The Gits were an early 90s Seattle band. Seattle’s Sub Pop records has recently launched a campaign to rerelease remastered versions of The Gits’ catalogue. So much of the band’s story has been wrapped around the 1993 rape and murder of The Gits frontwoman Mia Zapata. In a conversation at KEXP’s Gathering Space, Emily Fox speaks with The Gits guitarist Andy Kessler and bassist Matt Dresdner about the band’s story, legacy and the life of Mia.

The Gits were an early 90s Seattle band. Seattle&rsquo;s Sub Pop records has recently launched a campaign to rerelease remastered versions of The Gits&rsquo; catalogue. So much of the band&rsquo;s story has been wrapped around the 1993 rape and murder of The Gits frontwoman Mia Zapata. In a conversation at KEXP&rsquo;s Gathering Space, Emily Fox speaks with The Gits guitarist Andy Kessler and bassist Matt Dresdner about the band&rsquo;s story, legacy and the life of Mia.

On A Deeper Listen, host Emily Fox and other storytellers from KEXP talk with artists about the stories behind their songs and the experiences that inform their work. Through each conversation, we uncover the humanity behind the music, allowing us to hear it in a whole new way.

On A Deeper Listen, host Emily Fox and other storytellers from KEXP talk with artists about the stories behind their songs and the experiences that inform their work. Through each conversation, we uncover the humanity behind the music, allowing us to hear it in a whole new way.

A Deeper Listen

The Gits Remember Mia Zapata

Valerie and Veronica Tapacio left their corporate day jobs to dedicate their time to their Seattle band, La Fonda and their vintage clothing shop, Delusional Bird, which is named after one of their songs. Last year was the first year they made more money doing music and running their business than they did at their 8-5 desk jobs. The sisters talk about how their father’s detainment by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2008 forced them into corporate work early and how the pandemic helped them reevaluate their life and priorities. 

Valerie and Veronica Tapacio left their corporate day jobs to dedicate their time to their Seattle band, La Fonda and their vintage clothing shop, Delusional Bird, which is named after one of their songs. Last year was the first year they made more money doing music and running their business than they did at their 8-5 desk jobs. The sisters talk about how their father&rsquo;s detainment by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2008 forced them into corporate work early and how the pandemic helped them reevaluate their life and priorities.&nbsp;

La Fonda Quit Corporate Day Jobs For Band & Vintage Shop

For years, Lupe Flores was primarily known as the drummer for a number of Seattle rock bands, including Wild Powwers. But as something to do to keep herself sane during pandemic lockdown, she reconnected with a childhood tradition.

“I feel like a lot of musicians are like, 'Oh, I sang whatever in church' or 'My parents always had music,’” Flores says. “There was literally no music. There has always been food.”

She started making tacos using her Lebanese-Mexican grandmother's recipe and began Lupe's Situ Tacos. (Situ is Arabic for "grandmother.") In an interview at her restaurant with KEXP’s Martin Douglas, Flores spoke of going from picking cilantro leaves in her grandmother's kitchen to starting a business in the heart of one of Seattle's coolest neighborhoods.

For years, Lupe Flores was primarily known as the drummer for a number of Seattle rock bands, including Wild Powwers. But as something to do to keep herself sane during pandemic lockdown, she reconnected with a childhood tradition.
&ldquo;I feel like a lot of musicians are like, 'Oh, I sang whatever in church' or 'My parents always had music,&rsquo;&rdquo; Flores says. &ldquo;There was literally no music. There has always been food.&rdquo;
She started making tacos using her Lebanese-Mexican grandmother's recipe and began Lupe's Situ Tacos. (Situ is Arabic for "grandmother.") In an interview at her restaurant with KEXP&rsquo;s Martin Douglas, Flores spoke of going from picking cilantro leaves in her grandmother's kitchen to starting a business in the heart of one of Seattle's coolest neighborhoods.

Lupe Flores: Rock Drummer, Budding Restauranteur

Los Angeles-based DJ and producer, TOKiMONSTA is out with a new album called Eternal Reverie. The album was written while TOKiMONSTA’s best friend was diagnosed with cancer and ultimately passed away a few months later. TOKiMONSTA talks about how her friend informed this latest record, why it was important to delay this record and cancel her initial tour to be with her friend in her final months of life, and TOKiMONSTA shares the story of her own health crisis she faced 10 years that resulted in two brain surgeries.

“My career, these things can come back,” TOKiMONSTA says. “There’s always a possibility that if I made a poor decision in that regard, I could figure out a way. But I was never going to get my friend back. At the point that I had made that decision to cancel my tour, I already knew we weren’t going to have her for much longer.”

Los Angeles-based DJ and producer, TOKiMONSTA is out with a new album called&nbsp;Eternal Reverie. The album was written while TOKiMONSTA&rsquo;s best friend was diagnosed with cancer and ultimately passed away a few months later. TOKiMONSTA talks about how her friend informed this latest record, why it was important to delay this record and cancel her initial tour to be with her friend in her final months of life, and TOKiMONSTA shares the story of her own health crisis she faced 10 years that resulted in two brain surgeries.
&ldquo;My career, these things can come back,&rdquo; TOKiMONSTA says. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s always a possibility that if I made a poor decision in that regard, I could figure out a way. But I was never going to get my friend back. At the point that I had made that decision to cancel my tour, I already knew we weren&rsquo;t going to have her for much longer.&rdquo;

The Gits Remember Mia Zapata

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