Music Interviews

Michaela Anne performing at WXPN's Free At Noon Concert, recorded live for World Cafe. Jamie Stow/WXPN hide caption

The Building performs inside the World Cafe Performance Studio Jamie Stow/WXPN hide caption

Ted Leo performs in Oct. 2010 in New York. Cory Schwartz/Getty Images hide caption

Adam Sandler plays jeweler Howard Ratner in the film Uncut Gems. The score is as shiny and cosmic as Ratner's life is messy and frantic. Julieta Cervantes/Courtesy of A24 hide caption

Cecilia Bartoli (left) and Adrianne Lenker of the band Big Thief (right) Cecilia Bartoli (courtesy Decca Classics), Adrianne Lenker (Matt Cowan/Getty Images) hide caption

"It's the most nauseating idea in the world: a comedian in a gown leaning against a baby grand without making a joke," Ana Gasteyer says. There are plenty of jokes (and a lot of great singing) on her new holiday album. Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Clairo outside the World Cafe Performance studio at WXPN in Philadelphia. Galea McGregor/WXPN hide caption

Members of Los Lobos get into the holiday spirit. Piero F. Giunti/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

The Choir of King's College Cambridge conduct a rehearsal of their Christmas Eve service of A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in King's College Chapel on Dec. 11, 2010 in Cambridge, England. Oli Scarff/Getty Images hide caption

"It was important for me to stay away from [religious themes with] this special, because I think there's a lot of other things that a lot of different people could enjoy about the holidays," Musgraves says. Anne Marie Fox/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Michael Kiwanuka went to music school, but he thinks technical knowledge is less important than passion and free expression. Olivia Rose/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Griselda. Vuhlandes/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

"I think the hardest things for a person to hear are best delivered in quiet and loving tones," Joan Shelley says. "They might not be nice and loving sentiments, but they're best whispered." Jamie Stow/WXPN hide caption

Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down" is one of Jeff Lynne's favorite songs to have co-written. Joseph Cultice/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

"Being what I am should be celebrated, 100 percent," Y La Bamba's Luz Elena Mendoza says in a deep conversation about music and identity. Christal Angelique/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Angel Olsen (right) with her band, inside the World Cafe Performance Studio. Galea McGregor/WXPN hide caption

"They were very musical and they made great songs and had great harmonies," Chrissie Hynde says of The Beach Boys. "I only didn't appreciate them then because I was tripping my brains out and listening to Jimi Hendrix." Jill Furmanovsky/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

German composer and pianist Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827), painted by Kloeber circa 1805. Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption

After a semi-nomadic life growing up, Bedouine has called LA's Echo Park home for a decade. Her beautiful folk tunes fit squarely in that neighborhood's musical tradition. Moises Galvan/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Sheryl Crow didn't hold back in her interview with NPR pop critic Ann Powers. Mhari Shaw/NPR hide caption