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World Cafe WXPN in Philadelphia and host Talia Schlanger present interviews and performances with today's essential and emerging artists.

World Cafe

Essential and Emerging Artists
'Change Is Never Easy': Dave Matthews' Past Motivates His Present

"I don't even know if I deserve at age 51 to have this much joy on stage," Dave Matthews says. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images hide caption

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Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Studio Sessions

'Change Is Never Easy': Dave Matthews' Past Motivates His Present

XPN

Dave Matthews' opinions on U.S. race relations, excitement for a new band line-up and acceptance of "Crash Into Me" are all products of reflection.

Dave Matthews on World Cafe

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World Cafe Nashville: Birdtalker

The members of Birdtalker project balance and warmth in a way that only true friends can. Gavin Nutt/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Gavin Nutt/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

World Cafe Nashville: Birdtalker

XPN

There's a beautiful reflectiveness within Birdtalker's song that comes from Zack Green's soul-searching and Dani Green's skill with story and metaphor.

Birdtalker On World Cafe

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The Suffers On World Cafe

The Suffers inside the World Cafe Performance Studio Ashley Gellman/WXPN hide caption

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Ashley Gellman/WXPN

Studio Sessions

The Suffers On World Cafe

XPN

Yes, the band makes party music, but the members have worked incredibly hard to get here, surviving hurricanes and discrimination in the music business.

The Suffers On World Cafe

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Neko Case Has Been Through Hell And Back

Neko Case performs live at World Cafe Live (upstairs) in Philadelphia. Senia Lopez/WXPN hide caption

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Senia Lopez/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Neko Case Has Been Through Hell And Back

XPN

Case reflects on a solitary childhood, the fire that consumed her house, the subjugation of women and the fate of humanity, and performs songs from her latest album, Hell-On.

Neko Case On World Cafe

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Frank Turner Breaks Down The 'Collective Problem' With Politics

"I feel that the people who have the expression 'Make America Great Again' written on their hats have, in my humble, ignorant, English opinion, misidentified what is great about America," Frank Turner says. Ben Morse/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Ben Morse/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Frank Turner Breaks Down The 'Collective Problem' With Politics

XPN

The message of Turner's new album Be More Kind applies both to the ways we treat the world around us and the way we treat ourselves.

Frank Turner On World Cafe

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Dawes On World Cafe

Dawes Magdalena Wosinska/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Magdalena Wosinska/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Dawes On World Cafe

XPN

Songwriting and musicianship aside, one of the things fans latch on to is that this band feels like a good hang.

Dawes On World Cafe

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The Record Company On World Cafe

The Record Company. Jen Rosenstein/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Jen Rosenstein/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

The Record Company On World Cafe

XPN

The members of the trio talk about All of This Life, their relentless work ethic and the surprising similarities between touring in a rock and roll band and growing up on a dairy farm.

The Record Company On World Cafe

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Ray LaMontagne On World Cafe

Ray LaMontagne. Brian Stowell/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Brian Stowell/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Ray LaMontagne On World Cafe

XPN

LaMontagne shares life stories, including how he met his wife at 8 years old, and performs songs from his latest album 'Part of the Light.'

Ray LaMontagne On World Cafe

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Dave Alvin And Jimmie Dale Gilmore On World Cafe

Dave Alvin (left) and Jimmie Dale Gilmore (right) performing live in the World Cafe Performance Studio. Dylan Eddinger/WXPN hide caption

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Dylan Eddinger/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Dave Alvin And Jimmie Dale Gilmore On World Cafe

XPN

As the longtime acquaintances found out when they were thrown together as tour mates, Alvin and Gilmore have the blues, classic folk and the L.A. club The Ash Grove in common.

Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore On World Cafe

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Author Robert Hilburn Shares Stories And Revelations Inside 'Paul Simon: The Life'

Author, Robert Hilburn Christopher Morris/Courtesy of the author hide caption

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Christopher Morris/Courtesy of the author

Studio Sessions

Author Robert Hilburn Shares Stories And Revelations Inside 'Paul Simon: The Life'

XPN

The former Los Angelese Times music critic was given complete editorial control over the singer-songwriter's biography.

Author Robert Hilburn On World Cafe

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Ruen Brothers On World Cafe

Ruen Brothers performing live at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia. Senia Lopez/WXPN hide caption

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Senia Lopez/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Ruen Brothers On World Cafe

XPN

Hear the story of how the brothers went from singing in the pubs of an old steel town outside London to recording at Rick Rubin's Shangri La Studios in Malibu.

Ruen Brothers On World Cafe

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Rare Essence On World Cafe

Rare Essence inside the World Cafe Performance Studio Dylan Eddinger/WXPN hide caption

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Dylan Eddinger/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Rare Essence On World Cafe

XPN

Go-go is an offshoot of funk that combines elements of R&B, hip-hop and blues. Rare Essence, the Washington D.C. pioneers of go-go, bring the get-down to World Cafe.

Rare Essence On World Cafe

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Kississippi On World Cafe

Zoe Reynolds, also known as Kississippi. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Kississippi On World Cafe

XPN

After some ups and downs, Zoe Reynolds persisted and independently released her debut album. Hear a live performance.

Kississippi on World Cafe

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Spinal Tap's Derek Smalls Strikes Out On His Own And Talks About Getting Old

Derek Smalls. Rob Shanahan/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Rob Shanahan/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Spinal Tap's Derek Smalls Strikes Out On His Own And Talks About Getting Old

Spinal Tap's legendary bassist drops by with a few songs from his new reflective solo record, Smalls Change (Meditations Upon Ageing).

Derek Smalls On World Cafe

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Bettye LaVette On World Cafe

Bettye LaVette. Mark Seliger/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Mark Seliger/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Bettye LaVette On World Cafe

XPN

At 72 years old, LaVette is back with a deep dive into Bob Dylan's songbook for her latest record Things Have Changed.

Bettye LaVette On World Cafe

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Bermuda Triangle Visit Wolrd Cafe, Share New Song 'Till The End Of Days'

From left, Jesse Lafser, Brittany Howard and Becca Mancari of Bermuda Triangle. Harvey Hale/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Harvey Hale/Courtesy of the artist

Nashville Sessions

Bermuda Triangle Visit Wolrd Cafe, Share New Song 'Till The End Of Days'

XPN

Jesse Lafser, Brittany Howard and Becca Mancari all maintain their own brilliant careers. What brings them together as Bermuda Triangle is friendship, pure and simple.

World Cafe Nashville: Bermuda Triangle

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Welles On World Cafe

Welles and his band inside the World Cafe Performance Studio. Galea McGregor/WXPN hide caption

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Galea McGregor/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Welles On World Cafe

XPN

Jeh-Sea Welles has the look, the voice, the licks, the hooks and the attitude of a real rock star.

Welles on World Cafe

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