Music & Culture

Music & Culture

In 'Far In,' Helado Negro speaks to the longing to find solace inside ourselves

3:11pm April 19, 2022

Roberto Carlos Lange, who performs as Helado Negro, lived in Brooklyn until a 2-week trip to Texas to work on an art installation turned into a 6-month stay that led to Far In.

Tim McGraw says he and his wife Faith Hill never sat down to rehearse their lines together for the Paramount+ series 1883: "We didn't want to bring so much of Tim and Faith into our characters. We wanted it to remain Margaret and James."

Country star Tim McGraw travels back in time to '1883' with wife Faith Hill

2:14pm April 19, 2022

by Dave Davies

The Paramount+ series is the first time McGraw and Hill have appeared together on screen. Before they filmed, they attended "cowboy camp," to learn the basics of riding horses and driving wagons.

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Music & Culture

Meet the 2022 Tiny Desk Contest Community

12:18pm April 19, 2022

by Elle Mannion

We received entries from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, from Maine and California and every state in between.

An undated portrait of the late Romanian pianist Radu Lupu. Lupu died Sunday at age 76 in Lausanne, France.

Radu Lupu, celebrated Romanian pianist, dies at age 76

8:07pm April 18, 2022

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

A pianist widely admired by his fellow artists, Radu Lupu was known for his interpretations of Brahms, Schubert, Mozart and Beethoven, among others. Lupu retired from performing in 2019.

Music & Culture

Art Rupe, influential early rock recording executive, has died at 104

4:45pm April 18, 2022

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

Early rock recording executive Art Rupe has died at 104. He founded Specialty Records, which launched the careers of Little Richard and Sam Cooke, and helped make R&B popular with white audiences.

English composer Harrison Birtwistle, seen in 2002, has died, his publisher confirmed on Monday.

Harrison Birtwistle, an influential English composer, has died at age 87

3:33pm April 18, 2022

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

Known for his sonic brashness and unyielding artistic vision, Birtwistle was awarded a British knighthood in 1988. He was one of the U.K.'s most prominent composers for decades.

Music & Culture

Jess Scott, 'Modern Primitive'

1:34pm April 18, 2022

by Lars Gotrich

Rock and roll is not a vibe, but an urge.

Music & Culture

Hip-hop pioneer DJ Kay Slay dies of COVID-19 at age 55

12:40pm April 18, 2022

by The Associated Press

Pioneering hip-hop artist Keith Grayson, who performed as DJ Kay Slay, has died of complications from COVID-19. He worked with stars such as Nas, Kendrick Lamar, Jadakiss and Busta Rhymes.

Maureen Mahon's Black Diamond Queens, Danyel Smith's Shine Bright and Daphne Brooks' Liner Notes for the Revolution celebrate Black women's role in popular music.

Music & Culture

Recovering and reclaiming Black women's place in music history

10:00am April 18, 2022

by Ashawnta Jackson

Black women's contributions to pop music have long been erased or misunderstood. Three recent books, including Danyel Smith's Shine Bright, focus on these stories, offering a richer record of history.

In a new sci-fi book, musician Janelle Monáe expands on themes from her Grammy-nominated album Dirty Computer to tell stories about a community of individuals whose identities are being erased.

Janelle Monáe's 'Dirty Computer' comes alive in a new collection of stories

2:10pm April 17, 2022

by Ayesha Rascoe

The artist builds on the Afrofuturistic world from her 2018 album in a new short story collection titled The Memory Librarian. She tells NPR about her nightmare that inspired the project.

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