World Cafe

Sense of Place: Lisbon – Maria Reis on World Cafe

Thursday, September 28th, 2023

Was there anything you did as a teenager that was more than a little bit ahead of your friends? Maria Reis helped start a record label in her early teens. And she made dream punk records in her native Portuguese when most bands in Lisbon were singing in English. On the next WorldCafe, you get to meet Maria Reis as World Cafe kicks off its Sense of Place trip to Lisbon.

Vera Marlmelo

2023-09-26T14:32:42-04:00September 28th, 2023|

Charley Crockett Mini Concert on World Cafe


Wednesday, September 27th, 2023

Charley Crockett used to busk on street corners in Music City, USA – aka Nashville– but now, he’s playing much bigger venues. Like the legendary Ryman Auditorium.  Charley’s new album Live at the Ryman is out this week, and you’ll get a sneak preview with a live Charley Crockett mini concert on the next World Cafe.

Bobby Cochran/Courtesy of the artist
2023-09-26T14:32:55-04:00September 27th, 2023|

Encore: Omar Apollo on World Cafe

Tuesday, September 26th, 2023

In just six years, Omar Apollo went from working at Guitar Center to being nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards. To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, World Cafe brings back its conversation with Apollo from this Spring, where he chats about the long road to recording and releasing his debut album Ivory.

Photo: Grace Widyatmadja/NPR

2023-09-25T15:40:54-04:00September 26th, 2023|

Encore: Julieta Venegas on World Cafe

Monday, September 25th, 2023

When fans of Julieta Venegas heard her first single in seven years, they were surprised by the disco and synth pop sound, but they were also eager to hear more from the Mexican singer-songwriter. To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, World Cafe revisits its 2022 conversation with Venegas, where she talks about her latest album, Tu Historia, and reaching a whole new audience with her Bad Bunny collaboration.

2023-09-25T15:41:08-04:00September 25th, 2023|

The Breeders on World Cafe

Friday, September 22nd, 2023

Three decades ago, The Breeders released an alt-rock classic. Their second album Last Splash, which included their hit song “Cannonball”, made a huge impact and eventually went platinum. All four members of The Breeders reflect on what it was like when Last Splash blew up, talk about revisiting the album for the release of the new, 30th anniversary re-mastered version, and discuss their legacy thirty years on. That’s on the next World Cafe.

Eslah Attar/NPR
2023-09-15T15:51:44-04:00September 22nd, 2023|

Margaret Glaspy on World Cafe

Thursday, September 21st, 2023 

Indie rock singer/songwriter Margaret Glaspy was inspired by one of Bruce Lee’s mantras, “Be Water”, and came up with her own version: Echo the Diamond. It is the name of her new album, inspired by 90’s alternative rock, including Alanis Morissette. Glaspy talks about making the album live in the room with her bandmates, being present on stage and off, and performs from our studios.

Adam Kissick for NPR
2023-09-15T15:50:34-04:00September 21st, 2023|

Encore: Kaina on World Cafe

Wednesday, September 20th, 2023

Kaina embodies the community-minded spirit of Chicago’s indie music scene. To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, World Cafe brings back this conversation with Kaina from the show’s Sense of Place: Chicago series earlier this year. Kaina talks about her album called It Was a Home and how it serves as an ode to the life she’s built in the city.

Photo by Mercedes Zapata
2023-09-15T15:49:25-04:00September 20th, 2023|

Sid Sriram on World Cafe

Tuesday, September 19th, 2023 

Sid Sriram has such a successful career as a playback singer in India, where he was born, that he gets recognized the minute he leaves his house. But here in America, where he was raised, Sid is just beginning to build his career around his own music. Hear about the making of his first full length English language album, Sidharth, which he worked on with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and producer Ryan Olsen, on the next World Cafe.

Photo: Keren Carrio?n

2023-09-15T15:48:23-04:00September 19th, 2023|

Alt.Latino on World Cafe

Monday, September 18th, 2023 

Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras, co-hosts of NPR’s Alt.Latino, help World Cafe kick off Hispanic Heritage Month with a guest DJ set. Felix and Ana share their favorite new releases in the Latin music world, from Cuban jazz pianists to an up-and-coming Dominican rapper named J Noa. Join us.

Mike Morgan / NPR
2023-09-15T15:32:46-04:00September 18th, 2023|

Mitski on World Cafe

Friday, September 15th, 2023

Mitski’s new album, The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We, sounds like a movie. There’s orchestral drama, and big themes like “love” and “America.” But like any good filmmaker, even when she’s building a blockbuster, Mitski has an eye for the details, and knows how to use them to draw you closer and make you feel. Mitski discusses the new album, and about the last few years – which included an Oscar nomination for co-writing a song for the actual film Everything Everywhere All At Once on the next World Cafe.

Ebru Yildiz/Courtesy of the artist
2023-09-08T15:16:32-04:00September 15th, 2023|