Soundtrips

Soundtrips is an ongoing Metro Art series that brings together music, storytelling, and environmental sound inspired by Los Angeles. Designed for listening on the move, the series invites riders to experience a sonic journey through sounds that shape neighborhoods, histories, and creative communities.

Metro Art and KCRW bring the sounds of Los Angeles into motion. Curated by KCRW DJs Novena Carmel, Ale Cohen, SiLVA and Wyldeflower, this new series brings four curated playlists inspired by the rhythms, moods, and influences that shape LA’s musical landscape.

Spanning funk and soul, dance, ambient, and global grooves, each mix turns the ride into a cultural experience. As Los Angeles prepares to welcome the world in summer 2026, Soundtrips celebrates the region’s global spirit—connecting riders to the music, culture, and destinations that define LA as a creative capital.

>> LISTEN HERE

This feel-good mix by Wyldeflower draws from global rhythms and local soul, reflecting the movement and textures of Los Angeles.

From tropical grooves to soulful, genre-blurring tracks, the playlist keeps the ride expansive and energized—wherever the road takes you.

This high-energy playlist from SiLVA turns the commute into a moving dance floor, powered by house, disco, and club-ready classics.

Featuring artists like Louie Vega, Felix da Housecat and Donna Summer, the mix brings momentum and joy to every mile of the journey.

This immersive mix by Ale Cohen offers a moment of calm within the motion of Los Angeles, pairing ambient, experimental and modern classical sounds.

Featuring LA artists alongside pioneers like Alice Coltrane and William Basinski, the playlist invites riders to slow down, tune in and find meaning in the ride itself.

This soulful mix from Novena Carmel channels the energy and color of Los Angeles, blending funk, R&B and feel-good grooves.

Featuring artists like War, Anderson .Paak, Gavin Turek, and Frank Ocean, the playlist keeps the ride lively, expressive, and connected from start to finish.

OTHER SOUNDTRIPS

Previous Soundtrips trace the evolution of LA’s music scenes—from Sunset Boulevard to Downtown and Leimert Park—to immersive soundscapes drawn from the region’s natural and urban environments. The series also features performances by acclaimed musicians recorded at Union Station’s public piano, carrying the sound of one of LA’s busiest transit hubs beyond the station walls.

Wherever you’re headed, Soundtrips offers a soundtrack for the journey.

Deep Routes with dublab

Created in partnership with local community driven radio and arts foundation dublab,  each episode is a multimedia dive into the intersecting musical histories embedded into the streets, buildings and neighborhoods of Los Angeles corresponding with Metro Bus, Rail and Bike routes. Listen here.

An Environmental Music Series with Leaving Records

Metro Art and Leaving Records present four musicians who draw inspiration from the landscape with original music soundscapes evoking experiences of nature and transportation with historic Union Station at its center. Listen here.

Artists: Nailah Hunter, The Growth Eternal, Green-House, Celia Hollander

Play On!

In collaboration with artist Dexter Story, Play On! showcases innovative artists in classical, jazz, funk, latin and beyond performing live on the Union Station piano. The piano is open to the public for everyday, and everybody, playing — be sure to stop by anytime you’re in Union Station. Listen here.