Tune-Yards : NPR

Alexis Nikole Nelson's favorite Tiny Desk concerts

Alexis Nikole Nelson is a forager and wild food educator. NPR hide caption

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NPR

Alexis Nikole Nelson's favorite Tiny Desk concerts

February 10, 2022 • The wild food educator known as Black Forager is a big fan of Tiny Desk concerts. Her favorite performances include Run The Jewels, Mitski and more.

Tune-Yards Shares The Inspiration Behind 'Sketchy'

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Pooneh Ghana/Courtesy of the artist

Tune-Yards Shares The Inspiration Behind 'Sketchy'

XPN

May 10, 2021 • When you listen to a song by Tune-Yards, it can be like listening to a beautiful, but abstract painting. Hear a live performance of songs from the band's latest album.

tune-yards on World Cafe

32:20

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New Music Friday: The Top 7 Albums Out On March 26

Singer and rapper Noga Erez. Her new album, KIDS, is one of our top picks for the best albums out on Mar. 26. Dudi Hasson/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Dudi Hasson/Courtesy of the artist

New Music Friday: The Top 7 Albums Out On March 26

March 26, 2021 • NPR Music's picks for the best albums out on Mar. 26 include the relentlessly infectious songs of AJR, Israeli rapper and singer Noga Erez, Tune-Yards, jazz legend Dr. Lonnie Smith and more.

New Music Friday: The Top 7 Albums Out On March 26

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New Mix: Tune-Yards, Tōth, Buzzy Lee, More

Clockwise from upper left: Moontype, Buzzy Lee, Johanna Samuels, Tōth, Tune-Yards Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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Courtesy of the artists

New Mix: Tune-Yards, Tōth, Buzzy Lee, More

February 17, 2021 • All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares thrilling new music from Tune-Yards, Tōth's tale of playing the trumpet — and fainting — during a funeral, the stunning voice of a singer named mehro and more.

New Mix: Tune-Yards, Tōth, Buzzy Lee, More

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The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women+ (60-41)

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C Brandon/Redferns via Getty Images

The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women+

The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women+ (60-41)

July 30, 2018 • This list tackles history in the making, celebrating women and non-binary musicians whose songs are redefining genres and attitudes and changing our sense of what popular music can be in this century.

Heavy Rotation: The Songs Public Radio Can't Stop Playing

Mélat's song "Push" is featured on this month's edition of Heavy Rotation. Moyo Oyelola/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Moyo Oyelola/Courtesy of the artist

Heavy Rotation: The Songs Public Radio Can't Stop Playing

February 24, 2018 • This month's playlist includes a new track from an Austin up-and-comer, a song about white privilege from Tune-Yards and a jazz instrumental cover of Amy Winehouse.

Tune-Yards' Merrill Garbus Pierces Her Own Privilege

"With all the compassion in my heart, I just want to say to white people sampling others' music: what you're engaging in is colonialism," Merrill Garbus says. "Name it for what it is." Eliot Lee Hazel/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Eliot Lee Hazel/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

Tune-Yards' Merrill Garbus Pierces Her Own Privilege

January 19, 2018 • "I couldn't not speak about whiteness in my work," Garbus says of her new record as Tune-Yards. She breaks down the themes and self-examinations behind I Can Feel You Creep Into My Private Life.

Tune-Yards Is Back With 'Look At Your Hands'

Clockwise from upper left: Tune-Yards, Caroline Says, Balmorhea, A. Savage Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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Courtesy of the artists

All Songs Considered

Tune-Yards Is Back With 'Look At Your Hands'

October 24, 2017 • Hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton share Tune-Yards' latest thrill ride, plus a whole lot of guitar noise from Parquet Courts' Andrew Savage, Balmorhea and more.

Tune-Yards, A. Savage, Balmorhea, More

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Courtesy of the artist

All Songs TV

tUnE-yArDs, 'Real Thing'

October 6, 2014 • A madcap live-action cartoon about three plastic sisters and a very zany Merrill Garbus. Watch the video for "Real Thing," from tUnE-yArDs' album Nikki Nack.

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Holly Andres/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe

tUnE-yArDs On World Cafe

XPN

August 8, 2014 • The inventive, imaginative Merrill Garbus performs three songs and discusses the element of risk.

tUnE-yArDs On World Cafe

30:20

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Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs, performing live at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. NPR hide caption

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NPR

Front Row

Front Row: tUnE-yArDs

June 27, 2014 • See tUnE-yArDs recorded live in concert from the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C.

tUnE-yArDs In Concert

Audio for this story is unavailable.

Dave Lichterman/KEXP

Favorite Sessions

tUnE-yArDs, 'Real Thing' (Live)

KEXP

June 2, 2014 • Merrill Garbus brings her five-piece band into KEXP's Seattle studio to play songs from her new album, Nikki Nack. Watch tUnE-yArDs perform "Real Thing."

Download: 10 Songs Public Radio Can't Stop Playing

Courtesy of the artist

Heavy Rotation

Download: 10 Songs Public Radio Can't Stop Playing

April 25, 2014 • Check out NPR Music's latest batch of favorite new songs, including music from tUnE-yArDs, Dan Croll, Freddie Gibbs and Madlib, SZA, Dana Falconberry, Ernest Ranglin and more.

Heavy Rotation: 10 Songs Public Radio Can't Stop Playing

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Transcript

tUnE-yArDs' new album, Nikki Nack, comes out May 6. Holly Andres/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Holly Andres/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: tUnE-yArDs, 'Nikki Nack'

April 25, 2014 • Merrill Garbus' music finds genius in the ongoing struggle between the orderly and the unknown. tUnE-yArDs' dazzlingly imaginative third album is filled with sudden and arresting left turns.

Nikki Nack

Audio for First Listens is no longer available after the album is released.

tUnE-yArDs' new album, Nikki Nack, comes out May 6. Holly Andres/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Holly Andres/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: tUnE-yArDs, 'Nikki Nack'

April 25, 2014 • Merrill Garbus' music finds genius in the ongoing struggle between the orderly and the unknown. tUnE-yArDs' dazzlingly imaginative third album is filled with sudden and arresting left turns.

Nikki Nack

Audio for First Listens is no longer available after the album is released.

tUnE-yArDs: Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing

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Holly Andres/Courtesy of the artist.

Review

Music Reviews

tUnE-yArDs: Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing

Fresh Air

May 5, 2014 • On Nikki Nack, Merrill Garbus worries over the notion that she's just an accumulation of her influences, and she fights back wonderfully.

tUnE-yArDs: Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing

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Top row: F---ed Up; Bottom row, left to right: Haley Bonar, Roy Orbison, tUnE-yArDs Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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All Songs Considered

New Mix: tUnE-yArDs, Roy Orbison, More

April 29, 2014 • On this week's show hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton go playful with tUnE-yArDs, reflective with an unreleased cut from legendary crooner Roy Orbison and profane with a certain Toronto hardcore band.

New Mix: tUnE-yArDs, Roy Orbison, More

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A still from the video for tUnE-yArDs' new song, "Water Fountain." YouTube hide caption

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YouTube

All Songs TV

tUnE-yArDs, 'Water Fountain'

April 23, 2014 • You might expect Pee Wee Herman to turn up in the video for tUnE-yArDs' "Water Fountain," which takes inspiration from children's TV shows, jazzercise and 8-bit video games.

tUnE-yArDs, Live In Concert: Newport Folk 2012

tUnE-yArDs performs on the Harbor Stage at the Newport Folk Festival. Erik Jacobs for NPR hide caption

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Erik Jacobs for NPR

Newport Folk Festival

tUnE-yArDs, Live In Concert: Newport Folk 2012

Folk Alley

July 30, 2012 • tUnE-yArDs' Leader Merrill Garbus forms a cut-up collage of coos, howls and bold statements of purpose, but her live shows fan out into epic rave-ups, complete with a pair of saxophonists.

tUnE-yArDs Live From Newport

Audio is no longer available

tUnE-yArDs is one of the artists performing at this year's Newport Folk Festival. fjludo via Flickr hide caption

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fjludo via Flickr

All Songs Considered

A Newport Folk Festival Preview

July 24, 2012 • We're going to Newport for three days of amazing concerts! Hear a preview of some of the bands we'll feature in NPR's live coverage this weekend.

Newport Folk Festival Preview: Wilco, My Morning Jacket, tUnE-yArDs, More

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'My Country': tUnE-yArDs Questions The American Dream

Merrill Garbus is the singer and songwriter behind the band tUnE-yArDs. Chloe Aftel/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Chloe Aftel/Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

'My Country': tUnE-yArDs Questions The American Dream

June 6, 2012 • For singer Merrill Garbus, the idea that hard work leads to success in America is deeply suspect.

'My Country': tUnE-yArDs Questions The American Dream

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Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe

tUnE-yArDs On World Cafe

XPN

March 29, 2012 • The woman behind one of the year's most powerful albums shines even brighter live. On today's show, she presents her music looped, yelped, cooed and otherwise performed to the funky beat of her own drums.

tUnE-yArDs On World Cafe

29:14

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