At SXSW, A Moment With The 'Queen Of Austin Soul'
Local singer Tameca Jones takes a break from the festival's bustle to perform two songs and discuss the Austin music scene with NPR's Michel Martin.
Music Interviews
After Leaving Justin Timberlake's Label, A Garage-Soul Singer Forges Her Own Path
When Brenda Radney entered NPR's Tiny Desk Contest with her band The Sh-Booms, she was no stranger to music competitions: She once entered a contest that led to her signing with Timberlake.
Within SXSW, A Smaller, Latino Conference Has Something To Say About America
NPR's Felix Contreras and Audie Cornish discussed SXAmericas and the bands who are reacting to recent changes in US immigration enforcement.
Composer Alan Menken On His Disney Tunes: 'I Prefer Them To Be Hum-able'
Menken scored The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Pocahontas and many other Disney classics. He recently wrote three new songs for the live action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast.
Girl, Interrupted: Hurray For The Riff Raff On Identity Lost And Found
Singer Alynda Segarra explains the band's new album, The Navigator, which tells the story of a Puerto Rican girl who wishes away her culture and community in exchange for more freedom.
Songs We Love: GoldLink, 'Meditation (Feat. Jazmine Sullivan & Kaytranada)'
"[Go-go] was our girlfriend and we didn't want anybody else to f*** her," the DMV native says with the release of a single that personifies the nostalgia for his musical roots.
World Cafe Nashville: Kiya Lacey
Between Nashville and Atlanta, Lacey is developing an icy, introspective alt-R&B sound. "I feel like it's a great time for women to realize that they do have power," she says.
For This Musical Community, The Tiny Desk Contest Was An Excuse To Reunite
Songwriter Alex Bondarev came up through a local musicians' network called the Bronx Underground. In preparing to enter NPR Music's Tiny Desk Contest, he decided to get the gang back together.
James Mercer Says The Shins' New Songs Reflect Changes In Rock — And Himself
Heartworms is the band's first album in five years. Mercer says that in the two decades since the band formed, his outlook and that of the dominant music culture have swapped places.
Just What Is 'The Wild Heart Of Life'? Japandroids' Album Title, Explained
After hearing the phrase "near to the wild heart of life" years ago, the singer/guitarist discovered it had a literary origin that perfectly suited the spirit of Japandroids' music.