixcloud

Tuesday, September 4th was a tremendous day for new releases. Cat Power, Animal Collective, and Azure Ray all gave the gift of new albums to the world. On this edition of Make More Noise, Sachi Subterranean recaps the highlights from these releases, as well as new music from August. Listen to new tunes, and get inspired to freshen up your playlists for the fall semesters, kids. Now on live Mondays 1 PT/4 ET. Thanks to KXSC, a service of USC. Make More Noise 025 by Orsosachisays on Mixcloud Playlist Ruin - Cat Power Scattered Like Leaves - Azure Ray Zero Seconds Pause - Deerhoof Nostalgia - Mono Applesauce - Animal Collective Prince of Peace - Cult of Youth Presence of Mind - The Fresh & Onlys Erica America - Jens Lekman The Dark Is Singing Songs (Sleepy Time Down South) - The Music Tapes The North - Stars Unseen Harbor - Mono Wake Up - Two Door Cinema Club Her Fantasy - Matthew Dear Would That Not Be Nice - Divine Fits

Last month I posted photos taken with my new Superheadz Golden Half camera that had been processed as individual frames. However, the Golden Half actually takes two photos for every standard 35mm frame. Here are some photos processed as 35mm frames. I took this set on my first trip to Joshua Tree National Park . It turned out that I had arrived just in time for the spring wild flower bloom, a rare season in the desert.

Come follow Americana music through the decades with Mountain Momma on Down In The Valley, serving up everyone from John Lee Hooker to Peter, Paul & Mary to Punch Brothers. Down In The Valley has moved to a new time slot this semester. Tune in to kxsc.org on Monday evenings 7 PT/10 ET to hear the best of Americana music from yesteryear to the latest releases. Brought to you by KXSC, a service of the University of Southern California. Down In The Valley 011 by Orsosachisays on Mixcloud Playlist Who's Feeling Young Now? - Punch Brothers Laundry Room - The Avett Brothers Rivers and Roads - The Head And The Heart Don't Think Twice, It's Alright - Peter, Paul and Mary California - Joni Mitchell Country Road - James Taylor Restoration - The Acorn The Ruminant Band - Fruit Bats Song for the Painter - Lost In The Trees Boom Boom - John Lee Hooker All Aboard - Muddy Waters Out In The Woods - Buddy Guy featuring Robert Randolph Down In The Valley - Solomon Bur

In the summer of 2010, I was driving through Chicago and searching the radio for something to listen to when I came across an intriguing conversation. Cracking jokes, using local vernacular, and speaking dynamically, the host sounded like a typical commercial radio DJ, but they weren’t discussing celebrity gossip or promoting a new disposable consumer product. Instead, what I heard was an intelligent, balanced, provocative conversation about interracial dating with many listeners calling in to include their opinions and stories. Captivated, I was stilling listening as I entered northwest Indiana. The host, Brian Babylon, wrapped up the conversation, and transitioned to the next block of programing: a montage of audio clips submitted by listeners including everything from local music to high school confessions to slam poetry. I still hadn’t heard a commercial break, so was this public radio? I had been listening to Vocalo 89.5 FM, sister station to WBEZ renowned for producing shows li