Music

Music & Culture

Walter Martin Remembers Art History Class With 'Arts And Leisure'

5:12pm January 30, 2016

by Michel Martin

Former musician from the band The Walkmen, Walter Martin has gone solo with an interesting new record. It's an amusing song cycle that covers what he calls his "shaky grasp of college art history."

'Downton Abbey' Composer Explains Theme Choices

8:08am January 30, 2016

by Tim Greiving

For six seasons, the elegant, orchestral tone of the beloved TV series has been set by Scottish composer John Lunn, who has won two Primetime Emmys for the show's music.

Music & Culture

Heavy Rotation: 10 Songs Public Radio Can't Stop Playing

8:00am January 30, 2016

Hear new songs by Mavis Staples, M. Ward, Villagers and more in this month's mix, expertly curated by 10 public-radio hosts.

Ben Haggerty, a.k.a. Macklemore, and Jamila Woods collaborated on the song "White Privilege II."

Music & Culture

'This Song Is Uncomfortable': Macklemore On The Contradictions Of 'White Privilege'

6:26pm January 29, 2016

by Audie Cornish

The rapper says he knew that releasing a nine-minute song that called out his own privilege would — and should — be seen by some as an unwelcome co-opting of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Queue Listen Now

Paul Kantner, Co-Founder Of Jefferson Airplane, Dies At 74

4:29pm January 29, 2016

by Tom Cole

Paul Kantner co-founded the band Jefferson Airplane with Marty Balin in 1965. When that band broke up, he founded Jefferson Starship and led the band for more than 40 years. Kantner died in his native San Francisco Thursday after suffering a heart attack earlier in the week. He was 74 years old.

Music & Culture

Lettuce On World Cafe

3:48pm January 29, 2016

Hear songs from the Brooklyn band, which incorporates hip-hop into its energetic funk sound.

Music & Culture

Songs We Love: KAMAU, 'Hometown Glory (Interpretation)'

1:54pm January 29, 2016

by Erika Ramirez

The dynamic, soulful vocalist audaciously blends an Adele ballad with a Southern hip-hop anthem.

Music & Culture

Sergio Salvatore On Piano Jazz

1:13pm January 29, 2016

The composer and pianist was only 14 when he was a guest on the program back in 1996.

Macklemore performs onstage during the Capital One Orange Bowl Beach Bash in December in Miami Beach.

Music & Culture

I Guess We Gotta Talk About Macklemore's 'White Privilege' Song

12:08pm January 29, 2016

by Gene Demby

You won't have any thoughts about the rapper's new song about racial inequality, and his place as a white dude in hip-hop, that you didn't have before, in part because he plays it so safe.

A still from Vandaveer's new video 'A Little Time Off Ahead'

Music & Culture

Vandaveer, 'A Little Time Off Ahead'

11:42am January 29, 2016

by Jackson Sinnenberg

Vandaveer's heartwarming — and impressive — new video for "A Little Time Off Ahead" reflects on life and the need to appreciate the ones we love.