Music & Culture

Liliana Saumet (left) and Simón Mejía perform in Bomba Estéreo.

Music & Culture

Bomba Estéreo Returns With 'Duele,' A Hypnotic Portrait Of Heartbreak

3:25pm June 16, 2017

by Julyssa Lopez

With undulating rhythms and a beguiling vocal, the Colombian band's new song evokes a subtle sense of tradition and spirituality. The surreal video unfolds like an animated Dalí painting.

Music & Culture

Jay Z: The Fresh Air Interview

1:37pm June 16, 2017

On Thursday, Jay Z became the first rapper to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. We'll listen back to his 2010 conversation with Terry Gross. Originally broadcast Nov. 16, 2010.

Queue Listen Now

Music & Culture

In 'Creature Comfort,' Arcade Fire Drowns In The Din Of Modern Life

11:56am June 16, 2017

by Stephen Thompson

The second single from Everything Now, out July 28, reflects on unrealistic expectations and societal pressure to conform.

Penguin Cafe performs a Tiny Desk Concert on May 2, 2017. (Claire Harbage/NPR)

Music & Culture

Penguin Cafe: Tiny Desk Concert

11:04am June 16, 2017

by Bob Boilen

Penguin Cafe folds in sounds from around the world and throughout music history — Africa, Kraftwerk, Brazil and Franz Schubert.

Muscadine Bloodline is Charlie Muncaster (left) and Gary Stanton.

Music & Culture

World Cafe Nashville: Muscadine Bloodline

10:20am June 16, 2017

by Jewly Hight

The duo's take on down-home narratives and fist-pumping country anthems is edged in angsty, masculine sensitivity, betraying Charlie Muncaster and Gary Stanton's emo and mall-punk reference points.

Warner/Chappell Music CEO Jon Platt accepts a Songwriter Hall of Fame award on behalf of Jay Z, the first rapper inductee, on June 15, 2017 in New York City.

Music & Culture

Barack Obama Honors Jay Z At Songwriters Hall Of Fame Gala

10:18am June 16, 2017

by Andrew Flanagan

The annual ceremony, held in New York Thursday night, also honored Motown founder Berry Gordy, producer Max Martin, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Babyface and members of the band Chicago.

LeeAnn Ledgerwood, pictured on the cover of Simple Truth, is the featured guest on this week's Piano Jazz.

Music & Culture

LeeAnn Ledgerwood On Piano Jazz

9:24am June 16, 2017

The Berklee-trained pianist joins her mentor Marian McPartland for a session that includes their duo version of "Broadway."

Bob Seger, left, and his Silver Bullet Band in London in 1977 (from second to left: Drew Abbott, Robyn Robbins, Alto Reed, Chris Campbell and Charlie Allen Martin).

Music & Culture

Bob Seger's Music Finally Arrives Online

9:22am June 16, 2017

by Andrew Flanagan

After more than a decade of holding out, the classic rock icon has made his most popular music available for streaming and digital purchase.

Phoenix performs "Fior Di Latte" live in the studio for KCRW.

Music & Culture

Phoenix, 'Fior Di Latte' (Live)

9:00am June 16, 2017

by Jason Bentley

The French indie-pop band performs a cut from its romantic new album, Ti Amo, for KCRW.

Arcadi Volodos devotes his new album to the music of Brahms.

Music & Culture

Songs We Love: Arcadi Volodos, 'Intermezzo In A, Op. 118, No. 2'

8:30am June 16, 2017

by Tom Huizenga

The Russian pianist, known for his fiery technique, scales back to let his instrument sing sweetly in an autumnal miniature from late in the career of Johannes Brahms.