Music & Culture

Now more than a decade into his career, James Blake returns to his early years in the U.K. dance music scene in this installment of Play It Forward.

Music & Culture

Play It Forward: James Blake On Playing His Biggest Shows Ever, From His Living Room

4:39pm June 24, 2020

Ari Shapiro speaks with Blake about playing virtual concerts for thousands of fans, and finding his voice early on by studying the music of British producer Mala.

Music & Culture

Join NPR Music's Listening Party For SAULT's 'UNTITLED'

1:00pm June 24, 2020

by Lars Gotrich

Friday at 3 p.m. ET, NPR Music will host an online listening party for SAULT's powerful celebration of Blackness. Join the chat room, ask our expert panel questions and shout your love.

Music & Culture

How Sweet Crude Celebrated Its Album Release After Recovering From COVID-19

12:27pm June 24, 2020

Singers Sam Craft and Alexis Marceaux describe their very different experiences with COVID-19. Plus hear the uniquely New Orleanian story of how the band celebrated the release of its new album.

Madame Gandhi plays a Tiny Desk (Home) concert.

Music & Culture

Madame Gandhi: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

6:20am June 24, 2020

by Kara Frame

Watch the drummer and activist perform three songs for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.

Azealia Banks' song "Gimme A Chance" is a reminder to Raquel Gutiérrez that revolutionaries love to dance, but not every Pride is a revolution.

Music & Culture

A Different Kind Of Pride: Perspectives On 50 Years Of Celebration, Part 3

5:00am June 24, 2020

by Raquel Gutiérrez

We asked writers in the LGBTQ+ community to reflect on the relationship between celebration, protest, music and LGBTQ+ activism. Raquel Gutiérrez shares music that showcases Pride's political power.

Miami duo City Girls returns with their second full-length album, City on Lock.

Music & Culture

Heat Check: Can't Get It For Free

6:58pm June 23, 2020

by Sidney Madden

In a week of rapid headlines and surprise releases, these tracks from City Girls, Noname, Anderson .Paak and more attempt to restore the feeling without disregarding reality.

Chloe x Halle, performing on April 11, 2019 in New York.

Music & Culture

Chloe x Halle Have Taken Beyoncé's Most Important Lesson To Heart

2:47pm June 23, 2020

by Cate Young

The pair have come a long way since signing with Beyoncé's company five years ago. In fact, they seem to have matched her example, in one important respect: They seem fully themselves.

Music & Culture

Lady Gaga And Carly Rae Jepsen, Both With Bold Albums, Make Isolation Less Lonely

2:15pm June 23, 2020

by Ken Tucker

The electric instrumentation of Lady Gaga's flashy disco record Chromatica and Carly Rae Jepsen's Dedicated Side B provide a much-needed jolt for the COVID era.

Queue Listen Now

Soul singer and songwriter William Bell — one of Stax Records' earliest stars — is one of this year's recipients of an NEA National Heritage Fellowship.

The NEA Announces Its 2020 National Heritage Fellowship Winners

1:38pm June 23, 2020

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

A soul singer from Atlanta, an Iroquois bead artist, West African dancers and an Armenian vocalist are among this year's recipients of National Heritage Fellowship

For writer Barry Walters, Donna Summer's "She Works Hard for the Money" soundtracked a joyous moment of Pride.

Music & Culture

A Different Kind Of Pride: Perspectives On 50 Years Of Celebration, Part 2

8:00am June 23, 2020

by Barry Walters

We asked music writers in the LGBTQ+ community to reflect on the relationship between celebration, protest, music and LGBTQ+ activism. Barry Walters writes about pandemics, privilege and disco.