World Cafe

SAYA may be Saya Gray’s debut album, but the Japanese-Canadian songwriter and producer has been releasing sonically ambitious, album-length projects since 2022. Before then, the multi-instrumentalist cut her teeth as a music director for other musical acts. On the next World Cafe, Gray talks about why it was finally time to create a proper debut album, why traveling is so important to her creative process, plus she and her band perform live in the studio.

The British born singer, songwriter, and producer Yola carved a new path with her latest EP, My Way. She says it was heavily influenced by her time in the broken beat scene, a subgenre of dance music from the 2000’s. Yola will talk about why she wanted to switch up her sound and why no one will ever steer her career again. Plus, live performances in studio of new songs from My Way, it’s Yola on the next World Cafe.

Each week of Black History Month, World Cafe correspondent John Morrison is bringing you Trailblazers and Mavericks of Black Music. This week, John discusses the life and legacy of disco icon Sylvester, whose distinct falsetto and fearless personal expression defied expectations in every way. That’s on the next World Cafe.

Take a trip to Louisiana’s Cajun Country with a new installment of our monthly series, Acadiana Music Showcase. Marc Broussard was raised in Louisiana, the son of a Louisiana Hall of Famer guitarist – and his “bayou soul” sound has garnered him attention both at home and nationwide. Broussard performs songs from his latest album, Time Is a Thief, on the next World Cafe.

Carter Vail was working as an engineer and producer in Nashville when he started making playful music videos on social media. One of those songs, “Dirt Man”, went viral, and introduced folks not only to Vail’s humorous songs, but his serious work as a solo musician too. Carter Vail joins World Cafe to talk about his latest album, 100 Cowboys, how he crafts his 30 second music videos, and why he thinks you shouldn’t delete your posts.

Between Bright Eyes, his other collaborative projects and his own solo work, Conor Oberst has released over 20 studio albums. So, it might surprise you that he says when he finishes one, he’s never sure if he’ll be able to write another. Conor talks about the spark that got him going on Bright Eyes latest album, Five Dice, All Threes, and you’ll hear the band perform live, on the next World Cafe.

Sammy Rae and the Friends are one of the best live bands in New York City. They spent years touring and honing their sound before heading into the studio to record their debut album, Something for Everybody. The seven-piece band brings their live energy to a mini-concert recorded in Philadelphia, on the next World Cafe.

Each week of Black History Month, World Cafe correspondent John Morrison is bringing you Trailblazers and Mavericks of Black Music. No one has ever embodied that theme quite like the bold and brash funk artist Betty Davis. John talks about Davis’ legacy, her resurgence, and how she was “punk before punk”, on the next World Cafe.

Michael Kiwanuka’s latest album, Small Changes, strips away excess production elements, to remind people why we fell in love with him in the first place, his voice. Kiwanuka, who once again worked with Danger Mouse and Inflo, will talk about big life events and the small changes he made to navigate them. Plus, we will hear songs from Small Changes. It’s Michael Kiwanuka on the next World Cafe.

Charles Wesley Godwin always dreamed of being a professional football player, until he didn’t make the team in college and decided to pursue other hobbies, like the guitar. On the next World Cafe, Godwin talks about switching from sports to music, playing his first gig (in Estonia), and eventually opening for folks like Luke Combs and Jason Isbell.