Music Interviews

World Cafe celebrates 30 years with a 2009 playlist.

Music & Culture

World Cafe 30th Anniversary Playlist: 2009

12:19pm February 28, 2022

by Bruce Warren

2009 was a big year for really big pop stars, like Lady Gaga, The Black Eyed Peas and Jay-Z; indie rock artists like Wilco, Dirty Projectors and Animal Collective also put out standout records.

"What Emergent Strategy taught me is this emphasis on relationship," Hurray for the Riff Raff's Alynda Segarra tells the book's author, adrienne maree brown.

Music & Culture

Hurray for the Riff Raff's Alynda Segarra, a 'recovering lone wolf,' in conversation

5:00am February 28, 2022

by Ann Powers

NPR Music's Ann Powers moderates the first-time meeting of far-flung soulmates. Hurray for the Riff Raff's new album was inspired, in part, by adrienne maree brown's book Emergent Strategy.

On February 25, Sasami released her new album, 'Squeeze,' which is a call for catharsis and healing for those who are disillusioned.

Music & Culture

Sasami finds catharsis in nu-metal on her new album 'Squeeze'

8:53am February 27, 2022

In her new album, 'Squeeze,' Sasami invites listeners to process their rage and disillusionment as a way to bring them closer to healing.

Music & Culture

Emily Wells considers the AIDS crisis and climate change in her 'Regards to the End'

9:12am February 26, 2022

by Scott Simon

Scott Simon talks to musician Emily Wells about her new album, "Regards to the End," which reflects on how lessons learned from the AIDS crisis can be applied to the climate crisis.

Music & Culture

Staple '80s band Tears For Fears is back on the scene after 17 years

7:59am February 26, 2022

by Scott Simon

Scott Simon speaks with Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith from the band Tear For Fears about "The Tipping Point." It's their first new album in 17 years.

Damien Sneed conducts his Chorale Le Chateau during a performance of Wynton Marsalis' Abyssinian Mass at Jazz at Lincoln Center in 2019.

Music & Culture

The gospel according to Damien Sneed

2:27pm February 24, 2022

by Alex Ariff

Hear music from jazz and gospel pianist/vocalist Damien Sneed and how he got his start in Augusta, GA and went onto work with Wynton Marsalis and give piano lessons to Aretha Franklin.

Music & Culture

Singer-songwriter Mitski brings surging energy and emotions to 'Laurel Hell'

1:38pm February 24, 2022

by Ken Tucker

Mitski claims new ground on her sixth album, spreading herself across different kinds of pop music with each new song. The result is more varied than anything she's created thus far.

Queue Listen Now

EARTHGANG's new album, Ghetto Gods, comes out Feb. 25.

Music & Culture

EARTHGANG's 'Ghetto Gods' looks for divinity in Atlanta's dichotomies

11:00am February 24, 2022

by Christina Lee

The hip-hop duo made its new record in the shadow of the pandemic and racial justice protests in Atlanta. Yet as ever, its music is focused on the resilience of its home city and its larger community.

From 'Milkshake' to veggies, Kelis and Ron Finley share their farm journeys

5:16am February 24, 2022

Grammy-nominated recording artist and chef Kelis talks to urban gardener Ron Finley about growing your own food, the relationship between Black people and the land, and how to handle a mean rooster.

Haley Bennett stars as Roxanne and Peter Dinklage as Cyrano.

How the many pairs behind 'Cyrano' made music for the movie's lovelorn couples

5:00am February 24, 2022

by Tim Greiving

The National frontman Matt Berninger and his wife Carin Besser wrote the lyrics, and twin brothers Aaron and Bryce Dessner scored the movie.