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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
Anna Tivel's Songs Are Mini Movies With Unlikely Stars

Anna Tivel inside the World Cafe Performance Studio Gabriela Barbieri/WXPN hide caption

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Gabriela Barbieri/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Anna Tivel's Songs Are Mini Movies With Unlikely Stars

XPN

The tremendous songwriter zooms in on the kinds of people who don't usually get the red carpet treatment.

Anna Tivel On World Cafe

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Bob Mould Reflects On Albums He Loved As A Youth With 'Sunshine Rock'

Bob Mould Alicia J. Rose/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Alicia J. Rose/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Bob Mould Reflects On Albums He Loved As A Youth With 'Sunshine Rock'

XPN

The influential musician to the punk and hardcore scene returns with new latest album, Sunshine Rock.

Bob Mould On World Cafe

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King Princess Has Incredible Confidence With The Musical Chops To Back It Up

King Princess outside of WXPN Studio's in Philadelphia, PA. Gabriela Barbieri /WXPN hide caption

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Gabriela Barbieri /WXPN

Studio Sessions

King Princess Has Incredible Confidence With The Musical Chops To Back It Up

XPN

When singer-songwriter Mikaela Straus says, "I've never been subtle. I don't think now is the time," she means it.

King Princess On World Cafe

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After 27 Years, Guster Is Still Surprising Fans

Guster performing live at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia for WXPN's Free At Noon Concert. John Vettese/WXPN hide caption

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John Vettese/WXPN

Studio Sessions

After 27 Years, Guster Is Still Surprising Fans

XPN

Guster's latest album, Look Alive, is a trippy and textured twist on everything you might already love about the band.

Guster On World Cafe

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Josh Ritter Performs Stripped-Down Acoustic Version Of 'Fever Breaks'

Josh Ritter performs live for World Cafe Gabriela Barbieri/WXPN hide caption

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Gabriela Barbieri/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Josh Ritter Performs Stripped-Down Acoustic Version Of 'Fever Breaks'

XPN

The master songwriter performs songs just like he did for Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires on their Nashville porch.

Josh Ritter On World Cafe

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Sharon Van Etten Makes A Punchy And Powerful Leap Forward

Sharon Van Etten inside the World Cafe Performance Studio Rachel Del Sordo/WXPN hide caption

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Rachel Del Sordo/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Sharon Van Etten Makes A Punchy And Powerful Leap Forward

XPN

Van Etten is more present than ever, but wouldn't be where she is today without the struggle.

Sharon Van Etten On World Cafe

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6 Years Of Life Fueled Phosphorescent's Latest Album

Phosphorescent performs at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia. Recorded live for this session. Taylor Johnson/WXPN hide caption

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Taylor Johnson/WXPN

Studio Sessions

6 Years Of Life Fueled Phosphorescent's Latest Album

XPN

Matthew Houck, who records as Phosphorescent, shares how meeting his partner in a New England bar, having a child and almost dying from meningitis informed his new music.

Phosphorescent On World Cafe

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Persian Musicians And A Parisian Monastery: Making Glen Hansard's 'This Wild Willing'

Glen Hansard Stephan Vanfleteren/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Stephan Vanfleteren/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Persian Musicians And A Parisian Monastery: Making Glen Hansard's 'This Wild Willing'

XPN

Hansard's latest record was initially supposed to be a simple, acoustic album. But that changed after a chance jam session with Persian musicians.

Glen Hansard On World Cafe

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Steve Earle Pays Tribute To Guy Clark, His Songwriting Hero

Steve Earle performing live for World Cafe Still from video/WXPN hide caption

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Still from video/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Steve Earle Pays Tribute To Guy Clark, His Songwriting Hero

XPN

The guy who always calls it like he sees it remembers a late friend, mentor and outlaw music icon with a new album, GUY.

Steve Earle on World Cafe

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Nilüfer Yanya Shows Off Catchy Melodies And A Stunning Voice

Nilüfer Yanya performing inside the World Cafe Performance Studio Still from video/WXPN hide caption

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Studio Sessions

Nilüfer Yanya Shows Off Catchy Melodies And A Stunning Voice

XPN

Yanya's debut album, Miss Universe, shows off the unique melodies and grounded guitar playing that first earned her attention.

Nilüfer Yanya On World Cafe

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Cautious Clay Took A Bold Leap

Cautious Clay inside the World Cafe Performance Studio Galea McGregor/WXPN hide caption

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Galea McGregor/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Cautious Clay Took A Bold Leap

XPN

Joshua Karpeh, who records as Cautious Clay, shares his story, reflects on his decision to leave real estate to pursue music full time and explains how being raised by a single mom inspired him.

Cautious Clay On World Cafe

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Metric Talks Fundamental Differences In 'Art Of Doubt'

Metric Justin Broadbent/Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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Justin Broadbent/Courtesy of the artists

Studio Sessions

Metric Talks Fundamental Differences In 'Art Of Doubt'

XPN

Co-Founder Jimmy Shaw gave up the producer reins for the first time for Metric's seventh album, Art of Doubt.

Metric On World Cafe

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The Suitcase Junket Is A Master Of Musical Imagination

The Suitcase Junket performing inside the World Cafe Performance Studio Still from video/WXPN hide caption

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Still from video/WXPN

Studio Sessions

The Suitcase Junket Is A Master Of Musical Imagination

XPN

Dried animal bones, thrift store cutlery, baby shoes and yes, a suitcase. Matt Lorenz has turned all these found objects into instruments for his one-man band.

The Suitcase Junket On World Cafe

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Family Is Important To Susan Tedeschi And Derek Trucks

Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the aritst hide caption

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Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the aritst

Studio Sessions

Family Is Important To Susan Tedeschi And Derek Trucks

XPN

The Tedeschi Trucks Band members — connected by birth or by choice — have been living together on tour for long enough that they count as relatives.

Tedeschi Trucks Band On World Cafe

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Jenny Lewis Finds A 'Beautiful, Funky Way To Grieve'

Jenny Lewis Autumn de Wilde/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Autumn de Wilde/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Jenny Lewis Finds A 'Beautiful, Funky Way To Grieve'

XPN

When listening to Lewis' latest, On the Line, a detail that made you laugh the first time might make you tearful the next.

Jenny Lewis On World Cafe

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Karl Denson Talks 'Gnomes & Badgers'

Karl Denson Robbie Jeffers/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Robbie Jeffers/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Karl Denson Talks 'Gnomes & Badgers'

XPN

Karl Denson talks about tunes from the Karl Denson's Tiny Universe's latest album.

Kark Denson On World Cafe

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Lucie Silvas: Powerful Pipes And The Right People

Lucie Silvas inside the World Cafe Performance Studio. Gabriela Barbieri/WXPN hide caption

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Gabriela Barbieri/WXPN

World Cafe

Lucie Silvas: Powerful Pipes And The Right People

XPN

Silvas couldn't believe the tight-knit community of supportive songwriters she found in Nashville. Those collaborators helped Silvas make her latest album, E.G.O.

Lucie Silvas On World Cafe

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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

Andrew Bird Amanda Demme/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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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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