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Studio Sessions : World Cafe Artists in conversation and performance from the World Cafe studios in Philadelphia.

World Cafe

Essential and Emerging Artists

Studio Sessions

Karen O And Danger Mouse Unlock A New Creative Universe

Danger Mouse (left) and Yeah Yeah Yeahs singer Karen O (right) Eliot Lee Hazel/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Eliot Lee Hazel/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Karen O And Danger Mouse Unlock A New Creative Universe

XPN

On Karen O And Danger Mouse's debut collaboration, Lux Prima, the sound is inviting, thrilling and entirely distinct from the voices they each are known for in their own careers.

Karen O And Danger Mouse On World Cafe

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George Benson Has A Story To Tell

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Austin Hargrave/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

George Benson Has A Story To Tell

XPN

Guitar virtuoso George Benson shares tales of working with jazz greats and creating an album dedicated to Chuck Berry and Fats Domino.

George Benson On World Cafe

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Pedro The Lion's Homecoming, 15 Years In The Making

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Ryan Russell/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Pedro The Lion's Homecoming, 15 Years In The Making

XPN

Pedro the Lion's latest album, Phoenix, houses many of David Bazan's childhood memories and stunning moments of personal poetry.

Pedro The Lion On World Cafe

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Snarky Puppy's Full Pack Came Together To Record 'Immigrance'

Snarky Puppy Stella K/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Stella K/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Snarky Puppy's Full Pack Came Together To Record 'Immigrance'

XPN

This loosely-knit collective of funk, jazz, and rock players recorded it's latest studio album, Immigrance, with the full lineup of just under 20 members.

Snarky Puppy On World Cafe

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Leyla McCalla Has The Capitalist Blues

Leyla McCalla Sarrah Danzinger/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Sarrah Danzinger/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Leyla McCalla Has The Capitalist Blues

XPN

Although the topics are heavy, McCalla's music is danceable. This is a treatment informed by the artist's Haitian roots and adopted New Orleans traditions.

Layla McCalla On World Cafe

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Foals Makes Changes In Pursuit Of Ultimate Creative Freedom

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Alex Knowles/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Foals Makes Changes In Pursuit Of Ultimate Creative Freedom

XPN

The members of Foals produced the last two albums themselves. The British band left its lead singer alone to finish lyrics in a dark studio in South London.

Foals On World Cafe

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With A Big Pop Sound And Sticky Turn Of Phrases, The Beths Are Taking Over

The Beths inside the World Cafe Performance Studio Emily De Hart/WXPN hide caption

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Emily De Hart/WXPN

Studio Sessions

With A Big Pop Sound And Sticky Turn Of Phrases, The Beths Are Taking Over

XPN

Last year, The Beths released its full-length debut, Future Me Hates Me. Future you will not regret hearing this session.

The Beths On World Cafe

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Catching Up With Citizen Cope

Citizen Cope performs at WXPN's Free At Noon Concert - recorded live for this session. Gabriela Barbieri/WXPN hide caption

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Gabriela Barbieri/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Catching Up With Citizen Cope

XPN

It's been seven years since Citizen Cope released his last album. Now, the singer-songwriter returns to talk about family, justice and his latest, curiously-titled album, Heroin and Helicopters.

Citizen Cope On World Cafe

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Better Oblivion Community Center, A Project Built On Mutual Fandom

Better Oblivion Community Center Nick Freitas/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Nick Freitas/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Better Oblivion Community Center, A Project Built On Mutual Fandom

XPN

What could be better than a new project built on the friendship of two World Cafe favorites, Phoebe Bridgers and Conor Oberst?

Better Oblivion Community Center On World Cafe

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Patty Griffin On Restoring Her Voice And Her Soul

Patty Griffin performing inside the World Cafe Performance Studio Emily DeHart/WXPN hide caption

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Emily DeHart/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Patty Griffin On Restoring Her Voice And Her Soul

XPN

Hear the Grammy-winning songwriter perform songs written during her cancer treatment and discuss the deep reflections and soul-searching they contain.

Patty Griffin On World Cafe

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BAILEN Has The Type Of Bond That Only Comes From Being Family

Bailen performing WXPN's Free At Noon Concert at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, PA. Gabriela Barbieri/WXPN hide caption

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Gabriela Barbieri/WXPN

Studio Sessions

BAILEN Has The Type Of Bond That Only Comes From Being Family

XPN

These siblings are an incredible group of dynamic vocalists whose musicianship is off the charts.

Bailen On World Cafe

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The Cranberries' Last Album Celebrates The Life Of Dolores O'Riordan

Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries performs on stage during the Cognac Blues Passion Festival in July 2016. Guillaume Souvant/Getty Images hide caption

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Guillaume Souvant/Getty Images

Studio Sessions

The Cranberries' Last Album Celebrates The Life Of Dolores O'Riordan

XPN

The Cranberries' co-founder Noel Hogan talks about why the band's music, and Dolores O'Riordan as it's lead vocalist, resonated so strongly with fans.

The Cranberries On World Cafe

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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'

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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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Still from video/WXPN

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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