Music Interviews : NPR https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1105 Interviews with top musicians from jazz, blues, rock, pop, folk, classical, urban, and world music. Listen online to live studio sessions and musician interviews and watch video sessions. en Copyright 2021 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Sun, 18 Apr 2021 07:56:00 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 Music Interviews https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1105 On 'Vulture Prince,' Arooj Aftab Finds New Meaning In Familiar Words Aftab's third record, <em>Vulture Prince</em>, was completed after the loss of her younger brother; it weaves grief and longing through the different styles the artist dabbles with. Sun, 18 Apr 2021 07:56:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/18/988483619/arooj-aftabs-newest-album-finds-light-in-dark-times https://www.npr.org/2021/04/18/988483619/arooj-aftabs-newest-album-finds-light-in-dark-times

Aftab's third record, Vulture Prince, was completed after the loss of her younger brother; it weaves grief and longing through the different styles the artist dabbles with.

(Image credit: Diana Markosian/Courtesy of the artist)

]]> Lulu Garcia-Navarro Gospel Singer Elizabeth King Hits A Musical Milestone At 77 At the age of 77, Memphis sacred soul singer Elizabeth King is releasing her first full-length album, <em>Living in the Last Days</em>. She talks about it with NPR's Debbie Elliott. Sat, 17 Apr 2021 07:59:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/17/988331573/gospel-singer-elizabeth-king-hits-a-musical-milestone-at-77 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/17/988331573/gospel-singer-elizabeth-king-hits-a-musical-milestone-at-77 At the age of 77, Memphis sacred soul singer Elizabeth King is releasing her first full-length album, Living in the Last Days. She talks about it with NPR's Debbie Elliott.

]]> Julien Baker's 'Little Oblivions' Goes Deep And Gets Personal On Baker's new album, there's no shying away from the tough stuff. Fri, 16 Apr 2021 12:40:49 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/world-cafe/2021/04/16/987879598/julien-bakers-little-oblivions-goes-deep-and-gets-personal https://www.npr.org/sections/world-cafe/2021/04/16/987879598/julien-bakers-little-oblivions-goes-deep-and-gets-personal

On Baker's new album, there's no shying away from the tough stuff.

(Image credit: Alysse Gafjken/Courtesy of the artist)

]]> Raina Douris On 'For Every Voice That Never Sang,' Kishi Bashi Is Confident For A Changing World Kishi Bashi reflects on the Asian American experience and the pain of pursuing acceptance in his Morning Edition Song Project entry, "For Every Voice That Never Sang." Wed, 14 Apr 2021 05:04:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/14/986827430/on-for-every-voice-that-never-sang-kishi-bashi-is-confident-for-a-changing-world https://www.npr.org/2021/04/14/986827430/on-for-every-voice-that-never-sang-kishi-bashi-is-confident-for-a-changing-world

Kishi Bashi reflects on the Asian American experience and the pain of pursuing acceptance in his Morning Edition Song Project entry, "For Every Voice That Never Sang."

(Image credit: Rachael Renee Levasseur/Courtesy of the artist)

]]> Rachel Martin Aaron Lee Tasjan's New Album Touches On Health, Being Alone, And Money Though these songs may sound like they were inspired by the pandemic, Aaron Lee Tasjan's had an anxious mind since before the lockdown. Tue, 13 Apr 2021 14:53:34 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/world-cafe/2021/04/13/986802655/aaron-lee-tasjans-new-album-touches-on-health-being-alone-and-money https://www.npr.org/sections/world-cafe/2021/04/13/986802655/aaron-lee-tasjans-new-album-touches-on-health-being-alone-and-money

Though these songs may sound like they were inspired by the pandemic, Aaron Lee Tasjan's had an anxious mind since before the lockdown.

(Image credit: Curtis Wayne Millard/Courtesy of the artist)

]]> Raina Douris Catching Up With Laurie Anderson, An Artist Always Ahead Of Her Time The versatile, eclectic multimedia artist and musician Laurie Anderson has taken stock of her life's work, pursuing reissues and retrospectives while always forging ahead. Tue, 13 Apr 2021 14:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/13/978134291/catching-up-with-laurie-anderson-an-artist-always-ahead-of-her-time https://www.npr.org/2021/04/13/978134291/catching-up-with-laurie-anderson-an-artist-always-ahead-of-her-time

The versatile, eclectic multimedia artist and musician Laurie Anderson has taken stock of her life's work, pursuing reissues and retrospectives while always forging ahead.

(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist)

]]> Allyson McCabe Rhiannon Giddens On The Many Meanings of 'Home' While Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi made her new album in their new home of Ireland during 2020, they felt called by the places that had given them life and drawn to the mysteries of death. Mon, 12 Apr 2021 11:07:45 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2021/04/12/985712845/rhiannon-giddens-on-the-many-meanings-of-home https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2021/04/12/985712845/rhiannon-giddens-on-the-many-meanings-of-home

While Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi made her new album in their new home of Ireland during 2020, they felt called by the places that had given them life and drawn to the mysteries of death.

(Image credit: Ebru Yildiz/Courtesy of the artist)

]]> Bob Boilen The Rhymes And Reasons Behind Re-Recording Your Own Classics Taylor Swift is far from the first to revisit her old catalog for reasons of business as much as art – but even if it's often a managerial decision, the process can't help but be heartfelt. Mon, 12 Apr 2021 11:05:04 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/12/986430235/the-rhymes-and-reasons-behind-re-recording-your-own-classics https://www.npr.org/2021/04/12/986430235/the-rhymes-and-reasons-behind-re-recording-your-own-classics

Taylor Swift is far from the first to revisit her old catalog for reasons of business as much as art – but even if it's often a managerial decision, the process can't help but be heartfelt.

(Image credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

]]> Annie Zaleski Wye Oak's Jenn Wasner Is On Her Own In New Album, 'Head Of Roses' NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks to Jenn Wasner, best known from the band Wye Oak, about her solo project, Flock Of Dimes, and her new album <em>Head Of Roses.</em> Sun, 11 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/11/986203240/wye-oaks-jenn-wasner-is-on-her-own-in-new-album-head-of-roses https://www.npr.org/2021/04/11/986203240/wye-oaks-jenn-wasner-is-on-her-own-in-new-album-head-of-roses NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks to Jenn Wasner, best known from the band Wye Oak, about her solo project, Flock Of Dimes, and her new album Head Of Roses.

]]> A Melting Pot Of Traditions: Regina Carter Talks With Lara Downes The genre-disrupting violinist talks about the problem with labeling music and the importance of being a role model for young women. Sat, 10 Apr 2021 05:01:01 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/10/985066735/a-melting-pot-of-traditions-regina-carter-talks-with-lara-downes https://www.npr.org/2021/04/10/985066735/a-melting-pot-of-traditions-regina-carter-talks-with-lara-downes

The genre-disrupting violinist talks about the problem with labeling music and the importance of being a role model for young women.

(Image credit: NPR)

]]> Lara Downes No Longer '20 Feet From Stardom': Singer Merry Clayton Steps Out Of The Background Clayton sang backup with Ray Charles, Joe Cocker, Carole King and many others. Now she has a new album — where she's front and center — called <em>Beautiful Scars. Originally broadcast in 2013.</em> Fri, 09 Apr 2021 13:36:15 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/09/985363956/no-longer-20-feet-from-stardom-singer-merry-clayton-steps-out-of-the-background https://www.npr.org/2021/04/09/985363956/no-longer-20-feet-from-stardom-singer-merry-clayton-steps-out-of-the-background Clayton sang backup with Ray Charles, Joe Cocker, Carole King and many others. Now she has a new album — where she's front and center — called Beautiful Scars. Originally broadcast in 2013.

]]> Terry Gross Lovely Songs From The Big Hold, Inspired By Bureaucracy Millions lost their jobs to the pandemic and needed to file for unemployment benefits, but met busy lines – including a composer from Austin, who made an album to counteract the vibe. Thu, 08 Apr 2021 17:08:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/08/985452862/lovely-songs-from-the-big-hold-inspired-by-bureaucracy https://www.npr.org/2021/04/08/985452862/lovely-songs-from-the-big-hold-inspired-by-bureaucracy

Millions lost their jobs to the pandemic and needed to file for unemployment benefits, but met busy lines – including a composer from Austin, who made an album to counteract the vibe.

(Image credit: Martin Poole/Getty Images)

]]> Matt Largey Merry Clayton Bares Her 'Beautiful Scars' Seven years after surviving a car crash that took her legs and nearly took her life, singer Merry Clayton is releasing a new album, <em>Beautiful Scars</em>. Thu, 08 Apr 2021 05:02:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/08/985070272/merry-clayton-bares-her-beautiful-scars https://www.npr.org/2021/04/08/985070272/merry-clayton-bares-her-beautiful-scars

Seven years after surviving a car crash that took her legs and nearly took her life, singer Merry Clayton is releasing a new album, Beautiful Scars.

(Image credit: Mathieu Bitton/Courtesy of the artist)

]]> Rachel Martin H.E.R. Is A 'Soul Baby' With A Social Conscience The morning after winning two Grammy awards, R&B singer H.E.R. received an Oscar nomination for the song "Fight For You" from the film <em>Judas and the Black Messiah</em>. Tue, 06 Apr 2021 16:08:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/06/984729472/h-e-r-is-a-soul-baby-with-a-social-conscience https://www.npr.org/2021/04/06/984729472/h-e-r-is-a-soul-baby-with-a-social-conscience

The morning after winning two Grammy awards, R&B singer H.E.R. received an Oscar nomination for the song "Fight For You" from the film Judas and the Black Messiah.

(Image credit: Rich Fury/Getty Images)

]]> Elizabeth Blair A Complete Playlist About 'Strumming The Six String' What are the best songs about literally playing the guitar? Tue, 06 Apr 2021 15:27:34 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/world-cafe/2021/04/06/984738411/a-complete-playlist-about-strumming-the-six-string https://www.npr.org/sections/world-cafe/2021/04/06/984738411/a-complete-playlist-about-strumming-the-six-string

What are the best songs about literally playing the guitar?

(Image credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Kevin Winter/David Redfern/Getty Images)

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