World Cafe

Pino Palladino is a master of the bass guitar, playing on iconic albums from Eric Clapton to D’Angelo. Guitarist and producer Blake Mills has performed with Joni Mitchell, Fiona Apple, and Bob Dylan. But when they get together, they make something otherworldly. Pino Palladino and Blake Mills join us to talk about their album, That Wasn’t a Dream, and they perform live in our studio. That’s on the next World Cafe.

Willie Nelson’s 78th album, Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle, comes out this week, and to celebrate, we’re listening back to our 2020 interview with Willie, around the released of his album First Rose of Spring. Willie shares about following his instincts when choosing songs to record, the advice he gives his kids Lukas and Micah as musicians, and how he feels about growing older in country music. That’s on the next World Cafe.

Lupe Fiasco is one hip-hop’s most gifted lyricists; words seem to effortlessly flow out of him. But, he doesn’t think there’s anything magical about that talent. As he explains on the next World Cafe, rap is a purely scholastic endeavor for him – a skill that takes practice and study to hone. Lupe also talks about his role as co-founder of the Society of Spoken Arts and as a visiting professor at MIT. Join us.

Kacey Musgraves’ new album, Deeper Well, sees the songwriter entering her mid-30s with a deeper understanding of herself, what she wants, and what she doesn’t want. Kacey talks about asking big life questions and about welcoming this new phase by recording in a new setting: Electric Lady Studio in New York City. That’s on the next World Cafe.

Elsy Wameyo was born in Kenya but grew up in Australia. Duality is at the heart of Saint Sinner – the standout debut from the up-and-coming singer-songwriter, rapper, and producer. Elsy talks about writing and recording Saint Sinner with a newfound perspective, and how she found her true home. With performances from Nairobi, it’s Elsy Wameyo on the next World Cafe.

Next year marks the 20th anniversary of longtime indie-rock outfit Local Natives. The Orange County band first made their mark in the late aughts with the release of Gorilla Manor, and this year, the band released But I’ll Wait For You, a companion album to 2023’s Time Will Wait For No One. On the next World Cafe, hear Local Natives play a mini-concert recorded live at KUTX in Austin, Texas.

Next year marks the 20th anniversary of longtime indie-rock outfit Local Natives. The Orange County band first made their mark in the late aughts with the release of Gorilla Manor, and this year, the band released But I’ll Wait For You, a companion album to 2023’s Time Will Wait For No One. On the next World Cafe, hear Local Natives play a mini-concert recorded live at KUTX in Austin, Texas.

Five years ago, MJ Lenderman was working at an ice cream shop – now, he’s being profiled by GQ and The New York Times, with his latest album, Manning Fireworks, being called one of the best of the year. MJ Lenderman performs songs from the new album live and talks about how he stays creative in a world full of distractions, on the next World Cafe.

Cameron Lew wasn’t sure whether to pursue film or music when he was in high school. It turns out he’d end up pursuing both, and a whole lot more, with his band Ginger Root. Lew writes, performs, and produces his own music, and shoots, directs, and edits all the videos the band creates. On the next World Cafe, we’ll talk with Lew about how Ginger Root created their own cinematic universe, and hear songs from their new album, Shinbangumi.

Some artists prepare to go onstage by rehearsing relentlessly. Electronic music producer, live performer and online personality Marc Rebillet prepares by doing, in his words, “absolutely nothing”. Learn how Marc Rebillet improvises his songs and how it’s gained him millions of fans, plus hear a couple live tracks written on the spot, on the next World Cafe.