Music Features

Sudan Archives, performing at the FORM Arcosanti festival on May 11, 2018 in Arcosanti, Arizona.

Music & Culture

'I'm Different, But I'm From Here': Sudan Archives Reaches The End Of Her Beginning

9:52am November 08, 2019

by Mano Sundaresan

After two abbreviated releases she likens to experimentalist haikus, the singular 25-year-old artist refined her voice and expanded her collaborations to create a stunning, singular debut.

Music & Culture

What Goes Into Releasing An Artist's Music Posthumously

4:21pm November 06, 2019

by Stephen Thompson

George Michael is one of the latest musicians to have music released posthumously. A lot goes into how that music gets released, who profits and what players make it happen.

Rex Orange County, performing in London on February 20, 2018.

Music & Culture

Rex Orange County Doesn't Care What You Call Him (Anymore)

10:27am November 06, 2019

by Zoë Jones

"You are something and you make a choice in your life, like, 'This is going to be great' — and then it happens, and you're kind of like, 'This is more stressful than I imagined.' "

Miranda Lambert released her seventh solo album, Wildcard, on Nov. 1. "I'm still stubborn and hardheaded," Lambert says, "But I have a career. People heard me. I don't have to scream it out anymore."

Music & Culture

Miranda Lambert Is In It For The Long Haul

4:26pm November 04, 2019

by Jewly Hight

Lambert, who just put out her seventh album, Wildcard, has closed the gap between serious singer-songwriter and arena-rocking entertainer to become the most riveting country star of her generation.

Queue Listen Now

Gang Starr — DJ Premier, left, with MC Guru — photographed in London in 1990. Starting in 2017, Premier spent two years working with archival recordings from Guru, who passed away in 2010.

Music & Culture

DJ Premier Revives The Legendary Gang Starr: 'Together We Bring The Best Dope'

10:20am November 01, 2019

by Mano Sundaresan

With Gang Starr, DJ Premier and Guru established one of the most influential projects in hip-hop history. Now, nine years after the death of their lyricist, comes the return.

The lineup of Santana as of May, 1969, photographed in San Francisco. From left: Michael Shrieve, Carlos Santana, Gregg Rolie, Jose 'Chepito' Areas, David Brown and Michael Carabello.

Music & Culture

First Reviled, Now Revered: The Historic Albums Of 1969

1:32pm October 25, 2019

by Tom Moon

It's not easy to see that history is being made when it's happening right in front of you — just ask the critics tasked with assessing these classic, ahead-of-their-time recordings.

Joni Mitchell and Brandi Carlile at Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration in 2018. Carlile recently performed a tribute to Mitchell's Blue.

Music & Culture

'We Live In The Time Of Joni Mitchell': Brandi Carlile Turns 'Blue' Into Repertoire

11:25am October 25, 2019

by Ann Powers

Carlile's tribute concert established a new approach to canonizing Mitchell's work. And in a video produced for the concert, musicians and friends share their favorite lyrics by Mitchell.

Kanye West performs his Sunday Service event during the 2019 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival on April 21, 2019 in Indio, Calif.

Music & Culture

Forgotten: The Things We Lost In Kanye's Gospel Year

6:14pm October 23, 2019

by Ashon Crawley

In 2019, Kanye West rose from the ashes of a career flameout by taking his faith on tour. But engaging with this self-styled salvation means forgetting what gospel music was created to do.

KOKOKO!, a band from the Democratic Republic of Congo, performs at an NPR Tiny Desk Concert that will be posted at a future date.

Congo's KOKOKO! Makes Joyful Dance Music From Instruments Made Of Junk

7:00am October 19, 2019

by Isabella Gomez Sarmiento

The band couldn't afford instruments. So they made their own out of scavenged items, like kitchen pots and air-conditioner parts. On their U.S. tour, they stopped by NPR's Tiny Desk.

"I'm naturally soft spoken," Laetitia Tamko says. "But when I sing, I'm not soft spoken."

Music & Culture

'There Will Be No Darkness': Laetitia Tamko On The Making Of 'Vagabon'

4:27pm October 18, 2019

by Jenny Gathright

Laetitia Tamko has found a way to cram all of the sounds that personally move her — pop, punk, trap, African music — into Vagabon. "I feel like I made an amazing record. Why can't I say that?"