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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
On 'Star-Crossed,' Kacey Musgraves Embraces Tragedy

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Adreienne Raquel/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

On 'Star-Crossed,' Kacey Musgraves Embraces Tragedy

XPN

Kacey Musgraves' latest album, Star-Crossed, chronicles the end of a relationship, through divorce and healing.

Kacey Musgraves on World Cafe

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Merry Clayton On 'Beautiful Scars' And A Life Of Singing

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Mathieu Bitton/Courtesy of the artist

New Orleans Sessions

Merry Clayton On 'Beautiful Scars' And A Life Of Singing

XPN

In the late 1960s, Merry Clayton was one of the most sought after backup singers. Her new album, released in April of this year, is called Beautiful Scars.

Merry Clayton on World Cafe

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Watch The 2021 Americana Honors & Awards Live Stream

Margo Price (by Bobbi Rich), Jason Isbell (by Alysse Gafkjen), Valerie June (by Renata Raksha), Charley Crockett (by Bobby Cochran). Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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Courtesy of the artists

Nashville Sessions

Watch The 2021 Americana Honors & Awards Live Stream

XPN

The Americana Honors & Awards have celebrated pioneering veteran artists and trailblazing newcomers. The ceremony is the hallmark event of the annual AMERICANAFEST, which returns on Sept. 22.

Reintroducing Matthew E. White, The Musician With A Producer's Brain

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Cameron Lewis/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Reintroducing Matthew E. White, The Musician With A Producer's Brain

XPN

On his latest album, K Bay, the singer-songwriter made music in a variety of studios and used a variety of sonic tricks.

Matthew E. White on World Cafe

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On 'The Roadside,' Billy Idol Reunites With An Old Collaborator

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Steven Sebring /Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

On 'The Roadside,' Billy Idol Reunites With An Old Collaborator

XPN

This month, Billy Idol released The Roadside, a four song EP made with his longtime guitarist and cowriter, Steve Stevens.

Billy Idol on World cafe

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On 'A Southern Gothic,' Adia Victoria Reckons With Her Relationship To The South

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Huy Van Nguyen/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

On 'A Southern Gothic,' Adia Victoria Reckons With Her Relationship To The South

XPN

On A Southern Gothic, her third full-length album, Adia Victoria emerges as a songwriter capable of nuance and atmosphere.

Adia Victoria on World Cafe

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On 'Hope Above Adversity,' Dylan Cartlidge Makes Music Like Mantras

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Nate Guenth/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

On 'Hope Above Adversity,' Dylan Cartlidge Makes Music Like Mantras

XPN

Cartlidge's debut album, Hope Above Adversity, was released in July of this year. It's filled with uplifting anthems that sonically jump from pop, to funk, to hip hop.

Dylan Cartlidge on World Cafe

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Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram, Pushing The Blues Into The Modern Era

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Laura Carbone/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram, Pushing The Blues Into The Modern Era

XPN

On his latest album, 662, the 22-year-old guitar virtuoso expands his sound to incorporate more rock, soul and gospel into his repertoire.

Christone "Kingfish" Ingram on World Cafe

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Enter 'The Metallica Blacklist': St. Vincent And Jason Isbell On The Black Album

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World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN

Enter 'The Metallica Blacklist': St. Vincent And Jason Isbell On The Black Album

XPN

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Metallica's beloved self-titled album, they're releasing The Metallica Blacklist: a compilation featuring more than 50 different artists covering songs from the record.

The Metallica Blacklist on World Cafe

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On 'Peacemeal,' Ron Gallo Embraces A Playful Pop Sound

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Dylan Reyes/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

On 'Peacemeal,' Ron Gallo Embraces A Playful Pop Sound

XPN

Ron Gallo's Peacemeal is a warm and playful low-fi pop record, unafraid to be skeptical and insightful.

Ron Gallo on World Cafe

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On 'Release Me 2,' Barbra Streisand Plucks From An Archive Full Of Gems

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Russell James/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

On 'Release Me 2,' Barbra Streisand Plucks From An Archive Full Of Gems

XPN

In this episode of World Cafe, Barbra Streisand discusses Release Me 2 — a compilation of unreleased and reworked songs — and the funny, surprising stories that surround it.

Barbra Streisand on World Cafe

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On 'Daddy's Home,' St. Vincent Lives Her 1970s New York Fantasy

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Zackery Michael /Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

On 'Daddy's Home,' St. Vincent Lives Her 1970s New York Fantasy

XPN

In this episode of World Cafe, St. Vincent dives into the personal story and cultural influences behind Daddy's Home.

St. Vincent On World Cafe

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For Tom Scharpling, Wanting To Be Part Of Something Bigger 'Never Ends'

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Joel Fox/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

For Tom Scharpling, Wanting To Be Part Of Something Bigger 'Never Ends'

XPN

In this episode of World Cafe, Tom Scharpling talks about his memoir, It Never Ends, and the way music — including how his desire to be part of something: a band, a joke, anything — has shaped his life.

Tom Scharpling on World Cafe

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On 'Drama,' Rodrigo Amarante Reconsiders Masculinity Through Childhood Memories

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Eliot Lee Hazel/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

On 'Drama,' Rodrigo Amarante Reconsiders Masculinity Through Childhood Memories

XPN

Inspired by a memory of Rodrigo Amarante's father asking the young singer-songwriter — as a child — to cut his hair, Drama is the perfect slice of lush, tropical jazz-inspired pop.

Rodrigo Amarante on World Cafe

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To Jackson Browne, Songwriting Is A Game Of Revision

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Nels Israelson/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

To Jackson Browne, Songwriting Is A Game Of Revision

XPN

Songwriting is a craft. No one follows through on that promise more than Jackson Browne.

Jackson Browne on World Cafe

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On 'Home Video,' Lucy Dacus Translates Her Life Into Song

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Ebru Yildiz/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

On 'Home Video,' Lucy Dacus Translates Her Life Into Song

XPN

Home Video is a collection of personal moments from Lucy Dacus' life, translated into song by way of her vulnerable, honest lyricism.

Lucy Dacus on World Cafe

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Leslie Jordan Embraces His Newfound Internet Fame With 'Company's Comin''

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Miller Mobley/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Leslie Jordan Embraces His Newfound Internet Fame With 'Company's Comin''

XPN

The actor's debut album is a collection of hymns, reinterpreted by him and guest artists like Brandi Carlile, Dolly Parton and TJ Osborne.

Leslie Jordan on World Cafe

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Twin Shadow Comes Home For His Latest Sonic Shift

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Terrence Blakely/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Twin Shadow Comes Home For His Latest Sonic Shift

XPN

Exploring the sounds of his youth — with soul and punk music at the core — was exactly what singer-songwriter George Lewis Jr. needed to do.

Twin Shadow on World Cafe

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Hiss Golden Messenger Performs Songs From Throughout His Career

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Chris Frisina/Courtesy of the Artist

World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN

Hiss Golden Messenger Performs Songs From Throughout His Career

XPN

You might wonder why Hiss Golden Messenger's new album is called Quietly Blowing It — because bandleader M.C. Taylor has not been blowing it at all.

Hiss Golden Messenger on World Cafe

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