Music Interviews

Music & Culture

Elton John On Music, Addiction And Family: 'I'm Proud Of Who I Am Now'

1:46pm December 18, 2020

by Terry Gross

In 2019, John told Fresh Air that his father's early misgivings about his chosen career became a source of motivation: "He gave me the determination to make something of myself."

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August Wilson at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colo., in 2004.

'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' Shines A Light On August Wilson's Vision

1:39pm December 18, 2020

by Tom Vitale

The late August Wilson's first Broadway hit, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, has been adapted for the screen, starring Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman in his final film role.

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Music & Culture

Our 2020 Nashville Music Recap

1:55pm December 17, 2020

In this episode, World Cafe's Nashville correspondent and NPR pop critic Ann Powers brings you some of the artists from the Music City that you might have missed this year.

Music & Culture

Dust-To-Digital Producers On Curating And Showcasing 'Harry Smith B-Sides'

1:36pm December 16, 2020

by Sam Briger

Music producers Lance and April Ledbetter talk about curating their new anthology, which collects the flip sides of the 78s Smith chose for his 1952 Anthology of American Folk Music.

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Music & Culture

Daveed Diggs, Jonathan Snipes Talk New Holiday Song, 'Puppy For Hanukkah'

4:59pm December 13, 2020

NPR's Michel Martin talks to Hamilton star Daveed Diggs and composer Jonathan Snipes of the group Clipping about their recent addition to the holiday song canon.

Music & Culture

A Song A Day: Two Performers Create Digital Advent Calendar With Original Tunes

8:01am December 13, 2020

Holiday joy is in short supply, but Julia Mattison and Joel Waggoner have created a social media advent calendar of silly carols to lighten up a dark season. They talk with NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro.

Music & Culture

The Avalanches Release Their Highly Anticipated Third Album

8:01am December 13, 2020

Robbie Chater and Tony Di Blasi of The Avalanches share the inspiration for and some of the sounds on their third album, We Will Always Love You.

Music & Culture

Andrew Bird's First Holiday Album Includes A Song Inspired By The Pandemic

10:06am December 12, 2020

NPR's Scott Simon talks to Andrew Bird about his holiday album, Hark! featuring some originals and some classics.

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Music & Culture

Redemption And Connection: Lara Downes Talks With Davóne Tines

5:00am December 12, 2020

by Lara Downes

In conversation and in song, the opera singer and the pianist discover healing in a traumatized space.

PJ Morton's new track for Morning Edition's Song Project, "Still Here," is about working through a year full of challenges and loss.

Music & Culture

On 'Still Here,' PJ Morton Reflects On Surviving 2020

6:11am December 09, 2020

The R&B star's new song, written for Morning Edition's Song Project, is about working — alongside the whole world — to get through a year of challenges and loss.

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