DJ Mantis (Sara Gorman) is an LA based bassist, composer, and multidisciplinary artist originally hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area. Recording and gigging throughout California with her band Garden Party and others, her style is versatile with music rooted in earnest emotion and expression: jazz, R&B, soul, motown, pop, rock, punk, alternative/indie, and free. She has also worked with choreographers composing music for dancers and visual artists collaborating on sound art installations and performances.

Getting her DJ start on uclaradio.com with her weekly show Kitchen Sink, a play on the phrase “everything but the kitchen sink,” DJ Mantis explores songs whose connection runs deeper than genre. Inspired by ordinary occupants of your kitchen sink and everything but the kitchen sink, listen on uclaradio.com every Monday 1-2pm PT to hear more from DJ Mantis.

A third of the record collective 287 vinyl, started by three friends and bandmates, Mantis carries a love of the physical and meaning in the music she keeps. Her collection influences the music she makes, and for certain albums, the physicality of memories. With additions passed down from family members, hidden gems found in the bottom boxes of record stores, and borrowed from friends, DJ Mantis has a passion for the analog sound and making people dance.

While the collection is always expanding, current genres include downtempo souldies, doo wopp, R&B, motown, retro soul, neo soul, deep funk, jazz, west coast hip hop, reggae, afrobeat, disco, cumbia, tropicalia, samba, bossa nova, latin, psychedelic rock, Habibi funk, Somalian disco, Egyptian pop, Ethiopian jazz, world, good tunes, good tunes, good tunes.