Novena Carmel
About this Artist
Novena Carmel was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, surrounded by her mother’s record collection, classical music books atop her piano, and a deeply rooted musical legacy. Her father, Sly Stone of Sly & The Family Stone, instilled in her the love of the funk and the brilliance of “everyday people.” Her family’s decades-long connection to Brazil, along with her Japanese-bilingual elementary schooling, further expanded Carmel’s worldview. Inspired by the guidance of one of her best friends and mentors, her grandfather, she moved to Los Angeles at 18 to attend UCLA, and graduated with degrees in Mass Communications and African-American Studies. She has been a proud LA resident ever since, with a deep appreciation for the city’s contributions to the global cultural landscape.
For 14 years, Novena worked in entertainment, booking for Temple Bar Concepts, which has owned and operated live music venues and cultural havens throughout the LA area including famed Temple Bar, Zanzibar, The Virgil, and Townhouse & The Del Monte Speakeasy. She has also been a member of multiple music groups, leading to the opportunity to perform at Lollapalooza, Warped Tour, Abbey Road, and Coachella. She launched her DJ career seven years ago, which quickly took off, fueled by her lifelong love of sharing the music she loves with people, and her infectious energy and ability to read a room. As a DJ, she has worked with Natural History Museum, “The Squad,” California African American Museum, the Underground Museum, Soul in The Horn, The Academy Museum, Dublab, Stones Throw Records, Ace Hotel, Amoeba Records, and many others. In 2018, Novena was invited to join the DJ team at KCRW and quickly become popular through her joyous spirit and expansive personalized music collection, and she now co-hosts KCRW’s flagship show Morning Becomes Eclectic along with Anthony Valadez. She is currently not in a band, but enjoys singing with her soul and jazz choir, The Voices of Creation.