Music & Culture

Music & Culture

Why The Blueprint For K-Pop Actually Came From Japan

12:28pm January 09, 2019

by Naomi Gingold

Japanese boy band SMAP and its powerful agency, Johnny's Entertainment, are largely responsible for creating the K-pop model. Even though SMAP broke up, its influence is still being felt.

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A screenshot from Priests' video for "The Seduction of Kansas"

Music & Culture

Priests Announces New Album 'The Seduction Of Kansas' And Shares Title Track

11:15am January 09, 2019

by Marissa Lorusso

The follow-up album to 2017's Nothing Feels Natural is out April on the band's own Sister Polygon Records.

A screenshot from SASAMI's video for "Jealousy"

Music & Culture

SASAMI's 'Jealousy' Video Casts A Compelling Spell

10:11am January 09, 2019

by Marissa Lorusso

The LA musician has played in Cherry Glazerr and contributed horn arrangements for Vagabon and Wild Nothing albums. Now, she announces her elegant debut album with this sun-drenched track.

Music & Culture

Steve Earle Sings To His Hero, Guy Clark

9:52am January 09, 2019

by Bob Boilen

At 21, Steve Earle left San Antonio, hitchhiked to Nashville and met his musical hero, Guy Clark, who was playing pool. That was 1974. Now, Earle pays tribute to Guy Clark on his new album, GUY.

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Buddy performs a Tiny Desk Concert on Dec. 4, 2018 (Cameron Pollack/NPR).

Music & Culture

Buddy: Tiny Desk Concert

8:53am January 09, 2019

by Rodney Carmichael

The preacher's son from Compton brought his flair for the dramatic, and an air of rebellion, to the Tiny Desk.

Music & Culture

Instrumentalist Harouna Samake Dazzles Crowds At World Music Expo

7:21pm January 08, 2019

by Banning Eyre

The World Music Expo showcases the industry's up-and-coming artists. This year, Malian instrumentalist Harouna Samake stole the show, dazzling crowds with his unique approach to a gourd harp.

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Lin-Manual Miranda, shot at a press event for Mary Poppins Returns in Paris in December.

Lin-Manuel Miranda And 'Hamilton' Partners Save A Manhattan Theater Bookstore

3:53pm January 08, 2019

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

The Drama Book Shop, a store and creative hub that has served the acting community for more than 100 years, was slated to close this month. But the Hamilton group has stepped in to purchase the shop.

Nina Simone onstage at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1968.

Music & Culture

Nina Simone's 'Lovely, Precious Dream' For Black Children

2:01pm January 08, 2019

With "To Be Young, Gifted and Black," Simone aimed to capture joy in black identity amid bloody civil rights struggle. The song was addressed to children, but adults caught on, too.

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Sleater-Kinney and St. Vincent in the studio.

Music & Culture

New Sleater-Kinney Album, Produced By St. Vincent, Confirmed For This Year

1:17pm January 08, 2019

by Robin Hilton

Guitarist Carrie Brownstein tells NPR, "We always planned on getting back in the studio — it was just a matter of when."

Clockwise from upper left: Orquesta Akokán, Dakh Daughters, Combo Chimbita, Debashish Bhattacharya, Gato Preto

Music & Culture

No Translations Needed At globalFEST 2019

11:40am January 08, 2019

New York's exuberant and smartly programmed annual showcase of musicians from around the world often yields us some of our favorite artist discoveries. The 2019 edition was no exception.

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