World Cafe

Every artist’s discography tells a story. On a new Backtracking, Keith Urban looks back at his entire catalogue and tells stories about songs that played a special role in his life and career: the song that changed everything, the song he wrote in just one sitting, the song that surprised him and made him cry, and more. That’s next time on World Cafe.

Each January, music lovers head to the Emerald Coast in sunny Northwestern Florida to bask in the musical warmth of the 30A Songwriter’s Festival. But you don’t need a plane ticket to enjoy it. On the next World Cafe, hear performances by Maggie Rose, Gary Louris, and Jontavious Willis, recorded live at this year’s 30A Songwriter’s Festival.

Do you ever wonder what kind of world we’re leaving for the next generation? That question is woven into the latest album from Tim Heidecker & The Very Good Band, called Slipping Away. On the next World Cafe, Tim Heidecker and Very Good Band bassist Eliana Athayde talk about writing songs that explore anxiety, fatherhood, and the post-apocalypse, and about how much fun they have working together. They also perform live.

Everything Is Recorded is the musical project of Richard Russell, a record producer, and the owner of XL Recordings. His new album, Temporary, features appearances from Sampha, Alabaster DePlume, Noah Cyrus, Florence Welch, Kamasi Washington, and many more. Richard Russell joins us to answer the question: “What if folk had gone digital in the 80’s”, on the next World Cafe.

On Hurray for the Riff Raff’s latest album, The Past is Still Alive, Alynda Segarra is a reanimator – casting the old American cowboy myth in a new light, crafting heroic legends for long lost friends of theirs, and finding ways to commune with their father, who they lost right before making the record. On the next World Cafe, revisit a session with Hurray for the Riff Raff as they gear up to restart their tour this May.

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.