Ashley Pointer : NPR

Ashley Pointer

Stories By

Ashley Pointer

Friday May 20, 2022

Diana Ross (feat. Tame Impala), 'Turn Up the Sunshine'

Diana Ross feat. Tame Impala Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption

Courtesy of the artist

#NowPlaying

Diana Ross (feat. Tame Impala), 'Turn Up the Sunshine'

May 20, 2022 • The legendary disco diva teams up with Tame Impala for a new Minions movie soundtrack cut.

Tuesday May 10, 2022

Kendrick Lamar returns, 5 years later and a world away

The hip-hop visionary and Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper is back. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for American Express hide caption

toggle caption

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for American Express

Music News

Kendrick Lamar returns, 5 years later and a world away

May 10, 2022 • The Pulitzer-winning rapper has returned with his first solo release since 2017's DAMN.

Friday April 15, 2022

Entries We Love: Tim Reynolds, 'Be Free'

Tim Reynold's performing in his Tiny Desk Contest entry YouTube hide caption

toggle caption

YouTube

Tiny Desk Contest

Entries We Love: Tim Reynolds, 'Be Free'

April 15, 2022 • With just a mic, violin and loop pedal, this Tiny Desk Contest entrant crafts melodies vocally and through his violin, incorporating folky and soulful embellishments.

Monday April 11, 2022

Entries We love: Justine Grove, 'City Sea'

Justine Grove's Tiny Desk Contest entry YouTube hide caption

toggle caption

YouTube

Tiny Desk Contest

Entries We love: Justine Grove, 'City Sea'

April 11, 2022 • This Tiny Desk Contest entry is about finding solace in the noise of the city, succumbing to escape.

Friday April 1, 2022

Alex Isley and Jack Dine, 'Such A Thing'

Courtesy of the artist

#NowPlaying

Alex Isley and Jack Dine, 'Such A Thing'

April 1, 2022 • Rich, lush background vocals, glistening piano and simple drums provide the perfect canvas for surrendering to divine timing.

Jordan Lindley's Tiny Desk Contest entry YouTube hide caption

toggle caption

YouTube

Tiny Desk Contest

Entries We Love: Jordan Lindley, 'Dust'

April 1, 2022 • Being bitter is frowned upon more often than not, but in this Tiny Desk Contest entry, the artist's animosity is the central wheel spinning this sneering song about getting left by an ex.

Friday March 25, 2022

Yah Yah's Tiny Desk Contest entry YouTube hide caption

toggle caption

YouTube

Tiny Desk Contest

Entries We Love: Yah Yah, 'All Bad'

March 25, 2022 • This soulful, guitar-filled R&B Tiny Desk Contest entry reminds us of how the best is ahead, even when the grind of everyday has us reaching our breaking point.

Wednesday March 16, 2022

Entries We Love: Lauren Frihauf, 'Fragments of a Stranger'

Lauren Frihauf's Tiny Desk Contest entry YouTube hide caption

toggle caption

YouTube

Tiny Desk Contest

Entries We Love: Lauren Frihauf, 'Fragments of a Stranger'

March 16, 2022 • Frihauf starts her meditative Tiny Desk Contest entry off simple and gracefully ascends up to a shimmery falsetto.

Friday March 11, 2022

Entries We Love: Brassville, 'Bring Yo' Brass'

Brassville's Tiny Desk Contest entry YouTube hide caption

toggle caption

YouTube

Tiny Desk Contest

Entries We Love: Brassville, 'Bring Yo' Brass'

March 11, 2022 • With a nod to New Orleans jazz, this Tiny Desk Contest entry exudes HBCU culture and energy.

Thursday March 3, 2022

Entries We Love: Mark Manning, 'History in the Making'

Mark Manning's Tiny Desk Contest entry YouTube hide caption

toggle caption

YouTube

Tiny Desk Contest

Entries We Love: Mark Manning, 'History in the Making'

March 3, 2022 • Singing from his heart in his Tiny Desk Contest entry, Mark Manning paints a picture of a relationship that's now reached its end.

Sunday February 27, 2022

For decades, cartoonist Ray Billingsley has depicted Black family life in 'Curtis'

Curtis creator Ray Billingsley works in his home studio in Stamford, Conn. Ray Billingsley hide caption

toggle caption

Ray Billingsley

Black History Month 2022

For decades, cartoonist Ray Billingsley has depicted Black family life in 'Curtis'

February 27, 2022 • He got past obstacles in the industry to bring a mostly Black cast of characters to newspapers and digital platforms across the country.

Friday January 21, 2022

Courtesy of the artist

#NowPlaying

Mia Taylor, 'Mango'

January 21, 2022 • This fun, island vibe drops at the perfect time when we all could use a little extra warmth.

Friday December 3, 2021

Artists win awards for highlighting life on the border and reclaiming African art

Tanya Aguiñiga worked with indigenous communities in Chiapas and Oaxaca, Mexico and in Alaska, but always felt drawn back to the border. Justin Lubke hide caption

toggle caption

Justin Lubke

Culture

Artists win awards for highlighting life on the border and reclaiming African art

December 3, 2021 • Tanya Aguiñiga's art explores what happens to people when they cross the U.S.-Mexico border. Sanford Biggers' works challenge the 'black-washing' of African history.

Wednesday November 24, 2021

Here are the Books We Love: 360+ great 2021 reads recommended by NPR

NPR

Review

Books

Here are the Books We Love: 360+ great 2021 reads recommended by NPR

November 24, 2021 • Books We Love (formerly known as NPR's Book Concierge) is back with a new name and 360+ new books handpicked just for you by NPR staff and trusted critics.