Music Interviews

Detail from the cover of Witness Marks: The Works of John B. McLemore.

Music & Culture

Bearing Musical Witness To John B. McLemore, The Late Protagonist Of 'S-Town'

7:42am April 22, 2018

Before his death in 2015, the subject of the hit podcast made music inspired by painter and ambient musician Tor Lundvall. Now, Lundvall is paying tribute to McLemore in return.

Juliana Hatfield's puts her own spin Olivia Newton-John's 80s-era hits.

Music & Culture

Juliana Hatfield Sings The Hits Of 'Old Friend' Olivia Newton-John

7:42am April 22, 2018

Though she's known for her contributions to '90s indie rock, Hatfield goes back to one of her earliest musical inspirations for her new album of Olivia Newton-John covers.

Ballerinas of the New York City Ballet perform Serenade by George Balanchine at the Mariinsky theatre in St.Petersburg, July 30, 2003.

Music & Culture

Shall We Dance: Balanchine Sets Tchaikovsky In Motion

5:05pm April 20, 2018

by Marin Alsop

Conductor Marin Alsop muses on the power of ballet and her memories of watching choreographer George Balanchine bring the music of Tchaikovsky to life with the New York City Ballet.

Music & Culture

World Cafe Nashville: Brothers Osborne

3:10pm April 20, 2018

by Ann Powers

John Osborne's guitar runs through every track like a duet partner with T.J.'s ever more sophisticated vocalizing. Hear a live session from Nashville's Sound Stage Studios.

Bernie Dalton (right) and Essence Goldman (center) signing copies of Bernie And The Believer's album Connection

Music & Culture

'He Wants To Be Remembered': Tiny Desk Contestant Finds His Voice While Fighting ALS

12:46pm April 20, 2018

by Ailsa Chang

Bernie Dalton had a dream to make music, but when he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, he was even more determined.

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Yissy Garcia, part of a new creative vanguard emerging from Cuba.

Music & Culture

From Cuba With Love: Yissy Garcia And Bandancha's 'Universo'

12:21pm April 20, 2018

by Gabriela Sierra Alonso

Yissy Garcia and Bandancha defies categorization, mixing jazz, Afro-Cuban, hip-hop and deep grooves standing at the bleeding edge of a new Cuban vanguard.

Lion Babe performs at 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival Weekend 1 on April 15, 2018 in Indio, Calif.

Music & Culture

Beyond Beychella: The Rise Of Women Of Color On America's Biggest Festival Stage

9:56am April 20, 2018

by Sidney Madden

With a history-making show from Beyoncé and inclusion of more women on the lineup than ever, Coachella 2018 has set the stage for minority women to excel.

Monroe isn't shy about her accomplishments on Sparrow; the singer admits to blasting the album in her car.

Music & Culture

'I'm Gonna Listen To Myself Again': Ashley Monroe On Singing Through Pain

5:11am April 20, 2018

The country singer and her producer Dave Cobb discuss working through trauma and pairing classic country influences with larger-than-life orchestration to create Sparrow.

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Music & Culture

Erika Wennerstrom On World Cafe

1:45pm April 19, 2018

by Talia Schlanger

The Heartless Bastards front woman details her experience on a trip through the Amazon and how it informed the art she made on her latest solo album, Sweet Unknown.

Kendrick Lamar won the Pulitzer Prize for music this week, becoming the first non-classical or jazz artist to do so.

Music & Culture

How The Pulitzer Jury Opened Its Doors To Hip-Hop

12:05pm April 19, 2018

by Rodney Carmichael

The Pulitzer Prize for Kendrick Lamar's DAMN. represents a shifting tide in rap's cultural status. But a juror who helped select the prize says it means as much for an institution like the Pulitzers.