Sharon Jones Is The 21st Century's Godmother Of Soul
The Augusta-born soul singer's ballads, floor-burners and soaring motivational anthems took the might of Motown's peak and sharpened it to fight the impossible.
Music & Culture
Florence + the Machine: Tiny Desk Concert
"I'm sorry I'm shy," Florence Welch told the crowd of NPR family and friends gathered for her Tiny Desk performance. "If this was a big gig, I'd probably be climbing all over here and running around."
After Heartbreak, Twain's 'Young God (Gotta Lotta Feeling)' Is Resilient
The first single from Twain's New Miami Sound EP shines in the face of heartache, and thanks life for the lesson.
New Mix: Sharon Van Etten, SOAK, Miya Folick & More
On this week's show, we reflect on life and death over popcorn, catch a blissful confession from SOAK, a plaintive apology sung by Miya Folick, and Sharon Van Etten's mid-career pivot to driving pop.
With 'Everybody Loves You,' SOAK Lets Her Guard Down
In a new video, SOAK captures the young artist's fantasy of a party she thought she didn't want to join.
Getting 'The Band' Together: Questions For Nicholas Eames
Author Nicholas Eames's series The Band is a joyous mashup of classic rock and fantasy tropes — because if there were monsters, why wouldn't there be bands of celebrity mercenaries to slay them?
Through Slavery, Segregation And More, 'La Bamba' Has Been The Sound Of Survival
Sixty years ago, a Mexican folk tune sung entirely in Spanish became a rock and roll phenomenon. Generations after Ritchie Valens, young Latinos are still harnessing its power.
'SNL' Spoofs Kanye West, Welcomes Back Paul Simon
The cold open revisited West's bizarre White House soliloquy, while Simon performed an emotional rendition of "Bridge Over Troubled Water."
MacArthur Fellow Vijay Gupta On Making Music Accessible For All
Violinist and social justice advocate Vijay Gupta, one of the 2018 winners of the MacArthur Fellowship, speaks about his work in under-resourced communities in Los Angeles and what's next.
NPR's Scott Simon Meets Musician Scott Simons
Simon talks with Simons about his career in Los Angeles, including his work on shows like "America's Got Talent," and having such similar names.