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Kurt Vile On World Cafe : World Cafe The Philadelphia native discusses the making of his new "loner" album, b'lieve i'm goin down, and performs three of its songs.

World Cafe

Essential and Emerging Artists

World Cafe

Kurt Vile On World Cafe

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Kurt Vile On World Cafe

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Marina Chavez/Courtesy of the artist

Kurt Vile.

Marina Chavez/Courtesy of the artist

Set List

  • "Pretty Pimpin"
  • "Wheelhouse"
  • "Wild Imagination"

Philadelphia's Kurt Vile, formerly a member of The War On Drugs, has been making solo albums since 2008. The process of recording his latest, b'lieve i'm goin down, included an extended stay in California: He went to Los Angeles to record with Warpaint drummer Stella Mozgawa, and to Joshua Tree to soak up its unique vibe.

Vile has described b'lieve i'm goin down as a "loner record," more real and vulnerable than his other work. The album features more acoustic guitar than usual and introduces a little banjo and piano into the mix. Vile says that one song was even inspired by a desert jam with the Malian group Tinariwen. Hear the full conversation and performance, recorded live in Philadelphia, on this page.

Episode Playlist

World Cafe

Essential and Emerging Artists