First Listen: Yasmine Hamdan's 'Ya Nass'
NPR Music's Bob Boilen and Anastasia Tsioulcas talk about Lebanese artist Yasmine Hamdan and her new album, Ya Nass.
Music & Culture
Fight Sound With Sound: Grateful Dead's Arena Combat
In 1974, sound engineer Owsley Stanley crafted a superior live experience with an enormous conglomeration of amps and speakers called the Wall of Sound. Dave's Picks Volume 9 captures this era.
Helen Keller's Glimpse Of Beethoven's 'Heavenly Vibration'
NPR's Scott Simon reads from a letter written by activist Helen Keller, who was deaf and blind. It was written in 1924, after she listened to a performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.
Skrillex, The Darling Of Dubstep, Speaks
In an extended chat with NPR's Arun Rath, the DJ and producer breaks down his unconventional release strategy, collaboration process and how he turned "brostep" from a dirty word to a badge of honor.
After A Painful Year, Bud Powell's Triumpant 1953 Return
On Feb. 5, 1953, Powell was uncommunicative face to face at the New York jazz club Birdland. But when he sat at the keys, it was a whole other story.
For Foster The People Frontman, Fame And Isolation
David Greene talks to Mark Foster of Foster the People about the band's second album, Supermodel.
Jazz Composer Tries Something New With 'A Trumpet In The Morning'
Musician Marty Ehrlich doesn't play much on his new album; instead, he conducts an ensemble that performs his compositions. He tells Fresh Air about his first album devoted to his orchestral music.
'Flaco And Max' Keep A South Texas Musical Tradition Thriving
Flaco Jimenez has been playing the accordion for most of his 75 years. He makes conjunto music with guitar player Max Baca. NPR's Scott Simon speaks to the pair about their album, Flaco & Max.
Intocable's Music Straddles The Border
Morning Edition's Steve Inskeep stops in Zapata, Texas, the hometown of the lead singer of Intocable, a band popular on both sides of the border.
Sara Evans: Country Power Ballads With A Punch
Surrounded on the charts by younger men and their big hits about drinking and partying, Sara Evans' hit-single success of Slow Me Down's title song all the more heartening.