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

World Cafe

Essential and Emerging Artists
The Triple Life Of Lori McKenna

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Becky Fluke/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN

The Triple Life Of Lori McKenna

XPN

In this session, Lori McKenna discusses being a mother of five, a celebrated Nashville songwriter, and a performer with 11 solo albums to her name.

Lori McKenna On World Cafe

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Nap Eyes' Nigel Chapman Is Always On The Brink Of A New Discovery

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Alex Blouin & Jodi Heartz/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Nap Eyes' Nigel Chapman Is Always On The Brink Of A New Discovery

XPN

The Nap Eyes frontman's wheels are always turning, about himself, about creativity, about the universe and about music.

Nap Eyes On World Cafe

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John Craigie Has A Knack For Spinning Stories

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Bradley Cox/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

John Craigie Has A Knack For Spinning Stories

XPN

In this session, Craigie performs songs from his new album, Asterisk the Universe, and we get to hear what makes him such a great storyteller at his shows.

John Craigie On World Cafe

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Carolina Story's Music Has The Ability To Stop Time

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Chrissy Nix/Courtesy of the artist

Nashville Sessions

Carolina Story's Music Has The Ability To Stop Time

XPN

by , Jessie Scott

The husband and wife duo's music shimmers, hangs in the air, leaving you not thinking about anything else. Hear a mini-concert in this session.

Carolina Story On World Cafe

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Will Toledo Takes Car Seat Headrest In A New Direction

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Carlos Cruz Sol/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Will Toledo Takes Car Seat Headrest In A New Direction

XPN

On his band's latest album, Making a Door Less Open, Toledo expanded the scope of Car Seat Headrest's sound, embracing dance music wholeheartedly.

Car Seat Headrest On World Cafe

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Hannah Georgas, The Other Singer-Songwriter Who Enlisted Aaron Dessner

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Vannessa Heins/Courtesy of the artist

Music

Hannah Georgas, The Other Singer-Songwriter Who Enlisted Aaron Dessner

XPN

The Canadian singer-songwriter's new album, All That Emotion, was released on Friday.

Hannah Georgas on World Cafe

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Ray Lamontagne's 'Monovision' Provides A Soothing Escape From Everyday Life

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Brian Stowell/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Ray Lamontagne's 'Monovision' Provides A Soothing Escape From Everyday Life

XPN

The singer-songwriter's latest album gives you a glimpse into the natural world that inspires him — and the first album he's made entirely on his own.

Ray Lamontagne On World Cafe

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Mondo Cozmo Topped The Charts, And Then Lost His Cool

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Travis Shinn/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Mondo Cozmo Topped The Charts, And Then Lost His Cool

XPN

Josh Ostrander shares how putting his hand through a pane of glass influenced his latest album, New Medicine.

Mondo Cozmo On World Cafe

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Don Bryant On The Art Of Songwriting

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Lawrence Matthews/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Don Bryant On The Art Of Songwriting

XPN

The esteemed Memphis, Tenn., songwriter discusses his 50-plus years in music and performs live.

Don Bryant On World Cafe

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The Honesty & Self-Reflection Of The Indigo Girls

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Jeremy Cowart/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

The Honesty & Self-Reflection Of The Indigo Girls

XPN

The accomplished songwriters are tireless activists for causes ranging from gun control to indigenous rights to the removal of confederate monuments from town squares.

Indigo Girls On World Cafe

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Bettye LaVette Might Be Just What You Need Today

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Joseph Rosen/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Bettye LaVette Might Be Just What You Need Today

XPN

LaVette just released Blackbirds, an album of reinterpretations of songs popularized by some of her favorite jazz singers.

Betty Lavette On World Cafe

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Amidst The Pandemic, The New Music Out Of Nashville Never Stops

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Alexa King /Courtesy of the artist

Nashville Sessions

Amidst The Pandemic, The New Music Out Of Nashville Never Stops

XPN

World Cafe's Nashville correspondent, Ann Powers, talks about the state of Music City and five new releases that she's excited about.

Nashville New Music - August 2020

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Phoebe Bridgers' 'Punisher' Is An Album For The Moment

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Frank Ockenfels/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Phoebe Bridgers' 'Punisher' Is An Album For The Moment

XPN

Since its release, fans are sharing stories of personal connection to Bridgers' latest album, one that's made many feel less alone in a time of self-isolation.

Phoebe Bridgers On World Cafe

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How Old 97's Kept It Together Through Life's Ups And Downs

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Alysse Gafkjen/Courtery of the artist

Studio Sessions

How Old 97's Kept It Together Through Life's Ups And Downs

XPN

Together for 27 years with the same lineup, the long-running band is back with its 12th album, Twelfth.

Old 97s On World Cafe

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How The Past 10 Years Shaped The First New Bright Eyes Record In Almost A Decade

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Danny Cohen /Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

How The Past 10 Years Shaped The First New Bright Eyes Record In Almost A Decade

XPN

Bright Eyes performs new songs off Down In The Weeds, Where The World Once Was and talks about finding bagpipe players for "Persona Non Grata" and remembering loved ones in the minutiae of experience.

Bright Eyes On World Cafe

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Are You 'Chaotic Good'? Johanna Warren Explains The Concept Of Her New Album

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Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Are You 'Chaotic Good'? Johanna Warren Explains The Concept Of Her New Album

XPN

Showcasing her beautiful vocals, Johanna Warren also makes space for louder, more aggressive elements on her latest album, Chaotic Good.

Johanna Warren On World Cafe

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S.G. Goodman, Becca Mancari On Expressing Queer Pain, Being Left In The South

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Meredith Truax / Hunter Cover/Courtesy of the artists

Nashville Sessions

S.G. Goodman, Becca Mancari On Expressing Queer Pain, Being Left In The South

XPN

The two country-leaning singer-songwriters on their time in Nashville, addressing the darkness of life while staying in the light and the difficulties of thinking forward in the South.

Though It May Seem Like It, Michael McDonald Can't Predict The Future

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Timothy White/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Though It May Seem Like It, Michael McDonald Can't Predict The Future

XPN

The Doobie Brothers frontperson released covers of two iconic songs earlier this year that have had an unexpected resonance during the global COVID-19 pandemic and the wave of protests against police brutality.

Michael McDonald On World Cafe

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How An Unexpected Call Brought Kathleen Edwards Back To Music

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Remi Theriault/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

How An Unexpected Call Brought Kathleen Edwards Back To Music

XPN

The Canadian singer-songwriter traded her music career for a completely different life running a coffee shop until a Nashville experience brought her back to making music.

Kathleen Edwards On World Cafe

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The Unconventional Influences On Hazel English's Debut Album

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Janell Shirtcliff/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

The Unconventional Influences On Hazel English's Debut Album

XPN

English's Wake UP! was not only influenced by the sounds of the '60s but by Guy Debord's The Society of the Spectacle, a critical text that examines what we do for attention.

Hazel English On World Cafe

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100 Greatest Title Tracks Ever Laid Down On Wax

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Fin Costello/Redferns / Getty Images

World Cafe

100 Greatest Title Tracks Ever Laid Down On Wax

XPN

Title tracks often capture the mood, vibe and direction of an album. From Paul Simon's "Graceland" to Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black," here's a playlist of the greatest title tracks.

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