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Music Interviews Interviews with top musicians from jazz, blues, rock, pop, folk, classical, urban, and world music. Listen online to live studio sessions and musician interviews and watch video sessions.

Music Interviews

The Lone Bellow Brings Light Into A World That Can Seem Pretty Dark Sometimes

The Lone Bellow's album, Half Moon Light, is out next Friday. Hear live performances of a few new songs in this session. Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe

The Lone Bellow Brings Light Into A World That Can Seem Pretty Dark Sometimes

XPN

The band's new record, Half Moon Light, features sing-along choruses, hand-clapping rhythms and melodies that somehow sound familiar even on a first listen.

The Lone Bellow On World Cafe

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The Milk Carton Kids Answers Its Own Question: 'What Even Is Americana?'

The Milk Carton Kids has already become a standard bearer for a new generation of folk artists and harmony duos. Jessica Perez/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Jessica Perez/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe

The Milk Carton Kids Answers Its Own Question: 'What Even Is Americana?'

XPN

The duo poked fun at the genre when hosting the 2018 Americana Music Awards, but they hold a deep respect for its musical traditions. Their latest album, The Only Ones, continues to build on them.

The Milk Carton Kids

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Leif Vollebekk Sees His Song 'Hot Tears' As Yellow

Leif Vollebekk performing live for World Cafe Jamie Stow/WXPN hide caption

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Jamie Stow/WXPN

World Cafe

Leif Vollebekk Sees His Song 'Hot Tears' As Yellow

XPN

The Canadian songwriter explains what it's like being a musician with synesthesia, meaning he can see sounds.

Leif Vollebekk On World Cafe

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'I Was Singing For My Life': Amy Rigby On Mixing Music And Motherhood

Amy Rigby played with Last Roundup and The Shams before she began her solo career. Chris Sikich/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Chris Sikich/Courtesy of the artist

'I Was Singing For My Life': Amy Rigby On Mixing Music And Motherhood

Fresh Air

Rigby's memoir, Girl to City, tracks how a Catholic girl from Pittsburgh became part of the New York punk scene — and invented and reinvented herself as a performer, songwriter and a mother.

'I Was Singing For My Life': Amy Rigby On Mixing Music And Motherhood

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'London Calling' At 40: Greil Marcus Revisits His Original Review

From left to right, Mick Jones, Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon of The Clash, circa 1980. The band's classic album London Calling was released in the United States 40 years ago this month. Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption

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Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Music News

'London Calling' At 40: Greil Marcus Revisits His Original Review

"Rough. Funny. Expansive." That's how critic Greil Marcus described The Clash's album on our program in 1980. We brought him back to ask if he stands by his original review.

'London Calling' At 40: Greil Marcus Revisits His Original Review

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Encore: Tanya Tucker Is Back

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with country musician Tanya Tucker about putting out her first solo album in more than 10 years. It's called While I'm Livin'. She won two Grammys for it Sunday night.

Encore: Tanya Tucker Is Back

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Tyler Childers Is Passionate About The Country Music Tradition

Tyler Childers outside the World Cafe Performance Studio Galea McGregor/WXPN hide caption

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Galea McGregor/WXPN

World Cafe

Tyler Childers Is Passionate About The Country Music Tradition

XPN

Though his music is sometimes called Americana, Tyler Childers rejects that label. "I don't know what it's called, but I've been calling it country," he says in this session.

Tyler Childers On World Cafe

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West African Supergroup Les Amazones D'Afrique Returns With 'Amazones Power'

Left to right: Fafa Ruffino, Mamani Keita, Niariu and Kandy Guira are members of the collective Les Amazones d'Afrique. Their new album, Amazones Power, is out now. Karen Paulina Biswell/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Karen Paulina Biswell/Courtesy of the artist

West African Supergroup Les Amazones D'Afrique Returns With 'Amazones Power'

The album mixes intoxicating, danceable rhythms and a message calling out violence and other forms of mistreatment of women all over the globe.

West African Supergroup Les Amazones D'Afrique Returns With 'Amazones Power'

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Opera For Newbies: Busting Myths And Belting High Notes

A scene from the 2019 Pulitzer Prize-winning opera p r i s m, by Ellen Reid. Maria Baranova/Beth Morrison Projects hide caption

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Maria Baranova/Beth Morrison Projects

Deceptive Cadence

Opera For Newbies: Busting Myths And Belting High Notes

A listener's guide for the opera-curious includes a little history, a little trash-talk and some gorgeous singing.

Opera For Newbies: Busting Myths And Belting High Notes

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Selena Gomez On Recapturing Her Public Image, Mental Health And Her No. 1 Album

Rare, Selena Gomez's first new album in over four years, is out now. "When you take that long of a break, it is pretty nerve-wracking," she says. Rich Fury/Getty Images hide caption

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Rich Fury/Getty Images

Selena Gomez On Recapturing Her Public Image, Mental Health And Her No. 1 Album

In the space between 2015's Revival and her latest release, Gomez has battled Lupus, depression and anxiety, and had two high profile breakups — all while millions followed along on social media.

Selena Gomez On Recapturing Her Public Image, Mental Health And Her No. 1 Album

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On Their Latest Album, The Haden Triplets Sing 'The Family Songbook'

(L-R) Tanya, Rachel and Petra Haden. "We usually just naturally gravitate towards a harmony," Tanya says. Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the artist

On Their Latest Album, The Haden Triplets Sing 'The Family Songbook'

The daughters of accomplished upright bassist Charlie Haden have reached back even further for inspiration on their latest album, drawing influence from the country roots of their grandfather.

On Their Latest Album, The Haden Triplets Sing 'The Family Songbook'

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Tank And The Cubans: A Week In Havana

Tank and the Bangas perform with Cuban singer Cimafunk, the Soul Rebels and The Queen of the Guardians in Havana, Cuba. Eliana Aponte/NPR hide caption

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Eliana Aponte/NPR

Alt.Latino

Tank And The Cubans: A Week In Havana

The 2017 winners of the Tiny Desk Contest travel to Havana with NOLA's The Soul Rebels to connect with Cimafunk, Cuban musicians and history.

Tank And The Cubans: A Week In Havana

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Pinegrove, Pinenuts And Pinetabs: A Conversation with Evan Stephens Hall

Pinegrove. The band's latest album is called Marigold. Caroline Tompkins/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Caroline Tompkins/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

Pinegrove, Pinenuts And Pinetabs: A Conversation with Evan Stephens Hall

The Pinegrove singer talks about the band's latest album and how fans have interpreted the new songs, using chord tablature the band provided for fans online.

Pinegrove, Pinenuts And Pinetabs: A Conversation with Evan Stephens Hall

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Honed On The Road, Samantha Fish's Music Is Bold And Expressive

Samantha Fish performing live for World Cafe Jamie Stow/WXPN hide caption

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Jamie Stow/WXPN

World Cafe

Honed On The Road, Samantha Fish's Music Is Bold And Expressive

XPN

Nothing about the music Samantha Fish makes suggests that she's ever been shy. Hear a live performance in this session.

Samantha Fish On World Cafe

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