Accessibility links
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
Sierra Ferrell seems to have always known where she was headed

Sierra Ferrell performs live at the 2021 XPoNential Music Festival Megan Matuzak/WXPN hide caption

toggle caption
Megan Matuzak/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Sierra Ferrell seems to have always known where she was headed

XPN

In this session, Sierra Ferrell talks about her life and adventures so far. Plus, you'll hear live recordings of her performances from last years XPoNential Music Festival.

Seirra Ferrell on World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1074361585/1074365425" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Tom Morello's wildly eclectic Atlas Underground

Tom Morello Tracis Shinn /Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Tracis Shinn /Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Tom Morello's wildly eclectic Atlas Underground

XPN

Fire and Flood, features appearances by Nathaniel Rateliff, Chris Stapleton, X Ambassadors, Phantogram, Eddie Vedder and Bruce Springsteen.

21:43

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1073788982/1073795266" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Elvis Costello is still trying to grow up

Elvis Costello Lens O'Toole/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Lens O'Toole/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Elvis Costello is still trying to grow up

XPN

The phrase "young at heart" is a cliché, but when it comes to Elvis Costello, it really does apply. The Boy Named If is a trip through the inner life of a young person growing up full of imagination and self-discovery.

Elvis Costello on World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1073045189/1073049109" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Aimee Mann adapts songs for 'Girl, Interrupted' on stage

Aimee Mann Sheryl Nields/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Sheryl Nields/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Aimee Mann adapts songs for 'Girl, Interrupted' on stage

XPN

Mann was tapped to write songs for a stage adaptation of Susanna Kaysen's memoir, and released several of the songs on her album Queens of the Summer Hotel.

Aimee Mann on World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1072731781/1072735962" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
The pandemic has been rich with inspiration for Tré Burt

Tré Burt Allan Baker/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Allan Baker/Courtesy of the artist

WC30

The pandemic has been rich with inspiration for Tré Burt

XPN

Burt's latest album, You, Yeah, You, builds on his previous work as his songwriting grows ever more sophisticated.

Tré Burt on World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1071808945/1072063922" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon reflects on the 'Future Past'

Duran Duran John Swannell/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
John Swannell/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon reflects on the 'Future Past'

XPN

The band''s fifteenth studio album, Future Past, has all the familiar sonic signatures — while exploring the contours of modern production.

Duran Duran on World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1071241448/1071244579" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
A conversation with the awe-inspiring Pastor T. L. Barrett

Pastor T. L. Barrett. Numero Group/Courtest of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Numero Group/Courtest of the artist

Studio Sessions

A conversation with the awe-inspiring Pastor T. L. Barrett

XPN

In this session, Pastor T. L. Barrett joins me for an inspiring conversation on the incredible music of his Youth For Christ Choir, first released 50 years ago.

Pastor T. L. Barrett on World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1070906038/1070910790" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
On 'Valentine,' Snail Mail returns to pin the heart's brass tacks

Snail Mail Tina Tyrell/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Tina Tyrell/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

On 'Valentine,' Snail Mail returns to pin the heart's brass tacks

XPN

World Cafe gets up close and personal with Snail Mail's Lindsey Jordan in this mini-concert from upstate New York, performing songs from her latest album Valentine.

Snail Mail on World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1069984533/1069984621" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Norah Jones captures the nostalgia and magic of Christmas

Norah Jones Ka Irlin/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Ka Irlin/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN

Norah Jones captures the nostalgia and magic of Christmas

Jones' very first solo Christmas album is a mix of originals and covers, some traditional and some more unexpected.

Norah Jones on World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1066860548/1066863898" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Hiss Golden Messenger's 'O Come All Ye Faithful' is full of bittersweet hope

Hiss Golden Messenger performs live for World Cafe John Vettese/WXPN hide caption

toggle caption
John Vettese/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Hiss Golden Messenger's 'O Come All Ye Faithful' is full of bittersweet hope

XPN

MC Taylor acknowledges that this time of year isn't all jingle bells and snowmen and flying reindeer.

Hiss Golden Messenger on World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1066842604/1066848838" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Tracing Rev. James Cleveland's historic contributions to gospel

Rev. James Cleveland Savoy Record/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Savoy Record/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Tracing Rev. James Cleveland's historic contributions to gospel

XPN

Today we get an opportunity to learn more about Rev. Cleveland, a musical giant, thanks to our guest Robert Marovich, gospel historian and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Gospel Music.

Robert Marovich on World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1065828061/1065846979" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Experiencing the down-to-earth vibe of Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish Kelia Anne McCluskey/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Kelia Anne McCluskey/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Experiencing the down-to-earth vibe of Billie Eilish

XPN

In this session, Eilish joins us from the couch at her parents' house to talk about her latest album, Happier Than Ever.

OLD

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1064949606/1064982923" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
The Felice Brothers sing about anxiety with a reassuring warmth

The Felice Brothers Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the Artist hide caption

toggle caption
Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the Artist

Studio Sessions

The Felice Brothers sing about anxiety with a reassuring warmth

XPN

On their latest album, From Dreams To Dust, brothers Ian and James Felice sing about anxieties, pressures and a world that makes less and less sense.

The Felice Brothers on World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1064810991/1064825773" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Music is woven through Josh Ritter's new book, 'The Great Glorious God**** of It All'

Josh Ritter Laura S. Wilson/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Laura S. Wilson/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Music is woven through Josh Ritter's new book, 'The Great Glorious God**** of It All'

XPN

You may know Josh Ritter primarily as a songwriter and musician, but did you know he's also a novelist? He put out his first book a decade ago, and now he's returned with a new one.

Josh Ritter on World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1063652504/1063655521" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
It feels like Elton John, at 74 years old, is just getting started
Gregg Kemp/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

It feels like Elton John, at 74 years old, is just getting started

XPN

Elton John recently scored his first #1 chart ranking in 16 years – thanks to a song on his latest album The Lockdown Sessions. In this session, we chat about being inspired, finding musical chemistry, and more.

Elton John on World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1062996203/1062998042" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
The Killers new album, 'Pressure Machine,' is a deep look at small-town dysfunction

The Killers Danny Clinch/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Danny Clinch/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

The Killers new album, 'Pressure Machine,' is a deep look at small-town dysfunction

XPN

Every recent flash of inspiration seemed to drive singer Brandon Flowers towards that small community, with its modern-day problems.

The Killers on World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1062169370/1062384344" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Browse archive or search npr.org