Morning Becomes Eclectic has long been a signature show for Santa Monica's KCRW, helping to introduce new music and give L.A. some good morning vibes. Now it's getting two new co-hosts, Novena Carmel and Anthony Valadez.
The show has been on the air for more than 40 years, but this marks the first time it will have more than one host. They're also the first people of color to host the program. Carmel and Valadez have been part of the station's late-night DJ team, and they also happen to be longtime friends, with Valadez describing Carmel as his best friend.
Carmel's interest lies in sharing music with people, while Valadez has experience as a turntable-spinning DJ, according to KCRW. Carmel is the daughter of Sly Stone of funk band Sly and the Family Stone. She comes from the Bay Area but moved to L.A. when she was 18 to study at UCLA. Valadez is a native Angeleno.
"Novena is pure joy and Anthony is the heart and soul of Los Angeles," Program Director of Music Anne Litt said in a statement. Last year, she became KCRW's first woman program director, as well as hosting Morning Becomes Eclectic. She's set to remain with the show until after the New Year, and will also continue to host her own show.
"I feel ecstatic and a bit like I’m dreaming," Carmel said in a statement. "I greatly admire Anthony’s work and what I would call his ‘creation ethic;’ he seems to never stop creating and finding inspiration for creativity everywhere."
"What I admire the most is [Novena's] ability to stay positive and always add perspective," Valadez said. "While I get the sense my aesthetic is perceived as ‘the sound of L.A.,’ in reality, it's the sound of the world."
KCRW also promises that the show will bring back live in-studio performances as soon as it's possible to do so. They're also looking to expand the Morning Becomes Eclectic brand beyond mornings.
"Our approach to this important role of MBE host was to really push the boundaries of what it means to be a DJ in today’s on-demand world," KCRW President Jennifer Ferro said in a statement.
Carmel and Valadez are building on a legacy built by just five previous hosts: Anne Litt, Jason Bentley, Nic Harcourt, Chris Douridas, and Tom Schnabel.
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