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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
Harlem Gospel Travelers share a message of hope on 'Look Up!'

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Rosie Cohe/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Harlem Gospel Travelers share a message of hope on 'Look Up!'

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Guided by their former music teacher turned producer, the gospel group crafted a powerful new album.

The Harlem Gospel Travelers on World Cafe

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Madi Diaz is one of Nashville's best kept secrets

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Lili Pepper/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Madi Diaz is one of Nashville's best kept secrets

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Diaz is an in-demand songwriter who's worked with Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town and Kesha.

Madi Diaz on World Cafe

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Here's how Kenny Loggins became the 'King of the Movie Soundtrack'

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Chris Jensen/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Here's how Kenny Loggins became the 'King of the Movie Soundtrack'

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In his new memoir, titled Still Alright, Kenny Loggins chronicles his journey to becoming one of the best-selling artists of the 1980s.

Kenny Loggins on World Cafe

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The 1975's Matty Healy says the band's latest record is 'a call for empathy'

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Samuel Bradley/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

The 1975's Matty Healy says the band's latest record is 'a call for empathy'

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The British band sought to be more earnest in their exploration of love on their fifth album, Being Funny in a Foreign Language.

The 1975 on World Cafe

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Tamino showcases his heavenly voice and calm energy on his latest album, 'Sahar'

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Ramy Moharam Fouad/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Tamino showcases his heavenly voice and calm energy on his latest album, 'Sahar'

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Hear Tamino perform a mini-concert, including two songs from his latest album, Sahar, recorded live for World Cafe.

Tamino on World Cafe

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Julieta Venegas finds the perfect balance between past and future on 'Tu Historia'

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Agustina Puricelli/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Julieta Venegas finds the perfect balance between past and future on 'Tu Historia'

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Fans of the Mexican singer-songwriter were surprised to hear Julieta Venegas embrace disco and synth pop on her latest album, but the artist has never shied away from new sounds.

Julieta Venegas on World Cafe

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The Culture Corner: Love's 'Forever Changes' counterbalanced 1967's 'Summer of Love'

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Michael Ochs/Getty Images

Studio Sessions

The Culture Corner: Love's 'Forever Changes' counterbalanced 1967's 'Summer of Love'

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The Los Angeles-based band reacted a little differently to the "Summer of Love" with their 1967 album, Forever Changes.

The Culture Corner: Love's 'Forever Changes' was a dose of reality during The Summer Of Love

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Calexico's 'El Mirador' is a love letter to Tucson

Calexico perform live inside the World Cafe Performance Studio at WXPN in Philadelphia, PA. Paige Walter/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Paige Walter/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Calexico's 'El Mirador' is a love letter to Tucson

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Calexico's new album, filled with Latin influences including cumbia and ranchera music, is about introspection and connectivity.

Calexico on World Cafe

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Amy Ray sees the good, the bad and the ugly on 'If It All Goes South'

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Sandlin Gaither/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Amy Ray sees the good, the bad and the ugly on 'If It All Goes South'

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On her latest solo album, the Indigo Girls member finds positivity and love in places some folks might give up on.

Amy Ray on World Cafe

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Alex G brings indescribable feelings to life on 'God Save the Animals'

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Chris Maggio/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Alex G brings indescribable feelings to life on 'God Save the Animals'

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For his ninth album, the Philadelphia artist branched out and enlisted the help of different studios and engineers for the first time.

Alex G on World Cafe

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Get To Know Merge Records' New Band, Friendship

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Jeffrey Berkowitz/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Get To Know Merge Records' New Band, Friendship

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The Philadelphia band taps into the sounds of Americana and country without abandoning its indie rock roots. Hear a live mini-concert in this session of World Cafe.

Friendship on World Cafe

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Guitar virtuoso Marcus King found his way out of the darkness with 'Young Blood'

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Danny Clinch/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Guitar virtuoso Marcus King found his way out of the darkness with 'Young Blood'

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Marcus King's new album, Young Blood, sounds almost jubilant — but is the product of some very difficult years for the guitarist.

Marcus King on World Cafe

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Marcus Mumford charts painful, powerful journey to healing on debut album

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Eric Ray Davidson/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Marcus Mumford charts painful, powerful journey to healing on debut album

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In this session, Marcus Mumford talks about sharing a message of hope and healing on his solo debut album, self-titled.

Marcus Mumford on World Cafe

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Kiwi Jr. expands its sonic palette on its second album, 'Chopper'

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Ben Rayner/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe

Kiwi Jr. expands its sonic palette on its second album, 'Chopper'

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For their third album, Chopper, Kiwi Jr. wanted to invoke a feeling — not of location or mood, but of time; specifically, that time between sunset and sunrise.

Kiwi Jr. on World Cafe

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Maggie Rogers channeled the chaos of recent years into 'Surrender'

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Olivia Bee/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

Maggie Rogers channeled the chaos of recent years into 'Surrender'

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With Surrender, Rogers is figuring out what she can control, what she can't and exactly what it means to accept and give in.

Maggie Rogers on World Cafe

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Phoenix dishes on its date with the Mona Lisa

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Shervin Lianez/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

Phoenix dishes on its date with the Mona Lisa

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Hear a live performance from Phoenix recorded in their dressing room before a concert in Boston earlier this fall.

Phoenix on World Cafe

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For Danger Mouse and Black Thought, feel is more important than sound

Danger Mouse (right) & Black Thought (left) Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

For Danger Mouse and Black Thought, feel is more important than sound

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Though Black Thought and Danger Mouse have known each other for a very long time, it took a while to complete their debut collaborative album, Cheat Codes.

Danger Mouse & Black Thought on World Cafe

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Chicago drops new album and film documenting its triumphant return to the road

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Studio Sessions

Chicago drops new album and film documenting its triumphant return to the road

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In this session, we talk to Lee Loughnane and Robert Lamm from the road about their new album, film and the stories behind some of their biggest hits — plus, they share live performances.

Chicago on World Cafe

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Matt Nathanson set out to make a true singer-songwriter album in 'Boston Accent'

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Brendan Walter/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Matt Nathanson set out to make a true singer-songwriter album in 'Boston Accent'

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It was recorded during the early stages of the pandemic with his friend and fellow songwriter/producer extraordinaire, Butch Walker.

Matt Nathanson on World Cafe

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The Culture Corner: Janet Jackson's 'The Velvet Rope' turns 25

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Simon Baker/Getty Images

Studio Sessions

The Culture Corner: Janet Jackson's 'The Velvet Rope' turns 25

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Janet Jackson experimented lyrically on the 1997 album, which included exploring new sexual themes she'd never sung about before.

The Culture Corner: Janet Jackson's 'The Velvet Rope' turns 25

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Get to know Colson Baker, the person behind Machine Gun Kelly

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Hunter Simmons/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Get to know Colson Baker, the person behind Machine Gun Kelly

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In this session, MGK opens up about the ups and downs he's faced in the music industry, his relationship with fame and how being a father has shaped his music.

Machine Gun Kelly on World Cafe

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