World Cafe

Been Stellar was started by Sam Slocum and Skyler Napp, who met as teenagers in Michigan before attending NYU. With shades of The Strokes and Interpol, they’ve become one of the biggest rising stars in the New York music scene. After opening for The 1975, the band signed with Dirty Hit Records to release their debut album, Scream from New York, NY. On the next World Cafe, Been Stellar performs a mini concert of songs from the album.

Weathervanes is the name of Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit’s 2023 album, and it is a record of powerful songs about everyday people. On the next World Cafe, Jason Isbell talks about what draws him to write about people that others may judge, and how the more difficult the topic, the more he personalizes the song. Plus, Jason performs live recordings of songs from Weathervanes.

Every artist’s discography tells a story. On a new episode of Backtracking, David Gray looks back at his entire catalogue and tells stories about songs that have played a special role in his life and career, such as the one he wrote at a difficult time, the one that took him the longest to write, the one he has a complicated relationship with, and more. That’s on the next World Cafe.

Jessica Dobson of the band Deep Sea Diver was working on her latest album when she didn’t like what she was hearing…and decided to start over. The indie-rock singer-songwriter, who’s played guitar for Beck and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, talks about letting go of her inner critic and getting back to her “kid self.” Deep Sea Diver performs songs from her new album, Billboard Heart, on the next World Cafe.

What Now, the title of Brittany Howard’s latest album, is not just a rhetorical question about the uncertain state of the world. It’s also a nod to the wildly diverse – and often unexpected – sonic turns Howard took on her sophomore solo effort. On the next World Cafe, Howard talks about experimenting with unconventional tools with producer Shawn Everett, everything from PVC pipes and garbage bags to crystal singing bowls.

Each week of Black History Month, World Cafe correspondent John Morrison has been bringing you Trailblazers and Mavericks of Black music, and for the final week, John talks about an artist who helped define the sound of the early 2000s and is still getting weirder and better with every release: Santigold. Hear why, 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.