Music Interviews

Lorde's debut album, Pure Heroine, is out now.

Music & Culture

Lorde Doesn't Have A Bentley, But The Charts Will Do

10:09pm September 30, 2013

by NPR Staff

All Things Considered's Audie Cornish speaks with the teenage New Zealand singer about her new album, Pure Heroine. "Royals" is just about the opposite of anything you'd hear from Lorde's pop peers.

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For three years, jazz musician Vijay Iyer has worked with poet and performer Mike Ladd to set the words of war veterans to music. The resulting album, released earlier this month, is called Holding It Down: The Veterans' Dreams Project.

Music & Culture

Vijay Iyer On Learning From War

6:30pm September 29, 2013

by NPR Staff

For three years, the jazz musician and his collaborator Mike Ladd have been working with war veterans-turned-poets to bring their words to light. NPR's Arun Rath speaks with Iyer and Iraq veteran Maurice Decaul about the album that resulted, Holding It Down: The Veterans' Dreams Project.

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Alan Jackson's The Bluegrass Album combines new originals with some staples of the genre.

Music & Culture

'You Can Always Come Home': Alan Jackson On Family And Bluegrass

11:06am September 26, 2013

by NPR Staff

Jackson's newest release, The Bluegrass Album, is exactly what its title promises: a collection of bluegrass covers, as well as some originals written in the style. Here, the country superstar discusses the personal stories behind the record.

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Kings of Leon, left to right: Jared, Caleb, Matthew and Nathan Followill.

Music & Culture

Kings Of Leon: Back With The 'Comeback Story Of A Lifetime'

11:48am September 24, 2013

by NPR Staff

Mechanical Bull is Kings of Leon's comeback record after a two-year hiatus brought about by a memorable onstage breakdown. The gritty Southern rock group is ready to pick up where its members left off.

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Elton John tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross that The Diving Board is "a very adult album."

Music & Culture

A More Reflective Leap On Elton John's 'Diving Board'

2:18pm September 23, 2013

The pop star has a flair for the extravagant, to say the least, but his new album is stripped down. He tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross about the "Elton John excess," his fear of sex as a young man, and how Liberace's example encouraged John to make the piano a star instrument.

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?uestlove and The Roots play backing band to Elvis Costello on the new collaborative album Wise Up Ghost.

Music & Culture

?uestlove And Elvis Costello On Writing Together

9:34am September 23, 2013

by NPR Staff

Costello has teamed with hip-hop legends The Roots for one of the more unusual, invigorating musical partnerships of the year. NPR's Arun Rath speaks with Costello and Roots bandleader Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson about the new album Wise Up Ghost.

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Composer Ellis Ludwig-Leone leads the chamber-pop ensemble San Fermin.

Music & Culture

A Young Composer Steps Outside Of Himself (And Into Pop)

5:59pm September 20, 2013

by NPR Staff

San Fermin's self-titled debut is an orchestral wonder, born in the shadow of looming adulthood. NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with the group's leader, 24-year-old Ellis Ludwig-Leone.

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Sidi Touré's new album, Alafia, is his third international release.

Music & Culture

Honoring A Duty To Make Music In Silent Mali

7:08pm September 15, 2013

by NPR Staff

The songwriter and guitarist Sidi Touré is a superstar in Mali. But in the last 18 months, a violent insurgency from the country's northern regions made life very difficult — especially for artists. Now, he's set to release a new album, Alafia, recorded while rebels occupied his home town.

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Goodie Mob, left to right: Cee-Lo, T-Mo, Big Gipp, Khujo.

Music & Culture

Goodie Mob: Building New Leaders From The Elders

3:01pm September 10, 2013

by NPR Staff

Cee-Lo Green says the group's reunion provides an opportunity to bring something new and deep to hip-hop. Goodie Mob's new album, Age Against the Machine, aims to challenge the genre's mainstream powerhouses.

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Janelle Monáe's new album, The Electric Lady, features collaborations with Prince, Erykah Badu, Miguel and Esperanza Spalding.

Music & Culture

'Electric Lady' Janelle Monae On Creating The Unheard

5:15pm September 08, 2013

by NPR Staff

The 27-year-old singer's music is often called futuristic — in part because her early releases revolved around a robot love story, but also because her work so firmly resists classification. She discusses her new album, The Electric Lady, here with NPR's Jacki Lyden.

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