Music Interviews

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.

Music & Culture

Guest DJ: Lord Huron On The Songs That Shaped The Cinematic 'Vide Noir'

10:50am April 19, 2018

by Bob Boilen

The band Lord Huron is known for its cinematic story songs. Ben Schneider, creator of the project, talks about some of the music by other artists that informed the tales on his latest album.

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Superorganism inside the World Cafe Performance Studio

Music & Culture

Superorganism On World Cafe

10:56am April 18, 2018

by Stephen Kallao

The eight-piece group deliver fantastic gems of indie pop that are never too clever for their own good.

Music & Culture

Squirrel Nut Zippers On World Cafe

5:07pm April 17, 2018

by Talia Schlanger

The band just released Beasts of Burgundy, its first new album of original material in 18 years. If you don't like funk, now would be the time to move on to another session.

Field Report inside the World Cafe Performance Studio

Music & Culture

Field Report On World Cafe

4:10pm April 16, 2018

by Stephen Kallao

Frontman Chris Porterfield shares stories and performs songs from Field Report's new album, Summertime Songs.

The members of Orquesta Akokán hail from both Cuba and the U.S., assembled by vocalist and composer José "Pepito" Gómez. They recorded their debut album live to tape in just three days.

Music & Culture

As Cuba Changes, Orquesta Akokán Revives The Golden Age Of Mambo

8:20am April 15, 2018

Producer Jacob Plasse and vocalist José "Pepito" Gómez share how they recorded the band's debut in Havana's legendary Areito Studios and what their team-up symbolizes for Cuban-American relations.

Laura Veirs' latest album is The Lookout.

Music & Culture

Laura Veirs On World Cafe

3:02pm April 13, 2018

by Talia Schlanger

Veirs performs songs from The Lookout, for which she originally wrote over 100 songs, and explains how a set of creative constraints helped her arrive at its gauzy new sound.

Music & Culture

Jon Bon Jovi Reflects On A Music Career That Surpassed His 'Wildest Dreams'

2:23pm April 13, 2018

by Terry Gross

Bon Jovi spoke to Fresh Air in '09 about growing up, getting his first single on the radio and having group therapy with his bandmates. He'll be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday.

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Cleo Brown on the cover of Here Comes Cleo.

Music & Culture

Cleo Brown On Piano Jazz

12:21pm April 13, 2018

Cleo Brown makes a rare appearance to perform her greatest hit, "Pinetop's Boogie-Woogie," and to recall the style's heyday in the 1930s.

"It sounds like a friend now instead of an enemy," John Prine says of his singing voice.

Music & Culture

'Talking About Heaven': John Prine Proves That Old Trees Grow Stronger

5:05am April 13, 2018

by Jewly Hight

The venerated songwriter discusses learning to love his voice and how years of scribbled lyrics on yellow legal pads became The Tree of Forgiveness, his first album of new material in over a decade.

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