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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

alt-J has always had a knack for making the unconventional sound appealing

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Galea McGregor/WXPN

Studio Sessions

alt-J has always had a knack for making the unconventional sound appealing

XPN

A well-deserved break — and building their own studio — was the spark the group needed to make 'The Dream,' their most adventurous album yet.

alt-J on World Cafe

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Beach House's latest album embraces maximalism in both size and sound

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Studio Sessions

Beach House's latest album embraces maximalism in both size and sound

XPN

Once Twice Melody was released in four chapters over the course of several months and embraces maximalism in both size and sound.

Beach House on World Cafe

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Get swept away in Spiritualized's latest album, 'Everything Was Beautiful'

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Studio Sessions

Get swept away in Spiritualized's latest album, 'Everything Was Beautiful'

XPN

In this session, Jason Pierce of Spiritualized talks about their latest album, Everything Was Beautiful, how it grew and changed in unexpected ways as he worked on it, and how he let himself get lost in the process.

Spiritualized on World Cafe

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PUP stays honest and true to their roots in 'The Unraveling of PupTheBand'

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Vanessa Heins/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

PUP stays honest and true to their roots in 'The Unraveling of PupTheBand'

XPN

PUP is an acronym for Pathetic Use of Potential ... which has proven to be untrue as they've seen a lot of success over the last decade.

PUP on World Cafe

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Judy Collins shares live stories on 'Spellbound'

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Studio Sessions

Judy Collins shares live stories on 'Spellbound'

XPN

In our conversation, Judy shares some of those stories, talks about her songwriting process and the advice she's gotten from some of her very well-known songwriter friends.

Judy Collins on World Cafe

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Why Beastie Boys' 'Check Your Head' album still matters 30 years later

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Studio Sessions

Why Beastie Boys' 'Check Your Head' album still matters 30 years later

XPN

A lack of interest and supervision from its label allowed Beastie Boys to experiment, resulting in their critically acclaimed third album, Check Your Head.

Culture Corner: The Beasite Boys

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Yard Act's latest is a 'knowingly hypocritical snapshot' of the times we live in

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Studio Sessions

Yard Act's latest is a 'knowingly hypocritical snapshot' of the times we live in

XPN

'The Overload' released in January on Island Records and quickly made a splash, debuting at No. 2 on the UK albums chart. Hear a live performance.

Yard Act no World Cafe

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In 'Far In,' Helado Negro speaks to the longing to find solace inside ourselves

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Nathan Bajar/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

In 'Far In,' Helado Negro speaks to the longing to find solace inside ourselves

XPN

Roberto Carlos Lange, who performs as Helado Negro, lived in Brooklyn until a 2-week trip to Texas to work on an art installation turned into a 6-month stay that led to Far In.

Helado Negro on World Cafe

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No one does a cover song quite like Cat Power

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Studio Sessions

No one does a cover song quite like Cat Power

XPN

Don't go into Chan Marshall's latest album, Covers, expecting a karaoke party — Chan transforms, inhabits and recreates them, makes them entirely new and entirely hers.

Cat Power on World Cafe

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Big Thief's new album will give you the feeling of coming home

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Alexa Viscius/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Big Thief's new album will give you the feeling of coming home

XPN

In this session, you'll hear Big Thief talk about how their support for each other has been vital to creating their latest album, Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You.

Big Thief on World Cafe

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In 'Prospect,' AHI lives like someone before his time is counting on him

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Studio Sessions

In 'Prospect,' AHI lives like someone before his time is counting on him

XPN

AHI's third album, Prospect, is informed by the past but paving the present road toward the future.

AHI on World Cafe

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Ben Bridwell's resilience has led to one of the best Band of Horses albums

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Studio Sessions

Ben Bridwell's resilience has led to one of the best Band of Horses albums

XPN

In this session, Ben Bridwell takes us through the events that led to Things Are Great in his usual self-deprecating charm.

Band of Horses on World Cafe

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Wet Leg talks about their friendship and their journey to their new debut album

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Hollie Fernando/Courtesy of the artst

Studio Sessions

Wet Leg talks about their friendship and their journey to their new debut album

XPN

Hear the duo of Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers perform a handful of singles from their new, debut self-titled album, live.

Wet Leg on World Cafe

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For Tré Burt, 2020's music industry shutdown was rich with inspiration

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Nashville Sessions

For Tré Burt, 2020's music industry shutdown was rich with inspiration

XPN

Burt's latest album, You, Yeah, You, builds on his previous work as he grows ever more sophisticated, empathetic and razor-sharp as a storyteller and musical philosopher.

Tre Burt on World Cafe

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Buffalo Nichols honed his craft playing in all sorts of bands, from punk to americana

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Studio Sessions

Buffalo Nichols honed his craft playing in all sorts of bands, from punk to americana

XPN

The last few years, Buffalo Nichols' heart led him back to the blues, in the process releasing one of the beat blues albums in recent memory.

Buffalo Nichols on World Cafe

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'The Alien Coast' a dramatic departure for St. Paul and the Broken Bones

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Studio Sessions

'The Alien Coast' a dramatic departure for St. Paul and the Broken Bones

XPN

The foundation of the group remains, but they've added psychedelic- and stoner-rock influences in their latest album.

St. Paul and the Broken Bones on World Cafe

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In their latest album, Parquet Courts remain hard to define

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Pooneh Ghana/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

In their latest album, Parquet Courts remain hard to define

XPN

In Parquet Court's latest album, Sympathy For Life, The band brings in more synths, keyboards and dance than ever before.

Parquet Courts on World Cafe

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Lawrence Rothman drops two deeply personal records

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Studio Sessions

Lawrence Rothman drops two deeply personal records

XPN

The first release, Good Morning, America, features appearances from Lucinda Williams, Katie Pruitt, Mary Lattimore and Amanda Shires.

Lawrence Rothman on World Cafe

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Stevie Van Zandt reflects on his career's highlights in 'Unrequited Infatuations'

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Studio Sessions

Stevie Van Zandt reflects on his career's highlights in 'Unrequited Infatuations'

XPN

The memoir spans his time with Bruce Springsteen, his diverse and underrated solo career, and of course his work on The Sopranos as Sylvio Dante.

Stevie Van Zandt on World Cafe

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