Music

Madlib, performing during Pitchfork Fest at Union Park in Chicago on July 19, 2015.

Music & Culture

Madlib Heads Back To The Future On 'Sound Ancestors'

11:15am January 28, 2021

by Piotr Orlov

For over two decades, Madlib's work has been defined not by any one style, but by the artist's stylistic breadth and tireless output. On a new album, the polymath compiles his artifacts.

Music & Culture

Benee, The Artist Behind A Viral TikTok Hit, Gets Serious And Weird

6:28pm January 27, 2021

What's it like to have a song go viral on TikTok and rack up a half a billion plays on Spotify? Host Stephen Kallao talks with up and coming New Zealand artist Benee in this session.

Soca star Alison Hinds of Barbados performs on the inaugural Showdown livestream in October 2020.

Music & Culture

Showdown, The Caribbean Answer To Verzuz, Is Part Of A Long-Running Musical Exchange

6:01pm January 27, 2021

by Baz Dreisinger

The livestream event debuted in 2020, with two soca stars facing off. Even though Verzuz came first, the American series arguably owes its existence to Caribbean music.

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Lous and The Yakuza perform a Tiny Desk (home) concert.

Music & Culture

Lous And The Yakuza: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

8:47am January 27, 2021

by Bob Boilen

Watch the Congolese refugee's Tiny Desk quarantine concert, filmed in a Paris bar.

Sevana plays a Tiny Desk (home) concert.

Music & Culture

Sevana: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

5:00am January 26, 2021

by Abby O'Neill

The rising Jamaican soul singer and Protoje co-sign performed four songs for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.

Daphne Rubin-Vega played Mimi in Rent. "It was a lot of fun to actually be able to practically apply my research of partying ..." she says. "I knew these people. I knew this world." She's pictured above with Adam Pascal in New York Theatre Workshop's 1996

13,140,000 Minutes: It's Been 25 Years Since The First Performance Of 'Rent'

10:26pm January 25, 2021

by Jeff Lunden

On Jan. 25, 1996, a new rock musical by a little-known writer, Jonathan Larson, gave its first performance. But that show almost didn't happen: Larson died of an aortic aneurysm early that morning.

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Music & Culture

Brothers Osborne's Unusual Path To Country Music Stardom

1:28pm January 25, 2021

TJ and John Osborne's music encompasses lots of interesting flavors, including blues, rock and bluegrass.

Music & Culture

Arlo Parks Will Join NPR Music's Listening Party For 'Collapsed In Sunbeams'

10:40am January 25, 2021

by Lars Gotrich

NPR Music will host an online listening party for the British pop artist's debut album, featuring a conversation with Arlo Parks herself.

Future Islands play a Tiny Desk (home) concert.

Music & Culture

Future Islands: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

5:00am January 25, 2021

by Bob Boilen

The Baltimore rock band became stars thanks to a stunning performance on The Late Show With David Letterman. Watch Sam Herring and co. perform four songs for Tiny Desk's quarantine series.

Music & Culture

Rokia Traoré: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

9:00am January 24, 2021

by Bob Boilen

The Malian star headlined the final night of Tiny Desk Meets globalFEST.