Music & Culture

Music & Culture

Musician Distracts Himself During 1st Time Paragliding

5:56am April 21, 2021

The man in Turkey, to combat nervousness, brought along his violin — playing away as he soared through the sky. It's safe to say he conquered his fear. He has signed up to do it again.

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Crying in H Mart: A Memoir, Michelle Zauner

A Daughter Grieves Her Mom, And Finds Herself, In 'Crying In H Mart'

1:59pm April 20, 2021

by Kristen Martin

Michelle Zauner's new memoir, built on her 2018 New Yorker piece of the same name, powerfully maps a complicated mother-daughter relationship cut much too short, with Korean food as a guide.

Tribute Album 'Law Years' Captures Ornette Coleman's Happy Bounce

1:32pm April 20, 2021

by Kevin Whitehead

Coleman, who died in 2015, had a knack for writing catchy melodies in a distinctive voice. Saxophonist Miguel Zenón loves Coleman's music and put together a quartet to play some.

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'Renegades' Podcast With Obama And Springsteen Is Interesting ... Enough

1:32pm April 20, 2021

by Nick Quah

There's clearly a limit to what the former president will say --even on his own platform. Obama's conversation with the Boss is at its most fluid and introspective when the two discuss masculinity.

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C. Tangana performs a Tiny Desk (home) concert.

Music & Culture

C. Tangana: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

12:03pm April 20, 2021

by Anamaria Sayre

The Spanish superstar performed one of the most ambitious, and yet simple, Tiny Desks we've seen in quarantine.

Rina Sawayama performs a Tiny Desk (home) concert.

Music & Culture

Rina Sawayama: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

9:36pm April 19, 2021

by Alex Ramos

The Japanese British pop star performs three tracks from her 2020 debut album, SAWAYAMA.

Music & Culture

Arooj Aftab's Newest Album Finds Light In Dark Times

7:58am April 18, 2021

NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks with Arooj Aftab about her new album, Vulture Prince, completed after the loss of her brother and threaded through with themes of grief and longing.

Not My Job: We Quiz Japanese Breakfast On 'The Breakfast Of Champions'

8:24am April 17, 2021

Singer songwriter Michelle Zauner performs under the name Japanese Breakfast so we've invited her to answer three questions about Wheaties.

Music & Culture

Gospel Singer Elizabeth King Hits A Musical Milestone At 77

7:59am April 17, 2021

At the age of 77, Memphis sacred soul singer Elizabeth King is releasing her first full-length album, Living in the Last Days. She talks about it with NPR's Debbie Elliott.

Fans with a photo of Selena during a ceremony honoring her in 2017. Over the decades since her death, Selena's legacy has become even more profound than writer Deborah Paredez ever anticipated.

Music & Culture

Selena At 50: Preserving And Protecting A Precious Legacy

4:57pm April 16, 2021

by Deborah Paredez

This week marks what would have been the 50th birthday of Selena, who died in 1995. Now, she's experiencing a remarkable revival. But has she ever really been that far from our thoughts or playlists?