Diet Cig: Tiny Desk Concert
Diet Cig's songs crackle like Pop Rocks, but with a confrontational honesty and striking gravity — and on top of Bob Boilen's desk.
Music & Culture
The Sod Of Music
It's a safe bet that few took the time, this past weekend at the Panorama Music Festival, to consider the grass beneath their feet.
Manchester Orchestra On World Cafe
The band's new album, A Black Mile To The Surface, finds emotion through its songs' stories.
Rob Ickes And Trey Hensley On Mountain Stage
Hear the Grammy-nominated bluegrass duo bring jazzy breakdowns and quickfire fingerpicking to the Mountain Stage at West Virginia's Culture Center Theater.
Maxine Waters' Words Get Covered, Remixed And Transformed Into A Gospel Jam
The congresswoman's recent testimony, including a phrase ("I'm reclaiming my time") that went viral, is now a song by Mykal Kilgore, who loops his voice to form a virtual gospel choir.
Jerry Garcia Turns 75: A 'Dark Star' Celebration
"Dark Star" launched hundreds of jams and pushed Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead beyond their creative and exploratory limits. Celebrate Garcia's 75th birthday with a "Dark Star" playlist.
Kelela Returns With A Sensual Invitation On 'LMK'
The one-night stand gets a redux on the debut single from her forthcoming LP.
Young Musicians Call For Change In Ogoniland, Nigeria
A region of the Niger Delta destabilized by environmentally calamitous oil spills and political neglect, Ogoniland is fortunately also home to musicians who are making their voices heard.
New Bill Calling For Transparency In Music Is Surprisingly Opaque
"It's basically a prophylactic for copyright infringement," says one lawyer who spoke to NPR.
What's Behind The Success Of 'Despacito'?
"The whole world is singing in Spanish," says singer Luis Fonsi. How the mainstreaming of reggaeton, the ubiquity of streaming services and some queasy culture clashes gave us the song of the summer.