Music Interviews

Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, an essential prog-rock band derided in the 1970s by critic Lester Bangs.

Can't Prog Rock Get Any Respect Around Here?

5:05am July 18, 2017

Critic Lester Bangs once declared progressive rock "musical sterility at its pinnacle." David Weigel, author of The Show That Never Ends: The Rise And Fall Of Prog Rock, begs to differ.

Father John Misty inside the World Cafe performance studio.

Music & Culture

Encore Week: Father John Misty, Alison Krauss, David Crosby And More

6:00am July 17, 2017

Hear five World Cafe sessions from the last few months that are worth a second listen.

Offa Rex, a new group composed of The Decemberists and Olivia Chaney (center), reimagines traditional English folk music on The Queen Of Hearts.

Music & Culture

Offa Rex's Olivia Chaney On The 'Dreamlike Nostalgia' Of English Folk

7:33am July 16, 2017

The English vocalist, who's joined forces with The Decemberists in the band Offa Rex, says she's drawn to traditional folk music for its mysticism and age-old themes.

Clemson University doctoral candidate A.D. Carson takes questions during his dissertation defense Feb. 24, 2017.

Music & Culture

After Rapping His Dissertation, A.D. Carson Is UVa's New Hip-Hop Professor

5:09pm July 15, 2017

Carson's doctoral dissertation, a 34-track rap album, went viral. This fall, he'll teach hip-hop history and composition in the hope of giving his students tools to engage in difficult conversations.

Music & Culture

Fleet Foxes On World Cafe

7:13pm July 14, 2017

by Talia Schlanger

Lead singer Robin Pecknold says the band's new album, Crack-Up, is the kind of record he's always wanted to make. Hear a live performance and conversation with Pecknold in this session.

Twins Allison (left) and Katie Crutchfield started out playing music together as teens. Since then, their work has taken them in different directions; each has a new solo album out this year.

Music & Culture

Through My Sister's Eyes: Allison And Katie Crutchfield On Each Other's Music

10:49am July 14, 2017

As teens, the twins always played music together. Since then, their careers have led them in different, parallel directions. We asked each twin to share thoughts and memories about her sister's work.

Charles Lloyd's new album, Passin' Thru, celebrates the 10th anniversary of his New Quartet.

Music & Culture

'A Pocketful Of Blues': Charles Lloyd On 'Passin' Thru'

9:02am July 14, 2017

by Nate Chinen

The saxophonist, one of jazz's enlightened elders, reflects in an interview on his latest album with his New Quartet and on remaining in the moment while rifling through his back pages.

Queue Listen Now

Music & Culture

k.d. lang Reflects On 25 Years Of 'Ingénue'

1:01pm July 13, 2017

by Robin Hilton

The singer talks about the challenges of making what became one of the most important records of the 1990s, dealing with the fame it brought and how she didn't like its hit song until recently.

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Sun Seeker's debut EP, Biddeford, comes out July 14.

Music & Culture

World Cafe Nashville: Sun Seeker

12:17pm July 13, 2017

Inspired by The Band and Pavement alike, Sun Seeker's music is a unique blend of Southern whimsy and fuzzy, melodic rock. Hear a live performance.

Paul Shaffer & The World's Most Dangerous Band perform live in this World Cafe session.

Music & Culture

Paul Shaffer On World Cafe

2:59pm July 12, 2017

by Talia Schlanger

With a career defined by his stint as one of the most lovable bandleaders on late-night TV, Shaffer now brings The World's Most Dangerous Band to World Cafe for a performance and interview.