World Cafe

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.

Jacob Collier is being considered for Album of the Year at the Grammys. Djesse [pronounced Jessie] Volume 4 is a continuation of his ambitious project to collaborate with dozens of artists. The British singer, songwriter, and composer talks about what he’s learned and why he’s happy to take on the role of “music teacher to the internet”, on the next World Cafe.

The lead singer of Portishead, Beth Gibbons, has one of the most distinct voices in popular music. Earlier this year she released her debut solo album, Lives Outgrown, to critical acclaim – it was nominated for Britian’s biggest music award, The Mercury Prize. Coming up, Beth Gibbons joins us for a mini concert playing songs from Lives Outgrown, recorded at Royal Albert Hall in London, complete with an eight-piece band, on the next World Cafe.

Michael Kiwanuka’s new 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’ll hear songs from the new album. It’s Michael Kiwanuka on the next World Cafe.

Thanksgiving is all about gathering with the folks you love, so this year the whole World Cafe team got together to make a playlist of their favorite cozy fall songs to set the mood for your celebration. The perfect soundtrack to turkey roasting, potato mashing and taking half-naps on the couch – next time on a Thanksgiving World Cafe.

Since 2000, AmericanaFest has been a showcase of all things Americana and beyond. Hundreds of artists have played dozens of venues over the last 25 years in Nashville, including some of the biggest in the world. Join us for the final installment of AmericanaFest Highlights, putting the spotlight on some of our favorite performances from AmericanaFest 2024, including Charles Wesley Godwin, Donavon Frankenreiter, and Iron & Wine. That’s on the next World Cafe.

35 years ago, Queen Latifah took over the hip-hop throne with the release of her debut album, All Hail the Queen. World Cafe correspondent John Morrison talks about how that album challenged the historically male-dominated hip-hop space, and about Queen Latifah’s legacy – on a new edition of the Culture Corner, next time on World Cafe.

Call it an American Invasion: Lucinda Williams crossed the Atlantic to record her new album, Lucinda Williams sings the Beatles from Abbey Road. We’ll feature music from her tribute to the Fab Four, and revisit a conversation with Lucinda from last year, where she talks in depth about her memoir “Don’t Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You”, including the stories behind of some of her most iconic songs. It’s Lucinda Williams on the next World Cafe.