Music & Culture

Music & Culture

Remembering Mary Weiss, lead singer of The Shangri-Las

1:23pm January 26, 2024

by Terry Gross

The Shangri-Las mixed a tough image with songs about teen love. Weiss, who died Jan. 19, left the group in the late '60s, and released her fist solo album in 2007. Originally broadcast in 2007.

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Thee Sacred Souls perform a Tiny Desk concert.

Music & Culture

Tiny Desk Premiere: Thee Sacred Souls

5:00am January 26, 2024

by Anamaria Artemisa Sayre

The San Diego-based trio made its mark at the Tiny Desk with satin vocals and vintage melodies.

In her 2015 memoir, Girl in a Band, Kim Gordon credits The Shangri-Las' speak-sing style as an influence on her own. The '60s girl-group's lead singer, Mary Weiss, died last week.

Music & Culture

Kim Gordon raps her shopping list — it's hot and terrifying

7:07pm January 25, 2024

by Lars Gotrich

Sonic Youth's co-founder took her cues from a '60s girl-group but forges a new lane. NPR Music producer Lars Gotrich functions as your antidote to the algorithm in eight tracks to know this week.

Music & Culture

The steel pan has a legacy. Jonathan Scales is redefining it.

6:19pm January 25, 2024

Meet a steel pan artist that will knock you out of your shoes. Jonathan Scales provides new angles to hear and appreciate his enigmatic instrument.

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Folk singer Melanie, known for 'Brand New Key' and Woodstock, dies at 76

4:44pm January 25, 2024

American folk singer Melanie has died at 76. Best known for her song "Brand New Key," she said the first big break of her career was playing at Woodstock in 1969.

Music & Culture

Justin Timberlake teases first new album in 5 years with single 'Selfish'

3:50pm January 25, 2024

by Chloe Veltman

The Grammy Award-winner's track comes in run up to the March 15 release of his new album, Everything I Thought It Was.

Unionized staff picket outside the Condé Nast offices in New York on Jan. 23. The company is merging the popular digital music publication Pitchfork with the men's magazine GQ, which has triggered anger over the resulting layoffs and concern for the outlet's future.

With Pitchfork in peril, a word on the purpose of music journalism

4:17pm January 24, 2024

by Ann Powers

At its best, the influential online music pub — which Condé Nast announced last week will be folded into GQ — created a rare and precious space to slow down, pay attention and really listen.

BLK ODYSSY performs at Tiny Desk concert.

Music & Culture

Tiny Desk Premiere: BLK ODYSSY

11:15am January 24, 2024

by Bobby Carter

An 18-minute flex that proves the artist is the modern personification of funk.

Music & Culture

A dive bar in Berlin is a hot spot for New Orleans jazz

5:13am January 24, 2024

by Halle Parker

On stage, the band is led by a trio of German men in their 80s. The group's leader is Raimer Lösch, who fell in love with jazz in New Orleans more than 50 years ago.

Music & Culture

Ana Tijoux releases 'Vivda' — a decade after 'Vengo'

5:13am January 24, 2024

It's been 10 years since Chilean-French hip-hop artist Ana Tijoux dropped an album. She's back with Vida, and talks about her return to recording.