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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
Big Thief's 'U.F.O.F.' And 'Two Hands' Are Two Sides Of The Same Coin

Big Thief Dustin Condren/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Dustin Condren/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Big Thief's 'U.F.O.F.' And 'Two Hands' Are Two Sides Of The Same Coin

XPN

The band's lead singer Adrianne Lenker calls its last two records, both released last year, spiritual siblings.

Big Thief On World Cafe

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Hear Marcus King Perform Acoustic Versions Of Tracks From 'El Dorado'

Marcus King performs solo in front of an intimate audience at The Lounge at World Cafe Jamie Stow/WXPN hide caption

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Jamie Stow/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Hear Marcus King Perform Acoustic Versions Of Tracks From 'El Dorado'

XPN

Hear Marcus King perform songs from his new solo album and share his first memories of playing guitar from The Lounge at World Cafe Live.

Marcus King On World Cafe

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Patience Pays Off On Jeremy Ivey's Debut Album

Jeremy Ivey performs live at WXPN's Free At Noon Concert, recorded live for World Cafe Jamie Stow/WXPN hide caption

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Jamie Stow/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Patience Pays Off On Jeremy Ivey's Debut Album

XPN

After backing his wife Margo Price for years, Jeremy Ivey recorded his first solo album at the age of 41. The producer? Who else but Price.

Jeremy Ivey on World Cafe

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Hiss Golden Messenger Is Looking For Truth On 'Terms Of Surrender'

Hiss Golden Messenger Graham Tolbert/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Graham Tolbert/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Hiss Golden Messenger Is Looking For Truth On 'Terms Of Surrender'

XPN

M.C. Taylor's new album is so full of truth he originally wasn't sure if he should release it at all. Fortunately for us, he did.

Hiss Golden Messenger On World Cafe

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Son Little Expands His Musical Palette On 'Aloha'

Son Little performing live at WXPN's Free At Noon Concert in November 2019, recorded live for World Cafe Jamie Stow/WXPN hide caption

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Jamie Stow/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Son Little Expands His Musical Palette On 'Aloha'

XPN

On his latest album, Son Little pushes his signature blend of R&B and soul further than ever.

Son Little On World Cafe

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The Lumineers' 'III' Tells A Deeply Personal Story

The Lumineers Danny Clinch/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Danny Clinch/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

The Lumineers' 'III' Tells A Deeply Personal Story

XPN

Already one of the biggest bands in the world, The Lumineers did something adventurous on the group's third album, 'III.'

The Lumineers On World Cafe

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The Growlers: Your Best-Kept Secret Favorite Band

The Growlers Taylor Bonin/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Taylor Bonin/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

The Growlers: Your Best-Kept Secret Favorite Band

XPN

The California band's music blends lo-fi surf-rock, garage rock, Americana and psychedelic into something so unique it needed to come up with its own genre.

The Growlers On World Cafe

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The New Pornographers Craft Hooks With Heart

The New Pornographers performing live at WXPN's Free At Noon Concert - recorded live for the World Cafe. Jamie Stow/WXPN hide caption

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Jamie Stow/WXPN

Studio Sessions

The New Pornographers Craft Hooks With Heart

XPN

With In the Morse Code of Brake Lights, the Canadian band delivers big, bright songs with thoughtful lyrics.

The New Pornographers On World Cafe

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Whitney Flips The Notion Of The Breakup Record On Its Head

Whitney Olivia Bee/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Olivia Bee/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Whitney Flips The Notion Of The Breakup Record On Its Head

XPN

The Chicago duo's latest album, Forever Turned Around, is all about commitment. Hear a live performance.

Whitney On World Cafe

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Michaela Anne's Voice Shines Like A Beacon, Bringing You Back Home

Michaela Anne performing at WXPN's Free At Noon Concert, recorded live for World Cafe. Jamie Stow/WXPN hide caption

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Jamie Stow/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Michaela Anne's Voice Shines Like A Beacon, Bringing You Back Home

XPN

Desert Dove is a country album, but kind of like her life, it doesn't stay settled in just one place. There are cinematic strings, and nods to indie rock and honky-tonk.

Michaela Anne On World Cafe

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'Peace's Eternal Truth Renews All,' Says The Building's Anthony LaMarca

The Building performs inside the World Cafe Performance Studio Jamie Stow/WXPN hide caption

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Jamie Stow/WXPN

Studio Sessions

'Peace's Eternal Truth Renews All,' Says The Building's Anthony LaMarca

XPN

The War On Drugs guitarist explains the meaning behind PETRA, an acronym of his dog's name that he came up with while battling cancer.

The Building On World Cafe

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Supergroup Puss N Boots Brings Cozy Tunes To The Holidays

Puss N Boots Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Supergroup Puss N Boots Brings Cozy Tunes To The Holidays

XPN

Norah Jones, Sasha Dobson and Catherine Popper recently released a Christmas EP called Dear Santa. They performed some of the songs in a live mini concert for World Cafe.

Puss N Boots on World Cafe

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How Clairo Turned A Viral Bedroom Video Into A Successful Music Career

Clairo outside the World Cafe Performance studio at WXPN in Philadelphia. Galea McGregor/WXPN hide caption

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Galea McGregor/WXPN

Studio Sessions

How Clairo Turned A Viral Bedroom Video Into A Successful Music Career

XPN

The 21-year-old artist's song, "Pretty Girl," reached a million views on YouTube within a week. "It's very hard for me to wrap my own head around, and I understand what the internet is," Clairo says.

How Clairo Turned A Viral Bedroom Video Into A Successful Music Career

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Michael Kiwanuka On Embracing His Name And How 'Big Little Lies' Changed His Life

Michael Kiwanuka went to music school, but he thinks technical knowledge is less important than passion and free expression. Olivia Rose/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Olivia Rose/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Michael Kiwanuka On Embracing His Name And How 'Big Little Lies' Changed His Life

XPN

As the son of Ugandan parents, he struggled with feeling like an outsider. But he's back with his third album, simply titled Kiwanuka.

Michael Kiwanuka On World Cafe

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Difficult Truths Best Whispered: Joan Shelley Sees The Beauty In The Fading

"I think the hardest things for a person to hear are best delivered in quiet and loving tones," Joan Shelley says. "They might not be nice and loving sentiments, but they're best whispered." Jamie Stow/WXPN hide caption

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Jamie Stow/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Difficult Truths Best Whispered: Joan Shelley Sees The Beauty In The Fading

XPN

Joan Shelley tries to write about love like it's "something that's got its own motion and inevitabilities outside our own plans and desires and fantasies."

Joan Shelley On World Cafe

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From Studios To Stadiums: Jeff Lynne And The Story Of ELO

Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down" is one of Jeff Lynne's favorite songs to have co-written. Joseph Cultice/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Joseph Cultice/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

From Studios To Stadiums: Jeff Lynne And The Story Of ELO

XPN

The multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer talks about returning to the stage with ELO, his new album From Out of Nowhere and shares his advice for young producers.

Jeff Lynne On World Cafe

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Angel Olsen On Her Spectacular Sonic Evolution

Angel Olsen (right) with her band, inside the World Cafe Performance Studio. Galea McGregor/WXPN hide caption

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Galea McGregor/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Angel Olsen On Her Spectacular Sonic Evolution

XPN

"I needed to take a minute away from the way that MY WOMAN and previous records had been done because this one just didn't require the same feeling," Olsen says.

Angel Olsen On World Cafe

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The Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde Goes For Jazz Karaoke On 'Valve Bone Woe' Covers

"They were very musical and they made great songs and had great harmonies," Chrissie Hynde says of The Beach Boys. "I only didn't appreciate them then because I was tripping my brains out and listening to Jimi Hendrix." Jill Furmanovsky/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Jill Furmanovsky/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

The Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde Goes For Jazz Karaoke On 'Valve Bone Woe' Covers

XPN

The Pretenders' frontwoman reunites with Marius de Vries 20 years after Eye of the Beholder for her latest album, a series of jazzy reinterpretations of rock songs.

Chrissie Hynde On World Cafe

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The Wood Brothers Brings The Quintessential Americana Sound To AmericanaFest

The Wood Brothers performs live at the AmericanaFest Day Stage presented by NPR Music, WMOT and World Cafe. Dylan Estes/WMOT hide caption

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Dylan Estes/WMOT

Nashville Sessions

The Wood Brothers Brings The Quintessential Americana Sound To AmericanaFest

XPN

The trio play songs from their recent album, One Drop Of Truth, and they'll give us a little taste of some new music coming out next year.

The Wood Brothers On World Cafe

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