Music

Encore: Remembering Maria Angelica Mares, who died of COVID, with 'I Walk the Line'

4:23pm December 14, 2021

by Alejandra Marquez Janse

With nearly 800,000 lives lost to COVID-19 in the U.S., NPR pays tribute to some people by listening to their stories and the music they loved. Lionel Mares remembers his mother.

Mezzo-soprano and activist J'Nai Bridges performs in the Global Citizen Concert, a socially distanced event at the Hollywood Bowl, in June 2020. Bridges says she knew she had a voice for activism pre-pandemic, but never "really had the opportunity to use

Music & Culture

Fleeing the Gilded Cage

1:05pm December 14, 2021

by Anne Midgette

Forget the diva stereotype: Opera careers are tough, and often strict. But as concert halls reopen after months of shutdown, more than a few singers are showing newfound creativity.

Music & Culture

Camerata Zürich, 'The Barn Owl has not Flown Away'

12:55pm December 14, 2021

by Tom Huizenga

It's bad luck if a barn owl lands on your house and doesn't leave. The Swiss ensemble plays a colorful string arrangement of Leoš Janáček's haunting miniature.

Mickey Guyton, Adia Victoria and Chapel Hart's Devynn Hart have made the industry a more welcoming place for others who look like them.

Music & Culture

How Black women reclaimed country and Americana music in 2021

11:00am December 14, 2021

Black women leveraged the power of streaming platforms and social media to bridge the chasms previously carved by labels, publishers and radio.

Leon Bridges' "Motorbike" was one of public radio's most-played songs of 2021.

Music & Culture

Heavy Rotation: Public Radio's Most Popular Songs Of 2021

10:39am December 14, 2021

Leon Bridges, Helado Negro and Japanese Breakfast all landed on this list of the most-played songs on public radio stations across the country.

Music & Culture

Beach House, 'Over and Over'

10:36am December 14, 2021

by Candice Wang

Taken from the Baltimore duo's new album, Once Twice Melody, the single is made for those few minutes between sunset and night — when the purplish light fades and noses turn red from the cold.

The legacy of Vicente Fernandez, king of ranchera music, who died on Sunday

5:10pm December 13, 2021

by Carrie Kahn

The King of ranchera music, Vicente Fernandez, died Sunday. He leaves tens of millions of devoted fans throughout the Latino world.

Latin Grammy winner to Cuban leaders: 'We're done with your lies and indoctrination'

4:44pm December 13, 2021

by Elisa Baena

Afro-Cuban rapper Yotuel Romero discusses the song that won Song of the Year and inspired protesters in one of the biggest waves of demonstrations in Cuba in decades.

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Music & Culture

Quinn Christopherson, 'Loaded Gun'

1:15pm December 13, 2021

by Elle Mannion

A love letter to Quinn Christopherson's younger self that yearns with sweet specificity.

Projects released by Rauw Alejandro, Camila Cabello, and Nathy Peluso are included in NPR Music's Best Latin music of 2021.

Music & Culture

The Best Latin Music of 2021

12:00pm December 13, 2021

The singles and albums that came out this year seem to reflect the diversity of Latin music more than ever.