Meshell Ndegeocello's album Ventriloquism is a collection of covers of R&B songs from the 1980s and '90s. Charlie Gross/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Meshell Ndegeocello's Ventriloquism comes out Mar. 16 on Naive. Charlie Gross/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Shakira crowd surfs during a performance at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Scott Gries/Getty Images hide caption

Jason Moran. Clay Patrick McBride/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Meshell Ndegeocello. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Philadelphia punk trio Cayetana (left to right: Allegra Anka, Kelly Olsen, Augusta Koch) will release its debut on the small indie label Tiny Engines later this year. Mary Ferrigno/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Meshell Ndegeocello's new album, Comet, Come to Me, comes out June 3. Jason Rodgers/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Meshell Ndegeocello's latest album is Comet, Come To Me. Jason Rodgers/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

NPR Music's Ann Powers (right) interviews musicians (from left) Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Alynda Lee Segarra of Hurray for the Riff Raff, Sharon Jones and Meshell Ndegeocello at the EMP Pop Conference in Seattle. Brady Harvey hide caption

Meshell Ndegeocello. Charlie Gross hide caption

Meshell Ndegeocello says she hopes her new album, a tribute to Nina Simone, revives interest in the work and life of the late artist. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Meshell Ndegeocello's tenth album is Pour Une Ame Souveraine: A Dedication to Nina Simone. Charlie Gross/Courtesy of the artist hide caption