Music Features : NPR https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=613820055 In-depth storytelling from the NPR Music team. en Copyright 2023 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Sat, 31 Dec 2022 07:58:17 -0500 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 Music Features https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=613820055 Encore: New wave icons The B-52s are on the road for their last tour Everyone knows that "love rules at the love shack." From October, NPR's Scott Simon speaks to The B-52s, the new wave icons out of Athens, Ga., about being on the road for their farewell tour. Sat, 31 Dec 2022 07:58:17 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/12/31/1146453253/encore-new-wave-icons-the-b-52s-are-on-the-road-for-their-last-tour https://www.npr.org/2022/12/31/1146453253/encore-new-wave-icons-the-b-52s-are-on-the-road-for-their-last-tour Everyone knows that "love rules at the love shack." From October, NPR's Scott Simon speaks to The B-52s, the new wave icons out of Athens, Ga., about being on the road for their farewell tour.

]]> All Songs Considered counts down the top songs of 2022 NPR Music's All Songs Considered counts down the top songs of 2022. Fri, 30 Dec 2022 16:47:36 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/12/30/1146367875/all-songs-considered-counts-down-the-top-songs-of-2022 https://www.npr.org/2022/12/30/1146367875/all-songs-considered-counts-down-the-top-songs-of-2022 NPR Music's All Songs Considered counts down the top songs of 2022.

]]> Noah Caldwell Jazz Night In America remembers the artists we've lost Jazz Night In America's video tribute to the artists lost in 2022. Thu, 29 Dec 2022 17:37:05 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/12/29/1145909944/jazz-night-in-america-remembers-the-artists-weve-lost https://www.npr.org/2022/12/29/1145909944/jazz-night-in-america-remembers-the-artists-weve-lost

Jazz Night In America's video tribute to the artists lost in 2022.

(Image credit: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

]]> Nikki Birch Encore: NPR shares its favorite musical moments from 2022 NPR is pulling together some of its favorite stories from 2022 that may have been easy to miss among the year's major news but hard to forget. Thursday, NPR shares its favorite musical moments. Thu, 29 Dec 2022 15:58:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/12/29/1146096833/encore-npr-shares-its-favorite-musical-moments-from-2022 https://www.npr.org/2022/12/29/1146096833/encore-npr-shares-its-favorite-musical-moments-from-2022 NPR is pulling together some of its favorite stories from 2022 that may have been easy to miss among the year's major news but hard to forget. Thursday, NPR shares its favorite musical moments.

]]> Elena Burnett One of Taiwan's biggest pop stars sings in an Indigenous language Abao sings in the Paiwan language — not Chinese, which dominates Taiwan's pop music industry. Her popularity reflects the island's overdue recognition and awareness of Indigenous culture. Wed, 28 Dec 2022 05:01:13 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/12/28/1144248191/taiwan-music-abao-indigenous https://www.npr.org/2022/12/28/1144248191/taiwan-music-abao-indigenous

Abao sings in the Paiwan language — not Chinese, which dominates Taiwan's pop music industry. Her popularity reflects the island's overdue recognition and awareness of Indigenous culture.

(Image credit: An Rong Xu for NPR)

]]> Emily Feng Musicians use rhythm and harmony to heal America's toxic divide These days, as polarization reaches deep into American life, some musicians are trying to stay out of the fray and use their music to bridge divides. Wed, 28 Dec 2022 05:00:43 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/12/28/1145262835/musicians-use-rhythm-and-harmony-to-heal-americas-toxic-divide https://www.npr.org/2022/12/28/1145262835/musicians-use-rhythm-and-harmony-to-heal-americas-toxic-divide

These days, as polarization reaches deep into American life, some musicians are trying to stay out of the fray and use their music to bridge divides.

(Image credit: Ben Torres for NPR)

]]> John Burnett Trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf steps out of his comfort zone with 'Capacity to Love' Common ground is the main theme of Maalouf's new album, which features a wide array of vocalists from across the pop music spectrum. Maalouf also recently revived an international trumpet competition. Tue, 27 Dec 2022 12:01:05 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/12/27/1145039325/ibrahim-maalouf-angelique-kidjo-capacity-to-love https://www.npr.org/2022/12/27/1145039325/ibrahim-maalouf-angelique-kidjo-capacity-to-love

Common ground is the main theme of Maalouf's new album, which features a wide array of vocalists from across the pop music spectrum. Maalouf also recently revived an international trumpet competition.

(Image credit: Valery Hache/AFP via Getty Images)

]]> Betto Arcos How Anitta, the 'Girl from Rio,' went global NPR catches up with Anitta, the most popular singer to come out of Brazil in years, who's up for a Grammy for Best New Artist. Sat, 24 Dec 2022 06:01:08 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/12/24/1144073823/anitta-brazil-music-singer https://www.npr.org/2022/12/24/1144073823/anitta-brazil-music-singer

NPR catches up with Anitta, the most popular singer to come out of Brazil in years, who's up for a Grammy for Best New Artist.

(Image credit: Marco Storel for NPR)

]]> Carrie Kahn The fantasia of Angelo Badalamenti, veil-piercing composer Among other things Badalamenti's music, soft and bizarre and surging, was an emotional compass for the uncanny creations of director David Lynch. Mon, 19 Dec 2022 12:46:34 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2022/12/19/1144137378/the-fantasia-of-angelo-badalamenti-veil-piercing-composer https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2022/12/19/1144137378/the-fantasia-of-angelo-badalamenti-veil-piercing-composer

Among other things Badalamenti's music, soft and bizarre and surging, was an emotional compass for the uncanny creations of director David Lynch.

(Image credit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)

]]> Meaghan Garvey How niche rap stars quietly conquered 2022 Artists like NBA YoungBoy, Rod Wave and a resurgent Kodak Black pulled in massive streaming numbers this year (and, at times, outran controversy) while barely registering on mainstream pop's radar. Sat, 17 Dec 2022 05:00:35 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/12/17/1134910111/niche-fringe-rap-stars-2022-nba-youngboy-rod-wave https://www.npr.org/2022/12/17/1134910111/niche-fringe-rap-stars-2022-nba-youngboy-rod-wave

Artists like NBA YoungBoy, Rod Wave and a resurgent Kodak Black pulled in massive streaming numbers this year (and, at times, outran controversy) while barely registering on mainstream pop's radar.

(Image credit: Simone Noronha for NPR)

]]> Sheldon Pearce Remembering musical astronaut Manuel Göttsching After founding the quietly influential band Ash Ra Tempel at 17 years old, Göttsching would go on to have an enormous influence on the trajectory of electronic and dance music. Fri, 16 Dec 2022 10:59:52 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/12/16/1143405365/remembering-musical-astronaut-manuel-gottsching https://www.npr.org/2022/12/16/1143405365/remembering-musical-astronaut-manuel-gottsching

After founding the quietly influential band Ash Ra Tempel at 17 years old, Göttsching would go on to have an enormous influence on the trajectory of electronic and dance music.

(Image credit: Ullstein Bild/Getty Images)

]]> Ruth Saxelby The importance of remembering everything but the music Poet and critic Harmony Holiday spent her year interviewing descendants and torchbearers, finding that the soul of jazz needs preserving offstage and outside of the booth. Fri, 16 Dec 2022 09:43:08 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/12/16/1143379524/the-importance-of-remembering-everything-but-the-music https://www.npr.org/2022/12/16/1143379524/the-importance-of-remembering-everything-but-the-music

Poet and critic Harmony Holiday spent her year interviewing descendants and torchbearers, finding that the soul of jazz needs preserving offstage and outside of the booth.

(Image credit: Lynn Karlin/Penske Media via Getty Images)

]]> Harmony Holiday The 100 Best Songs Of 2022 (80-61) We ranked a list of 100 songs that reflects the sprawling, energetic messiness of 2022. Start listening. Thu, 15 Dec 2022 07:01:12 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/12/15/1135802978/100-best-songs-2022-page-2 https://www.npr.org/2022/12/15/1135802978/100-best-songs-2022-page-2

We ranked a list of 100 songs that reflects the sprawling, energetic messiness of 2022. Start listening.

(Image credit: Illustration: Huston Wilson for NPR)

]]> Tyshawn Sorey's year of creative unity For Larry Blumenfeld, the story of Sorey this year was one of a MacArthur genius reconciling his universe of talent and ambition into a singular expression. Thu, 15 Dec 2022 07:00:43 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/12/15/1142793308/tyshawn-soreys-year-of-creative-unity https://www.npr.org/2022/12/15/1142793308/tyshawn-soreys-year-of-creative-unity

For Larry Blumenfeld, the story of Sorey this year was one of a MacArthur genius reconciling his universe of talent and ambition into a singular expression.

(Image credit: John Rogers/Courtesy of the artist)

]]> Larry Blumenfeld The 100 Best Songs Of 2022 (20-1) We ranked a list of 100 songs that reflects the sprawling, energetic messiness of 2022. Start listening. Thu, 15 Dec 2022 07:00:42 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/12/15/1135804266/100-best-songs-2022-page-5 https://www.npr.org/2022/12/15/1135804266/100-best-songs-2022-page-5

We ranked a list of 100 songs that reflects the sprawling, energetic messiness of 2022. Start listening.

(Image credit: Illustration: Huston Wilson for NPR)

]]>