Music Interviews

Customers line up outside the Detroit location of Jack White's Third Man Records store on opening day, Nov. 27. Third Man's plans for Detroit also include a record pressing plant.

Music & Culture

A Rational Conversation: Jack White's Third Man Records Returns To Detroit

1:53pm December 20, 2015

by Eric Ducker

The former White Stripes singer founded his band and his label, Third Man, in Detroit, but in recent years has made a home base in Nashville. Now the label has opened an outpost in his hometown.

Kenny Rogers' latest holiday album, his sixth, is called Once Again It's Christmas.

Music & Culture

Kenny Rogers' Rules For Living Well

8:34am December 20, 2015

by NPR Staff

Kenny Rogers goes long with NPR's Rachel Martin, discussing his work ethic, his yearly holiday music tradition, and the uncanny persistence of "The Gambler."

Music & Culture

Old Hits, New Twists On Count Basie Orchestra's New Holiday Album

8:04am December 19, 2015

The legendary Count Basie Orchestra has a new album of holiday music. It features new takes on some old hits. NPR's Scott Simon speaks with lead trumpeter Scott Barnhart about "A Very Swingin' Basie Chirstmas."

Music & Culture

Rickie Lee Jones On World Cafe

5:31pm December 18, 2015

Hear songs from The Other Side of Desire, Jones' first new album of original material since 2003.

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David Bowie's new album, Blackstar, comes out Jan. 8.

Music & Culture

All Songs +1: David Bowie Fulfills His Jazz Dream

11:05pm December 17, 2015

by Bob Boilen

Saxophonist Donny McCaslin and longtime David Bowie producer Tony Visconti talk Blackstar and Bowie's deep dive into jazz.

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Music & Culture

Dave Rawlings Machine On World Cafe

3:31pm December 17, 2015

Rawlings' voice is out front in this collaboration with his partner, Gillian Welch.

Music & Culture

Jon Anderson And Jean-Luc Ponty On World Cafe

4:35pm December 16, 2015

Hear what happens when jazz fusion comes together with the lead singer of the prog-rock band Yes.

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Producer Dave Cobb in the studio at his Nashville home. Cobb's work has added traditional notes to the slick sound that dominates country, but he challenges the idea that what he's doing is more "authentic."

Music & Culture

An Outsider Remakes Nashville's Traditional Sound

1:46pm December 16, 2015

by Ann Powers

After making acclaimed albums with Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton, producer Dave Cobb has quietly staked out territory as the man behind country music's roots revolution.

Music & Culture

Holly Miranda On World Cafe

5:42pm December 15, 2015

The Brooklyn singer has Kanye West's stamp of approval. Hear songs from her new self-titled album.

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Music & Culture

M.I.A.: 'How Can The West Turn People Away?'

1:48pm December 15, 2015

by NPR Staff

The London-born, Sri Lanka-raised artist has made a habit of crossing borders in her life and in her music. In her latest video, she wonders why those borders exist at all.

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