Music

Joel Anderson is the new host for season three of Slate's podcast Slow Burn.

Music & Culture

'Slow Burn' Season 3 Turns Its Investigative Eye To The Murders Of Biggie And Tupac

8:33am November 07, 2019

The new season foregrounds conversations over conspiracy to shed new light on the murders of '90s hip-hop's biggest stars: Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G.

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Music & Culture

Caroline Shaw Sings Her Own Song

7:01am November 07, 2019

by Tom Huizenga

What do Gertrude Stein, Billy Joel and Robert Burns have in common? Their words all show up in a new song by Pulitzer-winning composer Caroline Shaw.

Trumpeter and composer Nicholas Payton drew controversy in 2011 with his rejection of the word "jazz." Now, he's reimagining black music with a new symphony.

Music & Culture

Nicholas Payton Reimagines Musical Tradition With 'Black American Symphony'

5:57pm November 06, 2019

by Michelle Mercer

His radical combination of symphonic and popular music comes eight years after a controversial statement about the word "jazz."

Music & Culture

What Goes Into Releasing An Artist's Music Posthumously

4:21pm November 06, 2019

by Stephen Thompson

George Michael is one of the latest musicians to have music released posthumously. A lot goes into how that music gets released, who profits and what players make it happen.

Rex Orange County, performing in London on February 20, 2018.

Music & Culture

Rex Orange County Doesn't Care What You Call Him (Anymore)

10:27am November 06, 2019

by Zoë Jones

"You are something and you make a choice in your life, like, 'This is going to be great' — and then it happens, and you're kind of like, 'This is more stressful than I imagined.' "

Ringo Starr is the photographer and the photographed in his latest book, Another Day In The Life.

Ringo Starr Gives Us Another Peek Behind The Curtain With 'Another Day In The Life'

6:27am November 06, 2019

His latest book contains over 500 photographs, a combination of images shot by Ringo himself and bits pulled from The Beatles' archives.

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BJ the Chicago Kid performs at a Tiny Desk Concert on Sept. 3, 2019. (Emily Bogle/NPR)

Music & Culture

BJ The Chicago Kid: Tiny Desk Concert

5:23am November 06, 2019

by Sidney Madden

The 34-year old R&B mainstay used his moment at the desk to fit in as many of his most cherished songs as possible — Nine songs in 17 minutes to be exact.

From left to right: Musicians Robby Grant, Pat Sansone, Jonathan Kirkscey and John Medeski perform in April 2018.

Music & Culture

On 'Mellotron Variations,' A 1960s-Era Instrument Makes A Comeback

5:49pm November 05, 2019

by Allyson McCabe

Intended only for home use, the Mellotron became a sonic tool for The Beatles, The Moody Blues and David Bowie. Now it's inspiring a new generation of musicians.

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Cover detail of Volume Control, by David Owen.

From Lawn Mowers To Rock Concerts, Our 'Deafening World' Is Hurting Our Ears

4:44pm November 05, 2019

by Dave Davies

Volume Control author David Owen says our ears largely evolved in a far quieter time than the one we currently live in. He warns that the ambient noises that surround us pose a threat to our hearing.

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Josh Homme's The Desert Sessions brought together an all-star line-up of rock legends to collaborate.

Music & Culture

Josh Homme's Rotating Supergroup The Desert Sessions Returns For 'Vols. 11 & 12'

4:43pm November 05, 2019

Musicians on the Queens of the Stone Age frontman-led album include ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and Primus' Les Claypool.

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