FUV Live Sessions

Latin Grammy award-winner Silvana Estrada sat down with WFUV host Sam Sumpter to talk about her Sophomore album, Vendrán Suaves Lluvias, how she mulled over that title for a decade after reading a Sarah Teasdale poem, the spiritual experience a listener can expect at one of her live shows and the intersection of activism, art and her Mexican heritage. Songs: Dime, Flores and Como Un Pájaro

Whitney joined WFUV host Alisa Ali in Studio-A to play three live songs from their new album, Small Talk, and to discuss why it was essential to try something entirely different for this project, the impressive work ethic of Chicago musicians, and the not-so-small-talk themes that come up on this record. Songs: Back to the Wind, Dandelions and Won’t You Speak Your Mind

To celebrate the 100th episode of FUV Live Sessions, WFUV’s Music Director Russ Borris sat down with Iron & Wine ahead of an exclusive show at City Winery in New York City to talk about Sam’s latest album, Hen’s Teeth, what it was like to simultaneously work on two albums post-pandemic, why we’re all so obsessed with songs about relationships and the practice of sequencing songs for the fans who s...

In a special episode of FUV Live Sessions in front of a studio audience, The New Pornographers joined WFUV host Alisa Ali at The Bitter End in New York City to play songs from their new album, The Former Site Of, and to talk about how that title came to be, what it was like to focus on writing narrative songs for this record and how important it is to kill your darlings when a song simply isn’t wo...

Lindsey Jordan, also known as Snail Mail, joined WFUV host Alisa Ali to talk about her third full-length album, Ricochet, how a Charlie Kaufman movie inspired this mortality-themed project, how she came back a stronger singer after surgery to remove polyps on her vocal chords and how she achieved her goals to level up both her singing and guitar playing on this latest record. Songs: Dead End, Trac...

Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy joined WFUV’s Director of Audio, Meghan Suma, in Studio-A to talk about his third album, The Weight of the Woods, how his native country influenced this project, how valuable time away from creating can be for both an artist and their fans, and how meaningful it is to write lyrics from the perspectives of other people in his life. Songs: Lost, Blue Eyes and F...

Up-and-coming singer-songwriter Gatlin joined WFUV host Benham Jones in Studio-A to talk about her debut full length album, The Eldest Daughter, how other singer-songwriters from the early aughts impacted her musical palette, how childhood experiences with worship music influence her sound still to this day and how music can serve as a tool for protest in the queer community. Songs: Florida Man, I...

Singer-songwriter and musician Billie Marten joined WFUV Host Kara Manning at The Bitter End in New York City ahead of an exclusive show for the radio station to talk about her latest album, Dog Eared, how important it was to do something different for this project, what it was like to work with producer Phil Weinrobe in Bed Stuy and how invaluable the collaborations were for this album. Songs: Fe...

Afie Jurvanen, AKA Bahamas, sat down with WFUV host Benham Jones in Studio-A to talk about his latest album, My Second Last Album, how playing music is the closest he gets to the flow state, the importance of feeling a sense of contentment in your career and the singer-songwriter renaissance he thinks is in motion across the industry. Songs: The Bridge, Shadows and Ready for a New Thing

Charley Crockett joined FUV host Alisa Ali in Studio-A to play some live tunes from his album, Dollar A Day, and to talk about why he was inspired to construct a trilogy project that includes this album, the struggles with the music industry early on in his career and how he persevered even though many things remain the same, and why the cowboy narrative is still evergreen in American culture. Son...

Jenn Wasner, known musically as Flock of Dimes, joined WFUV host Alisa Ali in Studio-A to talk about her latest solo project, The Life You Save, how she adds fictional elements to her songwriting to create universal messages, what it was like to self-produce this project and what’s next for her solo work and the many bands, projects and collaborations she works on regularly. Songs: Keep Me in the...

Multifaceted artist, painter, writer, singer, songwriter and musician Josh Ritter joined WFUV host Alisa Ali in the studio to talk about his latest album, ‘I Believe in You, My Honeydew,’ how he channeled and honored his muse by creating this project, why it was so important to record this album in a dark place surrounded by starry skies and how he still believes in the human spirit even during th...

Singer, songwriter, musician and long-time friend of WFUV, Kathleen Edwards, joins FUV host Alisa Ali in Studio-A to talk about her latest album, Billionaire, what some of her early experiences in the music industry were like, the young woman who inspired this latest project and the production and collaborations that brought this album to life. Songs: Save Your Soul, When The Truth Comes Out and L...

Politically charged artist and social media sensation Jesse Welles joined WFUV host Kara Manning backstage at The Bitter End before an exclusive show to talk about the eight albums he has put out since 2024, what it’s like to make music that reflects the national zeitgeist and the icons he draws inspiration from like Joan Baez and George Carlin. Songs: Horses, Join Ice and Don’t Think Twice

In a special episode of FUV Live Sessions in front of a studio audience, Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy joined WFUV host Alisa Ali at The Bitter End in New York City to play songs from his latest solo album, Twilight Override, and to talk about why he made a triple album, how creativity eats darkness, and the importance of sitting with your imagination every single day. For the full video version of this epi...

Neko Case joined WFUV host Alisa Ali backstage at The Sheen Center in New York City ahead of an exclusive performance for WFUV Marquee Members to talk about her latest solo album, Neon Grey Midnight Green, how human-made music will always surpass AI, the importance of writing love songs that don’t revolve around a heteronormative couple and an upcoming project that will bring Neko Case songs to a...

Brooklyn-based singer, songwriter and producer Hannah Jadagu joined FUV Live Sessions’ Executive Producer, Meghan Suma, in Studio-A to talk about her Sophomore album, Describe, how much she loves finding the childlike state of play in the studio while she makes music, the layers of ethereal synths and vocal reverb signature to her sound and how difficult it is to get to the truth of the human expe...

The English band Dry Cleaning joined UKNY host Kara Manning in WFUV’s Studio-A to talk about their 2026 album, Secret Love, the process of recording an album in multiple different cities at a number of different recording studios across the globe, how the emotional quality of the music can impact the songwriting and the role of songwriting and music in political activism. Songs: Hit My Head All Da...

The band Elbow joined UKNY host Kara Manning in WFUV’s Studio-A for the first time in 14 years to celebrate their 2025 EP, Audio Vertigo Echo: Elbow EP5, which was a follow-up to their 2024 album, Audio Vertigo, and the band talked about why they love playing New York City, the decision to make an album rooted in joyful distraction during a difficult time, and the importance of veteran artists tak...

Jazz duo Rachael & Vilray sat down with WFUV’s Cavalcade host Paul Cavalconte to talk about their latest album, West of Broadway, how the two college friends came to collaborate years later, their mutual affection for showtunes and Great American Songbook standards and the beauty in blending contemporary humor and wit with classic sounds. Songs: Off Broadway, Is It Jim? and My Key to Gramercy Park

Matt Quinn of Mt. Joy joined WFUV host Alisa Ali backstage at City Winery ahead of a special event for the radio station to talk about the band’s most recent album, Hope We Have Fun, the self awareness that has evolved as the band’s success has grown, the unique collaborations that made this album a reality and the process of taking a real-life story and turning it into a song. Songs: Highway Quee...

Brooklyn-based band, Nation of Language, commuted to the Bronx to play a live set in Studio-A and talk to WFUV host Alisa Ali about their latest album, Dance Called Memory, the difference between making music and showing it to other people, the importance of following your instincts without worrying about what listeners might like or not like, and the opportunity to work with Subpop Records. Songs...

Indigo De Souza joined WFUV host Alisa Ali in Studio-A to talk about her fourth studio album, Precipice, how important it is to be truthful and authentic during the songwriting process, the familial relationship between her touring team and the value in talking openly about mental health struggles. Songs: Not Afraid, Be Like The Water and Crying Over Nothing

In this episode of FUV Live Sessions, WFUV host Sam Sumpter weaved her way through the backstage of Forest Hills Stadium in Queens to get a chance to talk to Brittany Howard of the beloved band, Alabama Shakes – the two caught up about the band getting back together again, the new music they’ve put out in 2025 and how they’re better than ever because they took some time away to grow. The songs in...

Nigerian singer-songwriter, Obongjayar, joined WFUV host Kara Manning in Studio-A to talk about his Sophomore album, Paradise Now (which was also released as a deluxe album titled Paradise Now & Forever the week before this session dropped), his first United States tour and playing Newport Folk Festival, how important it is to be authentic and to let the people you collaborate with be themselves,...