Music Interviews

Music & Culture

Remembering Billy Joe Shaver, Songwriter Of Country's Outlaw Movement

2:12pm October 30, 2020

by Terry Gross

Shaver, who died Oct. 28, wrote songs for Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and Elvis Presley, among others. Originally broadcast in 1994 and 2005.

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Love Is the King is a new solo album from Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, featuring his sons Spencer and Sammy.

Music & Culture

Family Reigns Supreme On Jeff Tweedy's New Album, 'Love Is The King'

6:42pm October 29, 2020

The leader of Wilco isn't touring anytime soon, but he's kept creating with help from his sons, who appear with him on a new solo album and in a playful livestream series on Instagram.

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"I think a lot of my last record is just me trying to find some peace with saying whatever stream-of-consciousness things that come to my head," Nick Hakim says. "It's therapeutic for myself."

Music & Culture

Play It Forward: Nick Hakim Finds Humor In Darkness

6:23pm October 28, 2020

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Brooklyn-based musician Nick Hakim about creating little worlds with music and the artist he is grateful for: Laraaji.

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Music & Culture

Why Algiers Went Personal Instead Of Political In 2020

3:56pm October 28, 2020

The rock band Algiers has a reputation for being a firebrand. But that wasn't the case on There Is No Year.

Rhiannon Giddens' new track for Morning Edition's Song Project series describes her feelings of emotional whiplash during the COVID-19 era.

Music & Culture

Rhiannon Giddens Confronts Emotional Whiplash On 'Best Day / Worst Day'

8:08am October 28, 2020

Giddens explains how the new song she composed for Morning Edition's Song Project series grew from this year's extreme ups and downs.

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In the first episode of Amplify With Lara Downes, the pianist (left) speaks with singer-songwriter, banjo player and MacArthur "genius" Rhiannon Giddens.

Music & Culture

In Lara Downes' New Series, Black Musicians Rise To A Pivotal Moment

4:08pm October 26, 2020

The pianist joins Ari Shapiro to discuss Amplify With Lara Downes, a video series on Black musicians who have experienced renewed creativity regarding racial injustice.

Love Goes, out Oct. 30, is the third studio album by Sam Smith.

Music & Culture

Sam Smith On 'Love Goes' And Forgiving Yourself

2:28pm October 26, 2020

The Grammy winner says their third studio album, out Oct. 30, grew from learning to accept the parts of heartbreak that stay with you even after you've moved on.

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Nicolas Muñoz writes, records, performs and produces as Boy Pablo.

Music & Culture

On 'Wachito Rico,' Boy Pablo Yearns For His First Love

12:09pm October 25, 2020

Nico Muñoz of Boy Pablo chats with NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro about his debut album, Wachito Rico.

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Music & Culture

New Music: 'This Love Thing'

4:43pm October 23, 2020

NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with musicians and activists Rami Nashashibi and Drea D'Nur about their new album, This Love Thing.

Bruce Springsteen's new album, Letter To You, is accompanied by a film about the making of the album.

Music & Culture

What Bruce Springsteen Lost And Found

1:57pm October 22, 2020

by Steve Inskeep

Ahead of the release of Letter To You, The Boss spoke to Morning Edition about revisiting older material, finding hope in these unusual times and attending to his audience's spiritual needs.