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Music Features

Monday

Matt Butler has played concerts in more than 50 prisons and jails

Matt Butler performing at the Central Utah Correctional Facility. Liam Trouchard/Matt Butler hide caption

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Liam Trouchard/Matt Butler

Music

Matt Butler has played concerts in more than 50 prisons and jails

"Reckless Son" is a one-man show by singer/songwriter Matt Butler inspired by the convicts he's met while touring American prisons and jails.

Matt Butler has played concerts in more than 50 prisons and jails

Listen · 7:13
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Here are 5 Chicago soul records you should know

Ayana Contreras Guillaume Ziccarelli/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Guillaume Ziccarelli/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

Here are 5 Chicago soul records you should know

WXPN

Ayana Contreras, host of WBEZ's Reclaimed Soul, talks about what makes Chicago soul special.

Ayana Contreras on World Cafe

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This Chicago store is a must if you're on the hunt for rare, vintage guitars

Instrumentalist Nathaniel Murphy is often called upon to try out the many guitars inside the Chicago Music Exchange. Miguel Perez/WXPN hide caption

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Miguel Perez/WXPN

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

This Chicago store is a must if you're on the hunt for rare, vintage guitars

WXPN

The city's Chicago Music Exchange boasts a massive showroom that looks more like a museum of musical instruments.

Chicago Music Exchange on World Cafe

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Friday

Chicago's indie music scene is thriving inside this college student's apartment

A crowd gathers before Chicago indie band Friko performs at Eli Schmitt's apartment as part of his New Now concert series. Kimberly Junod/WXPN hide caption

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Kimberly Junod/WXPN

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

Chicago's indie music scene is thriving inside this college student's apartment

WXPN

DePaul University student Eli Schmitt hosts live performances from local bands as part of his New Now series.

New Now on World Cafe

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Chicago rapper Pinqy Ring knows you can't have a music scene without community

Pinqy Ring Kimberly Junod/WXPN hide caption

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Kimberly Junod/WXPN

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

Chicago rapper Pinqy Ring knows you can't have a music scene without community

WXPN

The Puerto Rican rapper and educator travels all over the city and the world using hip hop as a way to connect.

Pinqy Ring on World Cafe

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Thursday

As Ryuichi Sakamoto returns with '12,' fellow artists recall his impact

Japanese musician, composer, record producer, pianist, activist, writer, actor and dancer Ryuichi Sakamoto, photographed on June 30, 2016 in Paris. Joel Saget/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Joel Saget/AFP via Getty Images

Music Interviews

As Ryuichi Sakamoto returns with '12,' fellow artists recall his impact

The composer has been lauded for decades over his deeply affective music; director Alejandro González Iñárritu, composer Hildur Guðnadóttir and more join us to explain why.

As Ryuichi Sakamoto returns with '12,' fellow artists recall his impact

Listen · 8:00
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The Culture Corner: How Curtis Mayfield left an indelible mark on Chicago

Curtis Mayfield Michael Ochs/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Ochs/Getty Images

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

The Culture Corner: How Curtis Mayfield left an indelible mark on Chicago

WXPN

Born in Chicago, Mayfield was responsible for so much music over the course of his career, from soundtracks to his work with The Impressions.

Culture Corner: Curtis Mayfield on World Cafe

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Wednesday

A 'product child of Chicago,' KAINA is learning to savor the home she's made here

KAINA Dennis Elliott/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Dennis Elliott/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

A 'product child of Chicago,' KAINA is learning to savor the home she's made here

WXPN

The musician talks about her latest album, It Was A Home, and the creative community she's fostered in Chicago.

KAINA on World Cafe

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Monday

Sunday

Friday

Legendary audio engineer Steve Albini built his Chicago studio brick by brick

Steve Albini John Semley/WXPN hide caption

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John Semley/WXPN

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

Legendary audio engineer Steve Albini built his Chicago studio brick by brick

WXPN

The man behind albums by Nirvana, the Pixies and more opens the doors to Electrical Audio and details his egalitarian approach to working with musicians.

Steve Albini on World Cafe

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Pigface to Reznor: Here's what you'll find in Chicago's new industrial rock museum

Martin Atkins Stephen Kallao/WXPN hide caption

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Stephen Kallao/WXPN

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

Pigface to Reznor: Here's what you'll find in Chicago's new industrial rock museum

WXPN

Industrial music heavyweight Martin Atkins pulled from his personal collection of memorabilia to create Chicago's new Museum of Post Punk and Industrial Music.

Martin Atkins on World Cafe

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Thursday

Wednesday

What makes that song swing? At last, physicists unravel a jazz mystery

Jazz saxophonist Joshua Redman plays in 2019. Swing is an essential component of nearly all kinds of jazz music. Physicists think that subtle nuances in the timing of soloists are key to creating that propulsive swing feel. Bernd Thissen/picture alliance via Getty Image hide caption

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Bernd Thissen/picture alliance via Getty Image

Shots - Health News

What makes that song swing? At last, physicists unravel a jazz mystery

For nearly a century, jazz musicians have debated what gives songs that propulsive, groovy feel that makes you want to move with the music. The secret may lie in subtle nuances in a soloist's timing.

What makes that song swing? At last, physicists unravel a jazz mystery

Listen · 7:01
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Saturday

How Cusica Fest is trying to rebuild the Venezuelan music industry

Devendra Banhart grew up in Caracas in the '90s, but didn't perform his first show there until 2022. Andrés Rodríguez/Cusica Fest hide caption

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Andrés Rodríguez/Cusica Fest

How Cusica Fest is trying to rebuild the Venezuelan music industry

A music festival in Caracas, Venezuela is building momentum for renewed creativity and expression in the country, amidst an ongoing political crisis.

How Cusica Fest is trying to rebuild the Venezuelan music industry

Listen · 5:59
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