World Cafe

This summer, King Gizzard and Lizard Wizard released their 26th album, Flight b741, their most collaborative album to date. But before World Cafe could tape our interview with them, the band announced a new album, next year’s Phantom Island. Exploring new sonic territory as usual, it’s their first record written and performed with an orchestra. Hear about both albums on the next World Cafe.

We return to Louisiana’s Cajun Country with a new installment of our monthly series Acadiana Music Showcase, produced in conjunction with our friends at KRVS in Lafayette, LA. Experience a live performance from the indie rock quintet The Debtors, that includes music from their latest album Everyone is Alright, on the next World Cafe.

Quincy Jones was a peerless figure in popular music. He passed away in November at the age of 91, and on the next World Cafe, Culture Corner correspondent John Morrison takes you through some of Quincy Jones’ work in pop, jazz, and film, as he shows how pretty much all of post-World War II popular music can be traced along Quincy Jones’ career.

The Black Keys have been on a tear, releasing four albums in under half a decade. Their latest, Ohio Players, is a blast. Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach wanted to recreate the energy of their early records and invited some friends along, including Beck who co-wrote several songs on the album, and Oasis’s Noel Gallagher, who’d never written with another band before. Patrick and Dan join World Cafe to talk about a “back-to-fun” approach, and to share live performances from this year’s South by Southwest.

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.