First Fridays 2025: AMPLIFIED – Music and the Mind

First Fridays 2025: AMPLIFIED!

The 2025 First Fridays season turns the volume up on sound and music as we examine our relationship with the aural world and how it affects our bodies and our lives.  Join us as we amplify unique voices, enriching perspectives, and dynamic music in the vibrant and stimulating setting of NHM after-hours. 

June 6  |  Music and the Mind

First Fridays returns in June with another fun and thought provoking evening, featuring live music from Ha Vay and Nymphlord,  DJ sets from Glenn Red (inside) and  DJ Jen Rock (outside), and our signature discussion in the new Commons Theater with neuroscientist, music producer, and professor Susan Rogers, PhD, hosted by Dr. Yewande Pearse.  Additional activities include a sound bath micro-sessions courtesy of The Sound Healing Studio, a drop in drum circle presented by Rhythm & Truth, an art activity at the Sounds Artsy! Creative Station hosted by Nova Community Arts, a Sound Exploration Talk from our Living Collections team, and more! (See below for program details.)

If you are interested in learning more about 2025 First Fridays series, click First Fridays 2025: Amplified!

Our Featured Discussion! 

Discussion  | Commons Theater |  6:30–7:30 pm  

Music and the Mind:  What does listening to music do to your mind and well being?  What has changed in the way we listen to music and what does it mean for society?  What are the social and personal benefits of listening to music? What does the music we listen to say about ourselves?
*Seating is limited. Please arrive early.

** ASL Interpretation Provided

OUR MODERATOR

Dr. Yewande Pearse is a neuroscientist turned science communicator, bridging the gap between science and culture. London-born and now Los Angeles-based, she is the founder of Nyewro, a science translation and communications company. Driven by the belief that science isn't just for scientists and has the power to connect people and communities, Nyewro's mission of "Broadening where science belongs" brings science into art galleries, music venues, and cultural institutions. She serves as an advisor to the California Science Center and is a Community Fellow at The Center for Diverse Leadership in Science at UCLA's Institute of the Environment and Sustainability.

OUR GUEST

Susan Rogers, PhD, is a behavioral neuroscientist and former record producer and engineer, best known for her work with Prince (1983–1987). She teaches for Berklee College of Music Online and is the author of This Is What It Sounds Like: What the Music You Love Says About You, published by W. W. Norton & Co.
 

We aim to make NHM an exciting, educational, and enjoyable experience for everyone. If you have any questions about your visit and the accessibility services we offer, contact our Call Center at 213.763.3466 or email info@nhm.org

Images from past First Fridays:

Live Music and DJ Set In the Nature Gardens Stage! 

Ha Vay  | Nature Gardens | 9 pm

Gentle, wild and hauntingly ethereal, Ha Vay is here to sweep you into the unknown. In just two years, she's built a dedicated following as an unsigned artist. Inspired by iconic women at the intersection of pop and rock, like Stevie Nicks, Mazzy Star, Florence + The Machine, and Lana Del Rey, Ha Vay has crafted an ethereal sound with its roots in dark 90s folk-rock and 60s/70s pop psychedelia. On June 21st 2024, Ha Vay released her debut album, 'Baby I'm The Wolf' along with a 45-minute self-directed film that encapsulates the cyclical journey of womanhood. 

Nymphlord  | Nature Gardens | 8 pm

Raised in the wooded foothills of Northern California, Nymphlord bubbled up from a unique brew of 90's alt rock, acoustic guitar plucks, and bush-whacked suburban trail walks. Influenced by whisper-in-your-ear punk performances combined with an unshakeable love of top 40 radio, the Nymphlord sound is angsty, ethereal, hopeful, and dissonant. Danceable, even when the lyrics are low and the mic is too close. Persistently intimate, acoustic strums morph into cavernous electric screams and feminist themes are explored through the lens of little moments both romantic and platonic. Nymphlord joins forces with a classroom’s-worth of musicians to present a collection of unique and intricate coming of age songs on her sophomore EP ‘Rough Blue Blanket’, out May 23rd on Lauren Records.

DJ Jen Rock  | Nature Gardens | 5–8 pm

Jen Rock is an L.A. native spinning an eclectic mix of disco, boogie, funk, synth pop, and house. From her ska band roots to monthly DJ sets across L.A. and beyond, plus live Twitch streams, she brings vibrant energy and genre-spanning grooves to every set.
 

Sound Central Station with DJ and Pop-Up Experiences!

Glenn Red | Level 1 Foyer | 5–10 pm

Glenn Red is an L.A.-based creative who expresses Love via his work as a deejay, cultural event producer, and graphic designer. His deejay sets weave fluidly through time and across genres, connecting the traditional sounds of Africa and the Americas with their modern expressions around the globe.

Pop-Ups | Level 1 Foyer | 5–10 pm 

Take part in the drop-in drum circle presented by Rhythm & Truth! 

Drum Circle: 7:30 pm at the African Mammal Hall, Level 1 Foyer

Rhythm & Truth provides comprehensive creative arts therapy services nationwide, emphasizing cultural competency, mindfulness, social emotional learning, and trauma-informed care for children, adolescents, and adults in wellness and recovery. Through Music, Art and Dance & Movement Therapy, our practitioners use creative mediums to nurture growth and transformation, cultivating resilience and empathy. 

Don't forget to check out the Amoeba Music pop-up shop!  

Sound Lounge featuring Sound Baths and other Sound Experiences!

The Sound Healing Studio | Level 2 North American Mammal Hall | 6 pm,  7 pm and 8 pm

*Three 30 minute micro-sessions at 6 pm, 7 pm and 8 pm.  Limited capacity.  Please come early to save a spot.  No late entries.

The Sound Healing Studio in Los Angeles is dedicated to supporting the healing and awakening of humanity through sound. Founded by Avery Whitmore, the studio offers transformative experiences and equips a new wave of healers with vibrational tools to facilitate personal and collective well-being.

Sounds Artsy! Creative Station | Otis Booth Pavilion Ground Level | 5–10 pm

Hands-on art activity for the entire family! This month is hosted by our friends at Nova Community Arts!  Nova Community Arts is a queer-owned, community-focused center dedicated to arts education for adults in a welcoming and inclusive environment. Located in the Atwater Village neighborhood of Los Angeles. 
 

More Sound Knowledge to Explore!

Sound Exploration Talk with Living Collections | Commons Theater | 5:30 pm 

"The Sounds of Animal Care"

Visit with the Living Collections Team, and some LIVE animals! They'll talk about what sounds and sights help the animal keepers create great relationships with the live animals at NHM.  Special feature: watch us feed one of our collection snakes!

NHM's Research and Collections | Otis Booth Pavilion Ground Level 

Explore the work and collections of NHM with specially-curated displays. 

Food Trucks and Pop-Ups

Enjoy a diverse lineup of food trucks offering a range of cuisines, along with cocktail and refreshment bars. 

Featuring: The Tropic Truck, Baby's Badass Burgers, Go Beyond the Bowl, and Cakes by Chante.