All Music
鈥楴ot your typical troubadour.鈥� How Joseph Arthur鈥檚 new music reflects his journey.As the album 鈥淎rthur Buck 2鈥� debuts, Joseph Arthur discusses the connection between humility and creativity, and how tough times have led him to see songwriting as a spiritual practice.
鈥楽omething out of nothing.鈥� Jeff Tweedy embraces new music and the power of creativity.When faced with a challenging world, Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy turns to songwriting. His new solo album, 鈥淭wilight Override,鈥� is fueled by intentionality 鈥� valuing connection over division and creation over destruction.
Patty Griffin celebrates new album 鈥楥rown of Roses鈥� and its healing bouquetGrammy-winning musician Patty Griffin almost called it quits. But the pandemic brought a reconciliation with her mother 鈥� and a perspective on joy and unconditional love that found an outlet in her music.
Where does happiness come from? Afrobeat heir M谩d茅 K煤t矛 enters the conversation.With his new album, M谩d茅聽K煤t矛, grandson of Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer聽Fela K煤t矛, asks listeners to go deep: How can you be a better version of yourself?聽
Valerie June鈥檚 new music embraces joy and the healing power of soulful musicWith the arrival of Valerie June鈥檚 latest album comes a chance for the singer to reflect on her artistic journey 鈥� and how music fuels her, and the world.
Move over, Vikings. Sweden鈥檚 new seafaring heroes are knitting grannies.What better way to tell a true holiday story than with singing 鈥� and knitting? In Sweden, an island choir comes together to celebrate community.
Want to hear the latest country music? Try Broadway.鈥淢usic City,鈥� which opened off-Broadway this month, is the latest show to embrace the country genre. Can Nashville music make it in New York?
Musician Fantastic Negrito wants to spread the light. He first had to face his past.With 鈥淪on of a Broken Man,鈥� Grammy winner Fantastic Negrito tackles his relationship with his father, and considers how to overcome the darkness in our lives.
People turn to 鈥楥ircleSinging鈥� to raise their voices 鈥� and joyBelting out a tune in front of strangers is a big ask for most people. CircleSinging participants regularly take that risk, and among their rewards are friendship and acceptance.
Cover StoryHe hears America singing. Jake Xerxes Fussell brings new life to folk music.Jake Xerxes Fussell has been seeking forgotten American folk songs his entire life. His fifth album, 鈥淲hen I鈥檓 Called,鈥� releases July 12.
With hit 鈥楪irl, So Confusing,鈥� pop stars offer a model of conflict resolutionMusic history is full of feuds between musicians. But pop singers Charli XCX and Lorde just released a hit that opts for reconciliation over vitriol.
First LookWynton Marsalis and Bryan Stevenson fuse jazz, protest, and justice on Juneteenth albumCivil rights lawyer and jazz pianist Bryan Stevenson and Pulitzer-winning jazz artist Wynton Marsalis collaborated on a聽new live performance album of historic jazz records to honor Juneteenth and Black history.
Ann Powers was writing Joni Mitchell鈥檚 life story. She found her own.With her new biography about Joni Mitchell, NPR music critic Ann Powers says she wanted to challenge the idea that there鈥檚 only one definitive story of a life.聽
First LookDOJ sues Live Nation for muscling out competition in ticket salesThe U.S. Department of Justice announced an antitrust lawsuit against the entertainment company Live Nation. Ticketmaster, which merged with Live Nation in 2010, has been blamed for inflated ticket prices by both consumers and artists.
First LookOnce a 鈥榖edroom pop鈥� crooner, Billie Eilish is wide awake on her latest albumA once-in-a-generation performer, Billie Eilish rewrites the rules yet again on 鈥淗it Me Hard and Soft,鈥� her ambitious third release. It鈥檚 a project meant to be enjoyed in full, rich with sonic depth and emotional maturity.
First LookNemo, Eurovision鈥檚 first nonbinary winner, gets a hero鈥檚 welcome in SwitzerlandEurovision has long been embraced as a haven for the LGBTQ+ community. This year鈥檚 competition struck a particular victory for acceptance, crowning the contest鈥檚 first nonbinary winner with an eclectic anthem about being true to oneself.
First LookMamma Mia! Here we go again. Eurovision wraps up in Sweden with pomp and protests.Eurovision鈥檚 2024 competition is bringing flashy and theatrical pop music to Malmo, Sweden. It鈥檚 also bringing thousands of protesters who are criticizing Israel鈥檚 participation in the contest.
Singer Laura Veirs finds creativity everywhere 鈥� bikes, skates, power sawsFor some artists, inspiration comes when ideas flow naturally, rather than being demanded. With the release of her latest album, songwriter Laura Veirs reflects on how creativity manifests itself.
OK, she鈥檚 worth $1 billion, but can Taylor Swift write poetry? We ask the experts.Taylor Swift鈥檚 new album, 鈥淭he Tortured Poets Department,鈥� will be released on April 19. In advance, we asked poets what they think of the pop star鈥檚 wordsmithing.
Andr茅 3000 trades hip-hop for the flute 鈥撀燼nd still resonates with listenersOur commentator says that even if the artist, one-half of the hit duo Outkast, doesn鈥檛 say a word in his new music, he鈥檚 still able to impact culture in a way that invokes creativity and healing.聽