Music

Freedom Is Free is the latest album by Los Angeles quartet Chicano Batman. Left to right: Eduardo Arenas, Bardo Martinez, Gabriel Villa, Carlos Arévalo.

Music & Culture

Chicano Batman: A Sound And Vision That Could Only Come From Los Angeles

5:01pm March 06, 2017

by NPR Staff

The band warps traditional Mexican music with traces of lounge, R&B, psych rock — and on the new Freedom Is Free, some explicit politics. Kelly McEvers met up with the group at an LA guitar shop.

Jain performs in the World Cafe studio at WXPN in Philadelphia.

Music & Culture

Jain On World Cafe

4:55pm March 06, 2017

by David Dye

The French pop artist shows her love of African percussion and rhythms on her debut album, Zanaka.

Nate Smith's debut solo album is Kinfolk: Postcards From Everywhere.

Music & Culture

Nate Smith's 'Kinfolk': A Study In Nomadic Jazz

4:32pm March 06, 2017

by Tom Moon

The drummer and Virginia native's first solo project, Kinfolk: Postcards From Everywhere, introduces a restless musical spirit.

Music & Culture

The xx Mix Atmospheric Pop And Warm Soulfulness On 'I See You'

1:59pm March 06, 2017

by Ken Tucker

Critic Ken Tucker reviews the British group The xx's third album. "Beneath its sleek beauty, there's a fresh joyousness ... that at its best is something close to inspirational," he says of I See You.

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Aubrey Allicock (right) portrays boxing champ Emile Griffith in his prime, along with Andrew McLaughlin, in Terence Blanchard's Champion, at Washington National Opera.

Music & Culture

In Pursuit Of A More Diverse Night At The Opera

12:36pm March 06, 2017

by Tom Huizenga

How do you attract a more diverse audience at the opera? One answer is to produce operas with characters that look more like the general citizenry.

Music & Culture

Watch: Girlpool Goes Big (If Just A Little) And Lovingly Gross In '123' Video

11:52am March 06, 2017

by Lars Gotrich

Cleo Tucker and Harmony Tividad return with Girlpool's second album, Powerplant, out May 12.

Like all albums by The Magnetic Fields since the group's landmark 69 Love Songs, the new 50 Song Memoir hinges on a concept. This time it's the life of songwriter Stephin Merritt (center, looking at the camera), with one song for each year of his life.

Music & Culture

A Life In Music: The Magnetic Fields' '50 Song Memoir'

11:43am March 06, 2017

by Barry Walters

The Magnetic Fields' 50 Song Memoir is, just as the title says, an autobiography of songwriter Stephin Merritt, with one song for each year of his life, and a tribute to finding salvation in music.

Hear a guest mix from Soulwax on this week's episode of Metropolis.

Music & Culture

Metropolis: 3/4/17

11:40am March 06, 2017

This week's episode features a special guest mix from the electronic group Soulwax.

A new TED Ed video explains the scientific basis of how practicing actually makes you a better performer.

Music & Culture

How To Practice Effectively, According To Science

11:24am March 06, 2017

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

Want to boost those neural pathways? TED Ed offers practical suggestions: Practice in concentrated bursts, work through passages slooowly -- and step away from Facebook.

Future in Paris on March 5, 2017 during Fashion Week.

Music & Culture

Future Makes History With Back-To-Back Chart Toppers

10:37am March 06, 2017

by Rodney Carmichael

Atlanta rapper Future achieves a first in the history of the Billboard 200 chart with his back-to-back No. 1 albums, FUTURE and HNDRXX.