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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
Royal Mountain Records Makes Mental Health A Music Industry Priority

Menno Verstegg Chelsea Ivan /Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Chelsea Ivan /Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Royal Mountain Records Makes Mental Health A Music Industry Priority

XPN

Label Founder Menno Versteeg explains why he feels that caring for artists' mental health is, at least in part, a record label's responsibility.

Menno Versteeg On World Cafe

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What Makes Edie Brickell Happy

Edie Brickell Todd Crusham/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Todd Crusham/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

What Makes Edie Brickell Happy

XPN

The folk and rock mainstay shares her story and the values that guided her choices along the way.

Edie Brickell On World Cafe

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Look At Emily King Now

Emily King performing at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia. Gabriela Barbieri/WXPN hide caption

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Gabriela Barbieri/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Look At Emily King Now

XPN

King's latest album Scenery rings out with joy and hope. The production is a stunning combination of jazz-inflected R&B and '80s pop.

Emily King On World Cafe

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An Andrew Bird's-Eye View Of His Latest Album

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Amanda Demme/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

An Andrew Bird's-Eye View Of His Latest Album

XPN

The indie rock artist zooms way out on humanity across history's timeline, seeking insight about our current age with his latest album My Finest Work Yet.

Andrew Bird On World Cafe

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Robert Ellis Twists The Clichés Of The Traditional Saloon Player

Robert Ellis inside the World Cafe Performance Studio Galea McGregor/WXPN hide caption

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Galea McGregor/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Robert Ellis Twists The Clichés Of The Traditional Saloon Player

XPN

Ellis has embraced his dangerous side to a deliciously fun effect with his latest project, Texas Piano Man.

Robert Ellis On World Cafe

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Popping In For a Pint And Tune At The Cobblestone In Dublin

Dublin's Cobblestone Bar Kimberly Junod/WXPN hide caption

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Kimberly Junod/WXPN

Sense Of Place

Popping In For a Pint And Tune At The Cobblestone In Dublin

XPN

This cozy spot in Smithfield, Dublin is beloved by locals, tourists and musicians from far and wide.

Insode The Cobblestone Bar On World Cafe

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Bell X1's Paul Noonan Takes 'World Cafe' On A Tour Of Dublin

Bell X1's Paul Noonan and World Cafe host Talia Schlanger stand outside of Pablo Picante's where The Dublin Arts Club once stood. Kimberly Junod/WXPN hide caption

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Kimberly Junod/WXPN

Sense Of Place

Bell X1's Paul Noonan Takes 'World Cafe' On A Tour Of Dublin

XPN

There's something extra special about going to visit an artist in the place where it all began.

Paul Noonan On World Cafe

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The Chieftains Shares Sounds Of Ireland With The World

Chieftains peforming for World Cafe at Windmill Lane Recording Studios in Dublin, Ireland Kimberly Junod/WXPN hide caption

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Kimberly Junod/WXPN

Sense Of Place

The Chieftains Shares Sounds Of Ireland With The World

XPN

Spend your St. Patrick's Day feeling like your having a pint surrounded by friends and family as we visit the six-time Grammy-winning band in Dublin.

The Chieftains On World Cafe

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David Keenan, A Young Singer With An Old Poet's Soul

David Keenan sits with a statue of the beloved Irish writer and poet Brendan Behan along the Royal Canal in Dublin. Kim Junod/WXPN hide caption

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Kim Junod/WXPN

Sense Of Place

David Keenan, A Young Singer With An Old Poet's Soul

XPN

During World Cafe's Sense Of Place trip to Dublin, we grab a seat by the water to hear the Irish singer-songwriter perform gorgeous songs on acoustic guitar.

David Keenan on World Cafe

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Jealous of the Birds Uses A Love Of Language To Craft Songs With Great Effect

Jealous of the Birds Vivian Wang/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Vivian Wang/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Jealous of the Birds Uses A Love Of Language To Craft Songs With Great Effect

XPN

Naomi Hamilton, who makes music as Jealous of the Birds, slices up genres and creates songs that sound homemade and tiny, explosive and bombastic.

Jealous Of The Birds

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Amanda Palmer's Songs Ring Out With Urgency And Compassion, Fury And Love

Amanda Palmer inside the World Cafe Performance Studio. Gabriela Barbieri/WXPN hide caption

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Gabriela Barbieri/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Amanda Palmer's Songs Ring Out With Urgency And Compassion, Fury And Love

XPN

Palmer's latest album, There Will Be No Intermission, may be her sharpest blow yet.

Amanda Palmer On World Cafe

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Tenille Townes Captures The Complexities Of The Heartland With Passion And Empathy

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Jessica Steddom/Courtesy of the artist

Nashville Sessions

Tenille Townes Captures The Complexities Of The Heartland With Passion And Empathy

XPN

Townes started making music as a teenager and rose in Canada's flourishing country scene before moving to Nashville at 19.

Tenille Townes On World Cafe

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Maggie Rogers On Her Own Terms

Maggie Rogers Olivia Bee/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Olivia Bee/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Maggie Rogers On Her Own Terms

XPN

In her World Cafe session, the young singer-songwriter takes the opportunity to reintroduce herself on her own terms, with creative force and an abundance of joy.

Maggie Rogers On World Cafe

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David Gray Makes Music In Technicolor

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Derrick Santini/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

David Gray Makes Music In Technicolor

XPN

Gray's voice still sounds as glorious, distinct and beautiful as it did when he broke through the mainstream with 1998's White Ladder.

David Gray On World Cafe

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Welcome To Planet Kamasi Washington

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Durimel Full/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Welcome To Planet Kamasi Washington

XPN

The rules of musical gravity don't apply for the spirited saxophonist, composer and producer.

Kamasi Washington On World Cafe

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Gary Clark Jr. Shows Impressive Musical Range On 'This Land'

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Frank Maddocks/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Gary Clark Jr. Shows Impressive Musical Range On 'This Land'

XPN

The Austin native's latest album This Land incorporates punk, soul and even hip-hop.

Gary Clark Jr. On World Cafe

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From The Lumineers To 'Rattlesnake' Kate, Neyla Pekarek Goes Solo

Neyla Pekarek Liza Nelson/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Liza Nelson/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

From The Lumineers To 'Rattlesnake' Kate, Neyla Pekarek Goes Solo

XPN

The Lumineers cellist left the band this past fall. In January, she officially struck out on her own with a solo album, Rattlesnake.

Neyla Pekarek On World Cafe

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More Than 50 Years In, Mavis Staples Is Still Delivering Messages Of Hope And Justice

Mavis Staples Chris Strong Photography/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Chris Strong Photography/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

More Than 50 Years In, Mavis Staples Is Still Delivering Messages Of Hope And Justice

XPN

by Alex Lewis ,

She's a political activist and a rock star. In this session, hear lots of music and legendary stories from Mavis Staples.

Mavis Staples On World Cafe

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