NPR Music

Jobi Riccio. Dua Saleh. Tank and the Bangas. Plus, others not named Drake! NPR Music's Stephen Thompson chats with J oe Kendrick of WNCW in North Carolina  about their favorite albums out Friday, May 15. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round. The Starting 5 (00:00) Introduction & Jobi Riccio, 'Face The Feeling' (07:49) Dua Saleh, 'Of Ear...

Since 2014, we've been hitting bands up to send in their videos for the opportunity to win the Tiny Desk Contest. And almost from the beginning, Alt. Latino has been pulling aside the bands and artists that play Latin music. It’s always been a highlight to see the incredible talent that's out there night after night in bars, clubs, community centers, street parties and backyards, finding new ways...

Our latest mix of the best new tracks this week includes a massive eye-roll from Charli xcx, the first-ever solo music from Mike D of the Beastie Boys, another surprise drop from electronic music icons Boards of Canada, and more. NPR Music’s Lars Gotrich joins host Robin Hilton. Leave us a glowing review on Apple , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend to listen! Question...

MUNA. Stephen Sanchez. Lykke Li. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson chats with  Celia Gregory from WNXP in Nashville  about their favorite albums out Friday, May 8. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer personal picks in our lightning round.  The Starting 5 (00:00) MUNA, 'Dancing On The Wall' (08:17) Aldous Harding, 'Train on the Island' (16:00) Deb Never, 'Arcade' (22:15) Lykke Li, 'Th...

With Mother’s Day nearing, listeners share songs that remind them of their moms and the deeply moving stories behind them. NPR's Mitra Arthur joins host Robin Hilton. Support the show with a review on Apple , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend! Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org Featured artists and songs: (00:00)...

Kacey Musgraves. American Football. Tori Amos. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson chats with Jewly Hight from WPLN in Nashville about their favorite albums out Friday, May 1. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer personal picks in our lightning round. The Starting 5 (00:00) Kacey Musgraves, 'Middle of Nowhere' (08:41) American Football, 'American Football (LP4)' (16:25) Isaiah Rashad, '...

Fusion is at the heart of so much of the music we cover - especially on this week's episode. Flamenco producers descend on Hermosillo to experiment with regional Mexican music. Young Argentine artists blend trap with folk and rock en Español. A sunny Rio sound is born in Spain. Plus, a New Mexican string band, an Afro-Brazilian collective and an exploration of Latin roots from Cypress Hill.   Arti...

Our latest picks for the week’s best new songs include Olivia Rodrigo’s head-over-heels earworm “drop dead,” a stunning bonus cut from Rosalía’s LUX album, a surprising pop turn from Peter Gabriel, twisted dance beats from Nine Inch Nails and more. NPR Music’s Hazel Cills joins host Robin Hiton. Featured artists and songs: (00:00) Intro (01:49) Olivia Rodrigo: “drop dead” from you seem pretty sad...

Noah Kahan. Kehlani. The return of Metric. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson chats with DJ Llu from Vermont Public about their favorite albums out Friday, April 24. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer personal picks in our lightning round. The Starting 5 (00:00) Noah Kahan, 'The Great Divide' (09:28) Kehlani, 'Kehlani' (16:14) Metric, 'Romanticize The Dive' (21:33) Gia Margaret, 'Sin...

This week's new music show spans the breadth of Latin America. Argentine indie artist Paula Prieto goes experimental. Venezuelan reggaeton pioneers Chino y Nacho return to the limelight. Brazilian singer Marina B reminds Felix of The Beatles. Guatemala's Doctor Nativo pays homage to the "caminantes" heading north to find a better life. Plus, Latin punk from San Antonio, and a celebration of Afro-C...

Our latest mix of the best new songs out now includes a scorching new cut from Jack White, a surprise (and breathtaking) return of electronic legends Boards of Canada, outlaw country from Charley Crockett and more.   NPR Music’s Sheldon Pearce joins host Robin Hilton. Support the show with a review on Apple , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend! Questions, comments, sug...

We talk with Beck about his gauzy new song, what he’s been up to since releasing his last album seven years ago, and what he (maybe?) has planned for the coming year. Support the show with a review on Apple , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend! Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org See pcm.adswizz.com for information...

Honey Dijon. Yaya Bey. Shadowy pop from Sofia Isella. Guest host Hazel Cills chats with  Nastia Voynovskaya from KQED in San Francisco  about their favorite albums out Friday, April 17. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer personal picks in our lightning round. The Starting 5 (00:00) Introduction & Nine Inch Nails & Boys Noize, 'Nine Inch Noize' (02:47) Honey Dijon, 'The Nightlif...

Jorge Drexler is one of the most decorated singer-songwriters in Latin America. His albums are always high profile events, and his latest record merits the attention. It's called Taracá , and to make it he returned home to his native Uruguay - after living in Spain for 30 years - to explore the roots of an Afro-Uruguayan tradition known as candombe. On this week's episode we chat with Drexler abou...

We celebrate spring and new beginnings with a perfect mix of songs for starting over.  This can take many forms: songs that spark a good, cleansing cry; songs that offer wisdom, or just a sure-fire jolt of adrenaline. But in the end, all of the tracks herein can help reconfigure your mood, your day, maybe even ... your life.   Host Robin Hilton is joined by NPR Music’s Noah Caldwell and Dora Levit...

Ella Langley. Wesley Joseph. The spellbinding Juni Habel. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson chats with  Chloe Kimes from WMOT in Nashville  about their favorite albums out Friday, April 10. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer personal picks in our lightning round. The Starting 5 (00:00) Ella Langley, 'Dandelion' (08:24) Tenille Townes, 'The Acrobat' (15:53) Wesley Joseph, 'Forever En...

Listen to this episode out in the springtime air. It starts with a bucolic jaunt through Brazilian guitarist Fabiano do Nascimento's latest orchestral project, then finds La Plazuela's fresh Spanish funk and Macha's irreverent side project. Other sounds along the way: Caribbean pop from Venezuela, feel-your-feels indie from northern Mexico and an electronic spin on the indigenous Náhuatl language....

The British act Jungle had a big hit with “Back on 74” — and its unforgettable dance video — in 2023. Now, the group is back with “Carry On,” a breezy, sun-dappled song about surviving a broken heart. We give it a spin to open the show, along with a study on optimism from one of José González’s best albums, a celestial ambient cut from throat singer Tanya Tagaq and more. NPR classical critic Tom H...

Thundercat. Arlo Parks. Devotional belters from Dermot Kennedy. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson chats with  Erin Wolf from Radio Milwaukee  about their favorite albums out Friday, April 3. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer personal picks in our lightning round. The Starting 5 (00:00) Introduction & Bon Iver, 'VOLUMES: ONE" (01:57) Arlo Parks, 'Ambiguous Desire' (07:29) Dermot Ken...

Two phrases spoken during this week’s episode stand out because they represent how Ana and I approach our searches for new music. The first: “The only limit is the imagination.” In my constant hunt for the sound I have never heard, this thought is my mantra. The new music we’re bringing this week really steps up to that challenge, from young upstarts like Broke Carrey to beloved veterans like Drac...

More than 6,000 artists entered this year’s Tiny Desk Contest, hoping to win their very own performance behind the actual Desk. We’ll announce the winner soon, but in the meantime, we’re sharing some of our favorite entries, from the riff-rock group Pump Action, to soul singer Les Greene, loop artist Jackie Marchal, singer-songwriter Yuri Shin and more. Tiny Desk series producer Bobby Carter joins...

Robyn. RAYE. A jazzy left turn from Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson chats with  Alisa Ali from WFUV in the Bronx  about their favorite albums out Friday, March 27. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer personal picks in our lightning round.  The Starting 5 (01:42) Robyn, 'Sexistential' (07:15) RAYE, 'This Music May Contain Hope' (14:21) Courtney Ba...

From the very beginning of Alt. Latino , female vocalists have captivated us the most -- and New York-based Argentine vocalist Sofia Rei has been high on our list of favorites for a while. She uses the human voice like paint on a canvas, layering voices to create choirs that take flight at the mere suggestion of a melody. On her new album Antónima , she not only creates magic with her own voice bu...

Our latest mix of the best new songs out now includes a stunning live version of Bon Iver’s “Heavenly Father,” a track the band originally wrote for the 2014 film Wish I Was Here , but never made available to stream before now. We’ve also got a stirring new ballad from Tori Amos, Luxembourg indie rocker Francis of Delirium (who assures us this is, in fact, a beautiful life), the long-awaited (if c...

In this special episode, the beloved singer-songwriter performs four songs live and speaks with Raina Douris of NPR's World Cafe about her acclaimed new album, 'Nothing's About To Happen To Me.' Follow the World Cafe podcast for more live performances and interviews every week. Featured performers: • Mitski: vocals • Patrick Hyland: electric, acoustic guitars • Bruno Esrubilsky: drums • Jeni Magañ...