Accessibility links
The Very Best The Very Best artist page: interviews, features and/or performances archived at NPR Music

The Very Best

New Mix: Villagers, Joanna Gruesome, Young Fathers, More

Clockwise from upper left: Joanna Gruesome, Trish Keenan of Broadcast, Conor O'Brien of Villagers, Eskmo, Young Fathers Courtesy of the artists hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artists

All Songs Considered

New Mix: Villagers, Joanna Gruesome, Young Fathers, More

This week's essential listening includes joyful rock from Joanna Gruesome, a mansion of curious sounds from Eskmo, an incredible mix of cultures and sounds in Young Fathers and more.

New Mix: Villagers, Joanna Gruesome, Young Fathers, More

Listen · 40:52
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/392061981/392082292" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
The Very Best: A Would-Be Lion Chaser's Backup Plan

Esau Mwamwaya and Johan Karlberg perform and record as The Very Best. Niall Kenny/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Niall Kenny/Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

The Very Best: A Would-Be Lion Chaser's Backup Plan

Johan Karlberg, the Swedish producer who is one half of the dance-pop duo, says his love of African music is a fitting parallel to his childhood dream job: wildlife photographer.

The Very Best: A Would-Be Lion Chaser's Backup Plan

Listen · 8:50
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/158631460/158661769" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
The Very Best: A Band's Summer Escape With A Message

Malawian singer Esau Mwamwaya and Swedish producer Johan Hugo met in a London thrift shop and soon became musical collaborators as The Very Best. David Harrison hide caption

toggle caption
David Harrison

Review

Music Reviews

The Very Best: A Band's Summer Escape With A Message

The Very Best began when a Swedish producer made a trip to a London thrift shop and a met a Malawian singer. The group's new album makes the case that even amid poverty, warfare and the privations of ghetto life, happiness is possible.

The Very Best: A Band's Summer Escape With A Message

Listen · 4:06
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/157733959/157745138" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
First Listen: The Very Best, 'MTMTMK'

The Very Best's new album, MTMTMK, comes out July 17. Suat Kutlug hide caption

toggle caption
Suat Kutlug

First Listen

First Listen: The Very Best, 'MTMTMK'

The Swedish-born producer and a Malawian singer and drummer create "African" music that sounds like a whole world of city-dwelling street sophisticates. MTMTMK's danceable African sounds could fire up any party, and would sound great on the radio.

Hear 'MTMTMK' In Its Entirety

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/155724115/155724463" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Music We Missed: The Very Best
Courtesy of Green Owl Records

New Music

Music We Missed: The Very Best

Musicians Johan Karlberg and Etienne Tron first met Malawi-born Esau Mwamwaya running a junk shop outside their studio. The two were eager to befriend Mwamwaya, in part because they thought he was an African drummer. Turns out, he was much more. The three have formed a group called The Very Best and released Warm Heart of Africa in October.

Music We Missed: The Very Best

Listen · 2:46
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/121969054/121998710" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Browse archive or search npr.org