Music & Culture

'Genius' actor Cynthia Erivo opens up her voice on 'Ch. 1 Vs. 1'

1:20pm October 18, 2021

by Terry Gross

The British actor and singer played abolitionist Harriet Tubman in Harriet, and Aretha Franklin in Genius: Aretha. Now Erivo has a debut album. "I sing often with a bit of a smile," she says.

Queue Listen Now

Music & Culture

Stromae, 'Santé'

12:21pm October 18, 2021

by Tom Huizenga

The Belgian polymath is back with a song that celebrates the hard-working people – from fishermen to restaurant staff – who keep our economies afloat.

The Día de los Muertos altar in the Alt.Latino headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Music & Culture

Submit your songs for Alt.Latino's annual Día de los Muertos sonic altar

12:13pm October 18, 2021

by Felix Contreras

Dedicate a song to a loved one you've lost.

John Coltrane on the cover of A Love Supreme: Live in Seattle.

Music & Culture

Join NPR Music's Listening Party for John Coltrane's 'A Love Supreme: Live in Seattle'

10:00am October 18, 2021

by Lars Gotrich

WBGO's Nate Chinen will be joined by saxophonist Branford Marsalis and harpist Brandee Younger in a live conversation about this recently unearthed live recording.

Cha Wa performs a Tiny Desk (home) concert.

Music & Culture

Cha Wa: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

6:43am October 18, 2021

by Bob Boilen

From Preservation Hall in New Orleans, the rhythmically fueled group broadcasts a powerful performance for a not-so Tiny crowd.

Music & Culture

Joy Crookes' first album embraces power, heartbreak and racial justice

7:54am October 17, 2021

NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with singer and songwriter Joy Crookes about her debut album, "Skin."

Music & Culture

The Formula: Season 2 Trailer

3:51pm October 16, 2021

The art of collaboration is the bedrock of hip-hop. And when these kindred spirits collab, they produce a body of work deep enough to drown out the noise.

Music & Culture

Grammy-winning Finneas releases his first full-length album

7:51am October 16, 2021

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with music artist and producer Finneas about his debut album.

Z The Author submitted the song "Khali's Interlude" to the 2021 Tiny Desk Contest.

Music & Culture

Meet Z The Author, a standout artist from the 2021 Tiny Desk Contest

7:51am October 16, 2021

Each year, the Tiny Desk Contest attracts thousands of impressive unsigned artists from across the country — including Z The Author, who sent in a song inspired by 2020's Black Lives Matter protests.

Music & Culture

Jesy (feat. Nicki Minaj), 'Boyz'

3:48pm October 15, 2021

by Reanna Cruz

Blackfishing aside, there's a reason Jesy Nelson isn't a household name. With toothless lyrics and nondescript vocals, Nelson commits the cardinal solo career sin: being boring