August not only marks the beginning of the dog days of summer, but also the fourth round of Local Current’s DJ in Residence! Here at the Current, we’ve been inviting local musicians to take over our all-Minnesota music stream to talk about the local music scene and to spin tracks from other local musicians. So far Martin Devaney, Sophia Eris, and Al Church have done a fantastic job of holding down the fort, but now it’s time to announce our next DJ.

This time around, we’re handing the mic over to Reina del Cid, a folk-rock artist based in Minneapolis. Her new album, The Cooling, was recorded at the historic Pachyderm Studio in Cannon Falls and showcases a darker side of the songwriter and her band. It is an album marked by "sizzling folk wisdom" (Maximum Ink), and "a chilling, string-kissed ode to the slipping from life to death . . . a delicious collection of songs" (Playback:stl). Fresh off an east coast tour, Reina del Cid are busy writing new material and preparing for hometown performances at the Minnesota State Fair and Caravan du Nord.

“I love that the Current is bringing in local musicians for this project,” says Reina. “I was at the MPR building earlier this week to get trained in on the studio's equipment, and getting to see the behind-the-scenes hustle and bustle and all the collaborative hard work that goes into programming at the Current reminded me of how important it is for the health of the local music scene to have a station like this one. I'm so grateful to be a small part of that, and to be given a platform where I can share the music of so many talented people in Minnesota. What a treat! I can't wait to get in the booth and dig in.”

Spend your Friday afternoons with Reina del Cid, delving into the music made, played, and enjoyed in Minnesota: every Friday in August from noon until 6 p.m.

Local Current's DJ in Residence project is supported by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.